Standardized Testing
The student is responsible for determining which tests each individual college or university requires for admission to their school. Most colleges and universities require standardized tests as part of the application process. Most O’Dea students will take the SAT Reasoning test at least two times and we recommend that the students also take the ACT test at least once. Standardized testing should begin in the winter or spring of junior year. The ideal situation is for students to complete all of their testing by the end of junior year.
The student must register for the tests directly with the testing companies. You may register for all of these tests online (www.collegeboard.com or www.act.org) , which is the most efficient way to register. We do receive a very limited number of paper forms from the testing companies if you do not have access to the online registration. It is very important for the student to pay close attention to the deadlines for submitting the registration forms. It is also important to carefully follow the directions for completion of the registration forms. Your name, birth date and social security number must all match with those on your permanent record at O’Dea and with the same information you submit on your college applications. If there is a discrepancy in any of this information, there will be a delay in entering the scores with the colleges.
If you complete the registration properly, including our high school code (481-130), your scores will be sent to us and entered into our database but they are not entered on your official transcript. We do not assume responsibility for the official reporting of the scores to colleges. You must request that the testing company send your scores to the colleges to which you are applying.
Many colleges and universities require that the student have the testing companies send the official SAT Reasoning Test, SAT Subject Tests, and ACT reports directly to them. The University of Washington, Western Washington University and Washington State University require that test scores be sent directly to them by the testing services.
We strongly encourage students to take both the ACT and SAT Reasoning Test during the winter and spring of their junior year. Students must complete all testing by October/November of their senior year.
Freshman Year
The Explore test is a two-hour practice ACT test that we administer to all of our freshmen during school on Testing Day in October. As a "pre-ACT" test, the Explore is a powerful predictor of success on the ACT. The content of the Explore tests is closely tied to that of the achievement tests in the ACT, which is broadly used for college entrance and placement decisions. The testing booklet the student used will be returned with his score report so that he can discover areas where he may need to focus more of his efforts during study.
Sophomore Year
The PSAT (Preliminary SAT Test) is a two-hour test administered to all O’Dea sophomores and juniors in October. It is given at O’Dea on our testing day in October. The Counselors give the scores to the students as soon as we receive them, which is usually in late December or early January. Along with the scores, each student will receive his test booklet, which he can use to review those questions he answered incorrectly. This is a great place to start when a student begins to prepare for the SAT Test. The score report sheet itself thoroughly explains the meaning of the scores and extensive statistical data pertinent to national performance. The scores are reported on a scale of 20-80 points for the three test categories of Math, Critical Reading and Writing Skills. The scores for the PSAT tests are normed for sophomores and for juniors.
Junior Year
All of the juniors take another PSAT test on our testing day in October. The PSAT test that students take in junior year is also the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. The NMSQT determines a Selection Index score, which is the sum of the three test scores. By attaining a high “Selection Index” juniors may then qualify for National Merit Foundation recognition and scholarships. This places them in competition with all of the juniors in Washington who take the PSAT test.
Example: Critical Reading 56 + Math 62 + Writing Skills 59 = Selection Index 177
For the class of 2009, the National Merit Foundation conferred the semi-finalist status on those with a Selection Index of 217 or better. The National Merit Foundation provides the counseling office with a new qualification number each year, usually by the end of summer. O’Dea semi-finalists are notified of their standing in late September.
Juniors will begin to take the SAT Reasoning Test and the ACT in the winter and spring.
SAT
O’Dea High School CEEB code: 481-130
Register for SAT Test
The best way to register for these tests is online (SAT- www.collegeboard.com). You should register for a site that is close to your home or one with which you are familiar. You should register early as the sites fill very quickly. You will create an account that you will use to send scores and register for other tests. It is important to keep the username and password in a place that you can easily find for future use.
SAT-Score Choice
When a student registers for any SAT tests beginning with the March 2009 test, you will be offered the option of Score Choice. This new feature gives you the option to choose to send SAT scores by sitting (test date) and SAT Subject Test scores by individual test at no additional cost.. The CollegeBoard will send the scores from the entire SAT Test (critical reading, mathematics, and writing)—you can never choose to send scores of individual sections independently. If you do not choose this option, The CollegeBoard sends all of the scores from each testing time.
It is important that students realize that colleges set their own test requirements. These policies vary from college to college. The CollegeBoard will attempt to have a listing on their website that may clarify the individual college requirements. If you do not follow the college’s requirements, they may consider your application incomplete.
Most colleges consider a student’s best score so there is no disadvantage to sending all scores. Some colleges will select the student’s best section score (critical reading, math, writing) from different sittings (test dates) so it is an advantage to send all scores. For example, if a student had a better critical reading score when he took the test in March than when he took it in May, but his math score was better in May the college would use the March critical reading score but they would use the May math score.
O’Dea’s Counseling Department recommends that students send all of their scores to each college to which they intend to apply. Students should send their scores to all of their four “free” colleges at the time of each registration. There is no advantage to trying to “game” the system by trying to get better scores before you send any scores to colleges. This could cause a delay in evaluating your applications and your applications will be incomplete at some colleges if you have not sent them all of your scores. We strongly recommend that you do not use this option and that you send all of your scores to all of the colleges to which you are applying. If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Eulberg.
Components of SAT Test
The SAT Test is composed of three separate sections: Critical Reading, Math, and Writing. Each section of the SAT will generate scores ranging from 200 to 800, so the total score ranges from 600 to 2400.
Critical Reading
- Two 25 minute sections, one 20 minute section
- Emphasis on critical thinking
- Long reading passages range from 500-800 words
- Short reading passages will be paragraphs of 100 words
- Vocabulary tested in context of reading passages
Writing
- 25 minute student written essay; 35 minute multiple choice
- Emphasis on grammar, usage and word choice
- Multiple choice questions to identify sentence errors, to improve sentences and paragraphs
- Essay writing to demonstrate ability to support a viewpoint or position on a topic
Math
- Two 25 minute sections, one 20 minute section
- Graphing calculator use strongly recommended
- Ten questions require students to produce their own responses and enter into special grids on the answer sheet
- Algebra II included
- Emphasis on data interpretation and applied math questions
Scoring
- Scores for each test range from 200 to 800
- Total score is the combination of each test score and the range can be from 600 to 2400
- Some colleges and universities use your best writing score, your best critical reading score and your best math score to determine your total score. You should check with the individual schools to ascertain their policy in this matter
- All of your test scores will be reported on the official CEEB report.
- There will be a deduction for every incorrect answer so unless you are able to eliminate at least a few of the answers, you should not guess.
SAT Subject Tests
The SAT Subject Tests measure students’ abilities in selected subjects. Students should determine if the Subject Tests are required in the application process for the colleges to which they are interested in applying. Scores for each of the Subject Tests range from a low of 200 to a high of 800. Each Subject Test is one hour in length. The tests may be offered on the same day as the SAT Reasoning Test but you cannot take both the SAT Test and the SAT Subject Tests on the same day. Students may take as many as three SAT Subject Tests on the same day.
Many highly selective colleges require two or three of the SAT Subject Tests. Be sure to thoroughly investigate if the college requires these tests and if there are specific subject tests that they require. The best time in the school year to take the SAT Subject tests is in June of junior year after you have completed the course work for the selected subject/s.
ACT
ACT Registration
The easiest and most efficient way to register for the ACT Test is online at www.act.org. You will create an account that you will use to send scores and register for other tests. It is important to keep the username and password in a place that you can easily find for future use. You should register for a site that is close to your home or one with which you are familiar. You should register early as the sites fill very quickly. Students can register for the ACT Assessment Test or the ACT Assessment Plus Writing Test. Students who do not elect to take the Writing Test may take the ACT Assessment only. The optional Writing Test is administered after the rest of the ACT test has been completed. Most colleges require the Writing portion of the test so we strongly recommend that you take the ACT plus Writing so that if the ACT score is your highest, every college can use it. You should print out your admission ticket when prompted to do so during the registration process. You must bring that admission ticket with you on the day of the test.
O’Dea High School Code: 481-130
Composition of ACT Test
The ACT Assessment is designed to assess high school students’ general educational development and their ability to complete college level work. The tests cover four skill areas: English, Mathematics, Reading and Science Reasoning. All colleges accept either the SAT Reasoning Test or the ACT for admission. Students should check the colleges’ catalogs for specific standardized testing requirements.
The ACT includes 215 multiple-choice questions and actual testing time is two hours and fifty-five minutes.
There are five scores for the ACT, one for each test area and a composite score, which is the average of the four individual scores. If the student chooses to take the optional writing test he will receive a combined English/Writing score. Each score can range from 1 to 36.
Composition of ACT Test Questions
English (25%)
- Usage/Mechanics
- Punctuation
- Basic Grammar/Usage
- Sentence structure
- Rhetorical Skills
- Strategy
- Organization
- Style
Mathematics (25%)
- Pre-Algebra/Elementary Algebra
- Intermediate Algebra
- Coordinate Geometry
- Plane Geometry/Trigonometry
Reading (25%)
- Arts/Literature
- Prose Fiction
- Humanities
- Social Studies/Sciences
- History, Political Science
- Biology, Chemistry
- Physics, Physical Science
Science Reasoning (25%)
- Interpretation, analysis, evaluation, reasoning, and problem solving skills required in Biology
- Physical Sciences, Chemistry and Physics
Scoring
- Each test area will receive a score from 1-36
- There are no deductions for incorrect answers, so you should answer every question
- The composite score is the average of all four areas
- If the optional writing test is taken, the score will be reported as English/Writing and will have a score of 1-36
- The essay will be scored by two readers who will give scores of 1-6 each
- The Writing sub score will range from 2-12
- One to four descriptive comments about the essay’s strengths and weaknesses
- The student can choose which ACT testing date scores to send to colleges. For example, if the student took the ACT in April and October, he can send only the April scores if he chooses
Test Day Preparation - SAT & ACT
When to Arrive
Students who are registered should plan to arrive at the test center by 7:45a.m. on the day of the test. Testing starts about 8:00a.m and ends about 1:00p.m. There will be a short break at the end of each hour of testing time. You can eat or drink any snacks that you bring with you during the breaks.
What to Bring
Students must bring:
- Their Web Ticket or Admission Ticket
- Acceptable identification (see Website for details-www.collegeboard.com or www.act.org)
- Two #2 pencils and a good eraser,
- An acceptable calculator (see Website for details- www.collegeboard.com or www.act.org)
Students may also bring a watch (without audible alarm) and a bag or backpack (to be kept under their seat).
Students are not allowed to bring anything else into the room. No food or drink is allowed during testing.
Fee Waivers
Fee waivers are available to high school juniors and seniors who cannot afford the SAT and ACT test fees. There are ACT fee waivers, which cover the cost of the basic fee and the writing fee if you choose to take the writing test. SAT Fee waivers cover the basic testing fees for the SAT Reasoning Test or the SAT Subject Tests and either the Questions and Answer Service or the Student Answer Services. Eligible students may use up to two SAT Reasoning fee waivers and up to two SAT Subject Tests fee waivers. The use of SAT or ACT fee waivers may qualify you for up to four college application fee waivers and a fee waiver for the NCAA Eligibility Center. Fee Waivers cover only the cost of the basic fee, the student must pay any standby, site change, date change, test change and late fees. Please see Mrs. Eulberg if you need any fee waivers.