Wilson High School
College Entrance Exams (SAT/ACT)
| Quick Links to College Entrance Testing Information: |
| SAT vs. ACT Comparison Chart |
| SAT Subject Area Tests |
| Test Preparation Resources |
| PSAT |
PSAT
The PSAT is administered to all Sophomores and Juniors during the school day each year in October. The test is provided free-of-charge to all PPS Sophomores; Juniors must pay a nominal fee, except for students who qualify for free or reduced lunch. Sophomores should plan a course of study for the Junior-year PSAT based on their sophomore-year scores. Qualification for the National Merit Scholarship Program is based on junior-year scores. Find more information here.
The PSAT and SAT tests have changed. Learn more here.
ACT
The ACT is administered free-of-charge to all Juniors during the school day each year in the spring. The testing date for all PPS juniors in 2016 is March 15th; Wilson students will do their testing at Wilson.
Like the SAT, the ACT exam is a national college-readiness exam. Almost every college uses ACT scores in their admissions process. In addition to the importance for admission, taking the ACT may open the door to scholarships or other financial aid that can make college more affordable. If you plan to find a job after graduation, the ACT results are still useful because they will show whether our schools are helping students learn the skills they need for well-paid jobs.
The ACT covers English, math, reading, science and writing. The test publisher will mail your student’s results to your home and will provide your student’s school with a copy of the results. Students’ scores won’t affect their school grades, but they will want to do their best, especially if they are aiming for college admission or scholarships. Much more information on the ACT exam is available at www.actstudent.org. Scroll down to the bottom of the page for ACT study resources.
Practice SAT/ACT
The Counseling Department offers a practice SAT and a practice ACT once every year for a reasonable fee (the profits benefit PTA). This is a good opportunity to experience what the real test will be like, and the results provide a helpful basis for study for the real test. Look for announcements in the fall and winter.
SAT and ACT Test Dates and Registration Information
SAT/ACT Fee Waiver
If you qualify for free or reduced lunch, you are eligible for an SAT/ACT fee waiver. Once you use a fee waiver for the SAT or ACT, you will then be eligible to apply to up to six Common Application schools with no application fee. Be sure to renew your application every year and save your letter of eligibility. See your counselor to sign up for the fee waiver.
Wilson CEEB Code: 380937
SAT
Fee: $54.50 with essay, October-June; $43 no essay, March-June
Late Registration Fee: $28.00
Register online at www.collegeboard.org
Fee: $56.50 with writing; $39.50 without writing
Late Registration Fee: $25.00
Register online at www.act.org
When Should I Take the SAT/ACT?
There are different strategies: students who take college entrance exams at the end of Junior year might score higher, having completed the year of math. Other students feel more comfortable taking their exams early in Junior year, so that they will have ample time take the exams again after focused study on areas that need improvement.
SAT, ACT, Which Test Should I Take?
Many students take both, but depending on which schools you plan to apply to and which test better matches your test-taking style, you may choose to take just one or the other. Consult the admissions website or counselor for the schools you are interested in, or consult your Wilson Counselor. All PPS students are provided the opportunity to take the PSAT (sophomore year) and ACT (junior year) for free, during the school year. The PSAT is in October, the ACT is in March.
SAT vs. ACT Comparison Chart
The following chart will help you understand the structure and content of the SAT and the ACT.
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SAT | ACT |
| Length: | 3 hours, 45 minutes | 3 hours, 25 minutes (including 30 minutes of the optional writing test). |
| Structure: | 10 sections: 3 critical reading, 3 mathematics, 3 writing (Including the essay portion), 1 experimental (not scored). | 4 sections (plus optional writing test): English, mathematics, reading, science, writing. |
| Subjects: | Critical reading with vocabulary, mathematics (Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and algebra II), writing. | English, mathematics (arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and trigonometry), reading, and science. Writing is optional but strongly advised. |
| Reading: | Reading passages with questions pertaining to comprehension, style, and vocabulary. | 4 passages with 10 questions per passage pertaining to comprehension, style, and vocabulary. |
| Science: | N/A | Science analysis of given information, graph reading, and problem solving with given information. |
| Mathematics: | Arithmetic, geometry, algebra I and II. | Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and trigonometry. |
| Essay: | Required. | Optional, but strongly recommended. |
| Score Composition: | 1/3 critical reading, 1/3 mathematics, 1/3 writing. | ¼ English, ¼ mathematics, ¼ reading, and ¼ science. |
| Scoring: | Aggregate score 600-24— based on total of 3 subtest scores (200-800) for reading, mathematics, and writing. Score of 2-12 on essay. | Composite score 1-36 based on average of 4 subtest scores for English, mathematics, reading, and science. Score of 0-12 for essay. |
| Penalties: | Lose ¼ point for each wrong answer. | No penalties for wrong answers. |
| Sending scores to colleges and scholarship agencies: | Students must request scores sent from the College Board. Students may pay extra for “Score Choice” allowing them to choose specific test date’s scores be sent. | Student must request scores sent from ACT. Students may select which test date’s scores to send or may send them all. |
| Registration, practice, and additional information: | www.collegeboard.org |
www.act.org |
Should I Take SAT Subject Area Tests?
SAT Subject Tests are not required at the majority of colleges and universities in the United States. However, many of the country’s most elite colleges, (Stanford, the Ivy League, and many private colleges in general) do require two or more SAT Subject tests. You cannot take the Subject Tests on the same day you take the SAT, so plan ahead. You can take up to three Subject Tests at the same test session and they are offered on most SAT dates.Subject Tests are offered in: literature, biology, chemistry, physics, math levels 1 and 2, US history, world history, French, Spanish, Latin, German, and Modern Hebrew.
Be sure to get more information from the college’s website. In some cases the ACT with Writing can substitute for the SAT Subject tests, and colleges change their admissions criteria frequently. Colleges may require certain tests, for example: Literature, one science, one test of the student’s choice.
Students may take Subject Tests at any time. It is a good idea to take the test immediately after completing study for that subject, for example, you might take the chemistry test at the end of 10th grade if you do not plan to take any further chemistry courses.
Registration and Testing Dates
SAT Subject Tests are offered 6 times per year in October, November, December, January, May and June.
SAT and ACT Test Preparation Resources
There are many resources to help you prepare for the SAT or ACT. Below are a few of them, listed from least to most expensive. Keep in mind that:
- Scores from SAT or ACT tests are just one piece of your college application.
- To do your best on either test, it is a good idea to become familiar with the test format, take at least one practice test beforehand, and review math concepts and vocabulary.
- While a class can provide structure and motivation, you may achieve similar test results through less expensive options, especially if you are disciplined about preparing.
- Be skeptical of claims that your score will improve a certain number of points through a particular program—many of these claims are based on pretests that are more difficult than the actual test.
|
Resource |
Tests |
What It Provides |
How to Access It |
Approximate |
|
SAT, ACT |
Online practice questions and tips, electronic flashcards |
www.number2.com, If you'd like, you can name or other "coach" to help track your progress. |
Free |
|
|
Test Study Guides |
SAT, ACT |
Concept review, test-taking strategies, and practice tests |
Libraries and bookstores carry a number of these books from various publishers. The Wilson College and Career Center has several prep guides as well. |
Free from CCC or Library |
|
Chegg Online Test Prep |
SAT, ACT |
Books, online tutors, online courses |
SAT Test Prep: http://www.chegg.com/test-prep/sat ACT Test Prep: http://www.chegg.com/test-prep/act |
Currently free |
|
ACT Online Prep Program |
ACT |
Practice tests and essay, with real-time scoring, and content review |
www.actstudent.org, Click on "Test Prep." |
$20 |
|
College Board's Online SAT Prep Course |
SAT |
Interactive lessons, practice tests, automated scoring and essay analysis |
http://sat.collegeboard.org/practice, Site has free and lower cost resources, like sample questions and tests, as well a fee-based online course |
free - $70 |
|
Portland Community College |
SAT, ACT |
6-week online courses emphasizing skill building and test-taking strategies |
www.pcc.edu/schedule, Click on “Non-Credit Classes,” then “Test Preparation” (under letter T) to find classes. Part 1 is for verbal and Part 2 for math portions of tests. |
$95 each, Verbal or Math |
|
Saturday Academy |
SAT, ACT |
Classes emphasizing subject review, test strategies, and practice tests |
http://www.saturdayacademy.org, Click on “Classes & Workshops,” then “College Prep.” SAT classes usually offered March/April/May and October/November, ACT class usually October/November. |
$180-$360 |
|
Sherwood Test Prep |
SAT, ACT |
Prep class with 18 total hours of instruction |
www.sherwoodtest.com, SAT and ACT classes offered throughout the year. |
$400 |
|
Kaplan |
SAT, ACT |
Classroom and online courses, tutoring options |
$600 classroom, $300 online |
|
|
Princeton Review |
SAT, ACT |
Classroom and online courses, tutoring options |
$600+ classroom, $170 online |
|
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Private Tutoring |
All Tests |
Personalized individual or small-group tutoring |
Ask for referrals to private tutors from friends, ask the Wilson Counseling Office, or search online. Be careful to screen potential tutors. |
$20-$100 per hour |
|
Peterson's |
All Tests |
SAT/ACT prep software |
products range from free to $25 and up |
PSAT for Sophomores and Juniors
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Sophomores should plan a course of study for the junior-year PSAT based on their sophomore-year scores. Qualification for the National Merit Scholarship Program is based on junior-year scores.  PSAT Letter 2015
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PSAT Schedule for Wednesday, October 14th
All Students
Start school at usual 8:15am start time
Sophomores and Juniors
8:15-11:59 am: PSAT Testing
Freshmen
8:15-11:59: 9th-grade assembly in the Gym
Seniors
8:15-9:48am: 1st-period study hall in the Drama/Music Hallway
10:00-11:59: 12th-grade assembly in the Auditorium
All Students
11:59-12:31pm: Lunch
| After lunch, all students go to their Period 1-4 classes following this schedule: | |
| 12:36-1:12pm: | Period 1 |
| 1:17-1:53pm: | Period 2 |
| 1:58-2:34pm: | Period 3 |
| 2:39-3:15pm: | Period 4 |
All Juniors and Sophomores will take the PSAT at Wilson on October 14th, 2015. The Oregon Department of Education provides the exam free of charge to all 10th-graders. It is important for Juniors to take the exam, even if they took it as Sophomores, so we also want all of our 11th-graders to participate.
On October 14th all students will begin school at the regular 8:15am start time. All Sophomores and Juniors will take the PSAT exam starting at 8:15am and ending at 11:30am. The math and social studies halls will be reserved for testing and only students taking the PSAT will be admitted to these halls. Signs in the main hall starting October 12th will tell students their testing room. Students need to bring their ID, 2 sharpened pencils and an approved calculator (https://www.collegeboard.org/psat-nmsqt/approved-calculators).
Freshmen and Seniors will attend class assemblies while Sophomores and Juniors are taking the test. The Freshman Assembly is from 8:15-11:30am in the Gym and will focus on the prevention of bullying.
Seniors will be in a Career and College Assembly from 10:00-11:30am in the Auditorium with break-out sessions in the Drama/Music hallways. Seniors who arrive prior to 10:00am will go to a classroom in the Drama/Music hallway where they can study.
The PSAT gives meaningful feedback to students to help them prepare for college and their post-secondary goals and helps students prepare for the SAT. On average, students who take the PSAT/NMSQT score 145 points higher on the SAT than those students who do not. Students who take the PSAT also have free access to My College QuickStart, an on-line college-and-career planning tool. It is powered by student responses to the test and provides personalized information that helps students take their next steps toward college, explore majors and careers, and get a personalized SAT study plan. Because WHS is focused on college-and-career-readiness, we believe that this feedback to 11th-graders is essential and relevant.
Also, it is during the junior year that students can qualify for the National Merit Scholarship program by demonstrating academic achievement on the PSAT. Students who qualify for recognition in the National Merit Program are notified through Wilson in September of the following school year. Approximately 9,200 students win the scholarship nationwide each year and we would like to have more Wilson students earn this recognition.
There is no fee for Sophomores to take the test; there is a $20 fee for Juniors to take the PSAT. Students who qualify for a free or reduced lunch rate can register for the PSAT for $5. Many Juniors paid for the PSAT during registration. If Juniors have not paid yet, see the bookkeeper prior to Friday, October 2, 2015.
Email Wilson Testing Coordinator Candace Rhodes with any questions.
Free PSAT Study Resources
http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/psat/about/html
http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/psat/prep.html
Explains what is on the test and includes practice questions for each section: critical reading, math and writing skills. The “Official Student Guide” has test-taking tips and a full-length practice test.
http://www.studyguidezone.com/pdfs/psatteststudyguide.pdf
68-page pdf study guide for the PSAT. Contains sample test questions with answers and explanations. General information and what to expect on the test day is also included.
http://www.studyguidezone.com/psattest.htm
Includes a link for writing, reading, and math practice questions in addition to general test information.
http://www.free-test-online.com/psatnmsqt-test
Includes test questions for the Grid-In section and multiple choice. There is a link for the explanation of the differences between the SAT/PSAT and ACT/PSAT tests.
http://www.testpreppractice.net/PSAT/Free-Online-PSAT-Practice-Tests.aspx
Offers several practice tests for each section of the PSAT. Good information on the text structure, how the test answers are weighted and what your test score means.
http://www.brightstorm.com/psat
Site includes a question and answer section, videos, practice sections, flashcards, practice tests and personalized reports.
http://www.testpreview.com/psat_practice.htm
(after psat there is an _ in the web address) Site includes practice tests in basic & advanced algebra, averages & rounding and basic operations.
http://www.nationalmerit.org/student_guide.pdf
(after student there is an _ in the web address) Full printable pdf file. Practice tests in math.
