PSAT The PSAT is a standardized test offered by College Board as practice for the SAT - a commonly used college admissions test. It provides students an excellent opportunity to experience both the rigor and content tested on the SAT. The PSAT targets three key areas: critical reading skills, math problem-solving skills and writing skills. Not only can the PSAT provde legitimate practice for the SAT, but it also provides excellent feedback to students giving them information about their areas of academic strength and weakness. Students can also see how they compare nationally with other students preparing for college. All North Carolina sophomores are given the opportunity to take the Preliminary SAT free of charge. The PSAT is encouraged for students in their junior year as well, again for feedback, practice and preparation purposes, but also because College Board partners with the National Merit Scholarship Corporation entering qualified junior PSAT takers into the National Merit Scholarship competitions. Whereas the PSAT is free for sophomores, juniors will be charged $14 to take the test unless they qualify for a fee-waiver. The 2011 date for the PSAT given at WEMCHS is Wednesday, October 12th. SAT The SAT is a standardized test primarily used for college admission purposes. Students and parents often ask - when should I first take the SAT? I recommend that students take the PSAT in October of their junior year and then take the SAT in the Spring of this same year. This will give a great opportunity to gain experience, see what the test is all about and get rid of the first-time test jitters. It is also recommended that students take the SAT right away in their senior year - preferably in October or November. The SAT is made up of three content areas - Writing (writing mechanics, including an essay), Critical Reading (reading comprehension, vocabulary) and Mathematics. The test takes approximately 4 and a half hours to administer and is always given in Goldsboro at Goldsboro HS. These days, students are encouraged to register for the test online at www.collegeboard.org. As your son/daughter's counselor, I would be happy to assist them with the registration process. As far as preparing for the SAT, there are many avenues students have to choose from. Test prep materials can be found at any school or public library. Prep materials can also be found at College Board's website. CFNC (College Foundation of North Carolina) at www.cfnc.org also lists prep resources as well as ineedapencil.com. Students may even choose to enroll in the SAT Prep course at North Carolina Virtual High School (students should see their counselor for this option). Additionally, many commercial study/prep products are available to students through the Internet or at local bookstores. Students and/or parents are welcome to call me at 739-7072 if they have more specific questions or concerns.
SAT Test Dates for 2011-2012 Registration Deadline Test Date Sep. 9th Oct. 1st Oct. 7th Nov. 5th Nov. 8th Dec. 3rd Dec. 30th Jan. 28th Feb. 10th Mar. 10th Apr. 6th May 5th May 8th Jun. 2nd PLAN The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction has entered into a partnership with ACT, a 51–year old not-for-profit organization that provides educational assessment, research, information, and program management services. All North Carolina 10th graders will take the PLAN test. This test will measure what students have learned in their courses and help educators identify the information that students still need to learn to succeed in college or a career. The PLAN program helps 10th graders build a solid foundation for future academic and career success and provides information needed to address school districts' high-priority issues. It is a comprehensive guidance resource that helps students measure their current academic development, explore career/training options, and make plans for the remaining years of high school and post-graduation years. PLAN can help all students—those who are college-bound as well as those who are likely to enter the workforce directly after high school. For the 2011-2012 school year, sophomores at Wayne Early/Middle College will take the PLAN in December. There is no cost to the students for this test, but it is required of all current 10th grade students. ACT (American College Test) The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction has entered into a partnership with ACT, a 51–year old not-for-profit organization that provides educational assessment, research, information, and program management services. All North Carolina 11th graders will take the ACT test this March. This test will measure what students have learned in their courses and help educators identify the information that students still need to learn to succeed in college or a career. This test is provided free of charge for orth Carolina students. The ACT test measures what students have learned in their courses and measures their skills in English, math, science, reading and writing. The ACT helps students: · Understand what they need to learn next so they can build rigorous high school course plans. · Identify career areas that align with their interests. · Increase the likelihood that they will consider pursuing a college education.
The ACT is a college admissions test and has a great many similarities to the SAT. Most colleges do not express a preference between these two highly reliable testing instruments. Both are widely used throughout the US for college admission purposes. The ACT test has 4 main components: English, reading, science and mathematics. There is also an optional and highly recommended writing component. Many times students planning to enroll in a nursing program or science-related field will choose the ACT because of its science component.
Students choosing to take the ACT in addition to the March date must pay for the test and register at www.actstudent.org. Students are also encouraged to register. ACT Test dates for 2011-2012 Registration Deadline Test Date Aug. 12th Sept. 10th Sept. 16th Oct. 22nd Nov. 4th Dec. 10th Jan. 13th Feb. 11th Mar. 9th Apr. 14th May 4th Jun. 9th
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Work Keys Work Keys is a job skills assessment that we give to all juniors at the start of the school year. Work Keys tests student aptitudes in the areas of reading, locating information and math - the areas deemed necessary for entering today's work force. Based on performance, students can earn either a bronze, silver or gold national Career Readiness Certificate (CRC). For employers, the CRC offers a reliable means of determining whether a potential employee has the necessary literacy, numeracy and problem solving skills to be “job ready.” For job seekers, the CRC serves as a portable credential that can be more meaningful to employers than a high school degree or a resume citing experience in a different job setting. After the testing, students will have access to online tools including the ability to compare their scores with those needed for specific career fields. Work Keys is a required test for all Wayne County Public School students. |
