Transcript Making the Most of Your High School Experience

Welcome to
River Hill High
(H-N) Mrs. Coe
(A-G) Mrs. Fairley
(O-Z) Dr. Saunders
AAM Mr. Lauer
Administrative
Team
Mrs. McKinley
Principal
Student Services
A-Da- Mr. Ives
De-J-Ms. Babe
K-M-Ms. Pizzo
N-Sm -Mr. Vangeli
Sn-Z-Mr. Krouse
ESOL- Ms. Miller
Students show HAWK PRIDE
every day in every way!
❑
Punctuality
❑ Respect
❑ Integrity
❑ Determination
❑ Excellence
Student Responsibilities and
Behavior
Student and Parent Handbook, 2015-16
●HCPSS Policies
●Student Code of Conduct
●Safe Schools
●Family Involvement
Program Agenda
 Introduction
 Tests:
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PSAT/NMSQT
SAT
SAT Subject Tests
ACT
Advanced Placement Tests
High School Assessments
Naviance
 Questions/Answers & Feedback
PSAT/NMSQT
PSAT/National Merit Scholarship
Qualifying Test
Benefits of the PSAT/NMSQT
 Good practice for the SAT Test
 Receive information from colleges and scholarship
services
 Receive information about college major interests
 Chance to qualify for scholarship programs (Juniors only):
– National Merit Scholarships
– National Achievement Program
– Hispanic Recognition Program
 Motivation to think actively about preparing for
college
Additional benefits of the
PSAT/NMSQT
 Receive personalized feedback on critical reading,
math, and writing skills, including suggestions for
improvement
 Receive information about each test question,
including correct answers with full explanations
online; students also have their actual test book
returned with their score reports
 Gain insight into how students’ academic skills
compare to their college-bound peers
What does the PSAT/NMSQT
actually test?
 Like the SAT, the test assesses the academic skills
that students develop over the years, primarily
through their course work.
 It measures reading and math reasoning and writing
skills that are critical for success in college.
How does the PSAT/NMSQT
compare to the SAT?
 Same question types, except the SAT includes an
optional essay assignment
 PSAT/NMSQT is 2 hours, 45 minutes; SAT is 3 hours plus
50 minutes for optional essay
 SAT will have a few math questions from third-year
math courses; PSAT/NMSQT will not.
PSAT/NMSQT
Content and Question Types
• 2 hours and 45 minutes
• Evidence-Based Reading and Writing
– Reading Test
– Writing and Language Test
• Math
PSAT/NMSQT
Content and Question Types
• Continued emphasis on reasoning alongside a
clearer, stronger focus on the knowledge, skills,
and understandings most important for college
and career readiness and success
• Greater emphasis on the meaning of words in
extended contexts and on how word choice
shapes meaning, tone, and impact
• Rights-only scoring (a point for a correct answer
but no deduction for an incorrect answer; blank
responses have no impact on scores)
PSAT/NMSQT
Content and Question Types
• Scores will be reported on a shared common
score scale with the SAT: The scale ranges for
the PSAT/NMSQT scores are 320–1520 for the
total score, 160–760 for each of two section
scores, and 8–38 for test scores.
• Subscores for every test, providing added insight
for students, parents, educators, and counselors
SAT Content and Questions
• Evidence-Based Reading and Writing
– Reading Test
– Writing and Language Test
• Math
• Essay (optional)
SAT Content and Questions
• Continued emphasis on reasoning alongside a
clearer, stronger focus on the knowledge, skills,
and understandings most important for college
and career readiness and success
• Greater emphasis on the meaning of words in
extended contexts and on how word choice
shapes meaning, tone, and impact
• Rights-only scoring (a point for a correct answer
but no deduction for an incorrect answer; blank
responses have no impact on scores)
SAT Content and Questions
• Optional Essay given at the end of the
SAT; postsecondary institutions determine
whether they will require the Essay for
admission
• 50 minutes to write the essay
• Tests reading, analysis, and writing skills;
students produce a written analysis of a
provided source text
SAT Content and Questions
• Scale ranging from 400 to 1600
• Scale ranging from 200 to 800 for EvidenceBased Reading and Writing; 200 to 800 for
Math; 2 to 8 on each of three dimensions for
Essay
• Essay results reported separately
• Subscores for every test, providing added insight
for students, parents, admission officers,
educators, and counselors
SAT Subject Tests
SAT Subject Tests
 Subject Tests fall into five subject areas:
– English, history, mathematics, sciences, and languages
 Subject tests measure a student’s knowledge and skills
in a particular subject and their ability to apply that
knowledge.
 Each subject test is one hour-multiple choice
 Students can take up to 3 tests on one day
 SAT Subject Tests are required by the most competitive
colleges
 The scores help colleges:
– determine how well prepared you are for different programs
– place you in freshman and higher level courses
– advise you on course selection
SAT Subject Tests
 Who Should Take the SAT Subject Tests?
- Students planning to apply to a most competitive college that requires
them, i.e. Cornell, JHU, Georgetown, Duke, Stanford
- Students enrolled in:
Algebra 2 G/T
Pre-calculus G/T
Biology G/T
Chemistry G/T
Physics G/T
US History GT
World History G/T
English 11 G/T
World Languages 3 to 4 years
Math Level 1
Math Level 2
Biology E/M
Chemistry
Physics
US History
World History
Literature
How Students Can Prepare for the
SAT
Challenge themselves throughout high school by taking
rigorous courses, including at least 3 years of math
Read and write as much as possible, both in & out of school
Familiarize themselves with the SAT so they know what to
expect on test day
Familiarize themselves with the different types of SAT
questions, the directions for each type of question, and how
the test is scored, so they know what to expect on test day
READ, READ, READ
Take SAT Preparation course offered at River Hill
Khan Academy through College Board
ACT
 An alternative to the SAT
 Scored from 1-36
 Has four sections:
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English
Math
Science
Reading
Optional Writing section
 Accepted by most colleges in lieu of SAT and SAT
Subject Tests
AP
Advanced Placement Exams
 Offered in Spring at the conclusion of AP course
 Scored from 1-5
 Most colleges give college credit for a score of 3, 4, or
5.
HSAs
High School Assessments
What are the HSAs?
 The HSAs are 2-3 hour exams made up of multiplechoice items (May Test).
 Exams are administered in the following classes:
– Biology
– American Government
Assessment Graduation
Requirements
 Pass Government HSA
 Pass Biology HSA
 Sit for PARCC Algebra I
 Sit for PARCC English 10
Are the HSA standards reasonable?
 Material covered by the tests is only about 60% of
the course content.
 Passing scores were intentionally set at a level
achievable for all students.
HSA Topics Covered by Subject
Biology
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Skills and Processes of Biology

Structure and Function of Biological Molecules
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Structure and Function of Cells and Organisms
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Inheritance of Traits
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Mechanism of Evolutionary Change
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Interdependence of Organisms in the Biosphere
HSA Topics Covered by Subject
Government
 U.S. Government Structure, Function, and Principles
 Systems of Government and Foreign Policy
 Protecting Rights and Maintaining Order
 Impact of Geography on Governmental Policy
 Economic Principles, Institutions, and Processes
HSA Passing/Minimum Scores
Passing Score
Minimum
Score
Biology
400
None
Government
394
None
HSA Preparation:
What We Do?
 In-class preparation throughout the year
 County assessments to mirror the HSAs
 Pull out remediation in some content areas
 After school program in spring, if funded by
county
HSA Preparation:
What Can You/Your Student Do?
 Take the exams seriously.
 Good night’s sleep; healthy breakfast!
 Relax---no need to cram!
 Support your student.
What happens if a student does not
pass an HSA?
 Parents are notified.
 Student may take appropriate review activity.
– HSA Mastery class.
– Online courses available.
– Online test item bank available.
 Student retakes the HSA.
2015 - 2016 Testing Schedule
• PSAT
Oct 14
– Paper Assessment
– Grades 10, 11
• PARCC
April 12-June 3
– Online Assessment
– Algebra I, II, English 10, 11
– Grades 9-12
• May HSA
– Online Assessment
– Government and Biology
May 23-June 10
Naviance
• Naviance.com
• Email your child’s counselor to set up an
account.
Feedback
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this evening.
 Your feedback helps to make sure we are providing
you with useful information.
 Thank You!