Welcome to

PSAE Test Prep

Today’s Goals Everyone should prepare!

Take pressure off of you!

Share strategies and tips!

Answer your questions!

Mrs. McCarthy

PSAE 2011

Wednesday, April 27 and Thursday, April 28

Registration will take place in CUP the week of April 18-NO MOVEMENT until after testing (state requirement)

Contact? Mrs. Woodbury-Guidance

Review

Is the PSAE a graduation requirement?Yes, yes, yes, yes…

Does my ACT score matter if I’m going to ECC?Yes, yes, yes, yes…

What’s ACT online prep? www.actonlineprep.com- Practice tests

Lifetime Income based on Level of Education

Lifetime Income Based on Level of Education

$0

$500,000

$1,000,000

$1,500,000

$2,000,000

$2,500,000

$3,000,000

Level of Education

Lif

eti

me In

co

me

Series1 $740,000 $1,000,000 $1,170,000 $1,230,000 $1,730,000 $1,980,000 $2,650,000

Less Than a HS Diploma

HS DiplomaSome College, No

DegreeAssociate

DegreeBachelor's

DegreeMaster's Degree Doctorate Degree

Day One: What is the ACT?

3 1/2 hour exam including writing Test of problem-solving skills Reading test It is NOT an IQ test! Average DCHS score is 19.6 out of

36

What a difference a few right answers

makes!

Scale Score# of Correct Answers on the

English Section# of Correct Answers on

the Math Section

19 41 26

20 43 29

     

30 68 50

31 70 52

Total Questions: 75 Total Questions: 60

ACT Test Subjects

EnglishMath

ReadingScienceWriting

Between now and the test:

Take command of your test-taking!

USE THE ACT ONLINE PREP-remember the February CUP information!

www.actonlineprep.comLogin:firstnamelastnamePass: School ID#

The Night Before the Test:Don’t study!

Gather the following items:ID – driver license, etc.Sharpened #2 pencils - not mechanicalA watch WITHOUT an alarmAppropriate calculator with fresh batteries

Snack for break - granola bar, etc.Relax, get enough sleep - Don’t stress!

The Day of the Test:Dress in layers so you can adjust to the

room temperature.Eat breakfast - no caffeine if you aren’t

used to it - limited bathroom breaks!Read something to warm up your brain

like the newspaper.The test starts at 7:40am – arrive early!

Come with a positive attitude!

General Test-Taking Strategies

Pace yourself Pay attention to spoken directions Answer the easy questions first On more difficult questions, narrow

answers Answer every question Plan to check your work Mark your answer document carefully Erase unwanted marks completely

Should I guess on the ACT?

If you have to, Yes! ACT scores are based on the

number of correct answers-wrong answers don’t count against your score.

Budget your time wisely!

Quick Tips…English

OMIT-when OMIT appears it’s probably the right answer (use your judgment)

Select the shortest answerIGNORE phrases between subjects and

verbsEliminate answers you know are

incorrectDon’t mix and match , - ( )

Quick Tips…Reading

Approach the passages and questions in order of comfort level

Don’t spend too much time on any one answer (8 minutes, 45 seconds per passage)

Be an active reader-annotate the textBreak down words you don’t know

(remember your roots)It’s a skill-PRACTICE (ACT online prep)

Quick Tips…Writing

Take a position-MOST IMPORTANTUse transitionsAddress the counter argumentPre-write (not too long)Don’t be afraid to have fun with your

language (use complex sentences and vary your sentence starts)

Illegible responses are ZEROS

Day Two:WorkKeys!

It matters! Reading, math, science Colleges receive scores Future employers refer to these

results PSAE=Day 1 + Day 2 Meet or exceed PSAE=no finals

Check for Understanding… Name the 5 parts (subjects tested) of the ACT

English, math, reading, science and writing Should you guess (if you have to) on the ACT?

YES! What’s one thing you should do the night before the test?

ID – driver license, etc. Sharpened #2 pencils - not mechanical A watch WITHOUT an alarm Appropriate calculator with fresh batteries Snack for break - granola bar, etc. Relax, get enough sleep - Don’t stress!

Check for Understanding… When the answer _____ appears on the English test, it could be

the right answer. OMIT

What’s the best way to improve for the reading test? PRACTICE

What’s the most important thing to remember about the writing test? Take a position

Does Day 2, the Work Keys exam, matter for PSAE? Yes!

Questions…