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Standardized Tests

Get those No. 2 pencils sharpened!  Like it or not, Standardized Tests are an inevitable part of the college search and admission puzzle.  Here are some clues to help you put the standardized testing pieces in place.

    The PSAE is required of all juniors in the state of Illinois.  It is a two-day exam.  The first day of the exam is the ACT.  The ACT results from the PSAE are considered "local" results and are accepted by nearly every college and scholarship in the country for post-high school planning, including the NCAA Clearinghouse for prospective student-athletes.  The second day of the PSAE exam features state-developed assessments in reading, science, and math.  All juniors who have earned a specified number credits by the start of their 6th semester are required to take the PSAE.  For questions regarding the PSAE, see Mrs. Steeves at school.
            Duration of Test:    10 hours over two days
            Cost of Test:     Free  
            Next Test Date:    April 22 & 23, 2009
                                           (Make-Up Test Dates May 6 & 7, 2009)
            For More Information:    http://www.isbe.net/assessment/psae.htm
 

        PLAN is a "Pre-ACT" test designed to help students measure their current academic development, explore career/training options, and make plans for the remaining years of high school and post-graduation years.  Just as with the ACT, students are assessed in the areas of English, Math, Reading, and Science Reasoning.  The tests measure what students know and what they are able to do with their knowledge.  PLAN scores are usually predictive of how a student will perform on the ACT.  Students take the PLAN in the spring of their sophomore year.
            Duration of Test:    3 hours
            Cost of Test:      N/A 
            Next Test Date & Location:    TBD- April 22 or 23, 2009
                                                               RHS
            For More Information:    http://www.act.org/plan/index.html

        Cosponsored by the College Board and the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, the PSAT serves as valuable practice for the SAT and is also used to select students for National Merit Scholarships.  Most students take the PSAT during the fall of their junior year.  If you are interested in taking the PSAT, see Mrs. Hudson in the Guidance Office.
            Duration of Test:    2 hours
            Cost of Test:   $17.00 DUE BY AUGUST 29, 2008    
            Next Test Date & Location:   October 15, 2008
                                                                7:30 a.m.
                                                                RHS  
            For More Information:   www.nationalmerit.org                                                        www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/psat/about.html                   

        The ACT is more of a content-based test than the SAT-I.  While still a test of problem-solving skills, the ACT more closely tests a student's knowledge of the "core curriculum" taught in most classrooms.  The ACT consists of subject tests in English, Math, Reading, Science Reasoning, and Writing.  Most students take the ACT in the spring of their junior year.  Students may re-take the ACT as many times as they like because most colleges consider only the student's highest score.  However, it is generally noted that scores do not improve after the third try.  The vast majority of colleges and universities attended by Romeoville H.S. students accept ACT scores as the only standardized test required.
        In 2005 the ACT added the optional Writing portion to the regular ACT test.  Most colleges are not currently requiring students to submit scores from the Writing portion of the test, but student should check with individual schools before deciding whether or not to complete the Writing section.  Click http://actrs19.act.org/app3/writPrefRM/ for more info.  The Writing portion of the test is given immediately following the regular test on the Saturdays below.
            Duration of Test:    3 - 5 hours
            Cost of Test:    $30.00 (no writing)
                                      $44.50 (ACT + writing)                                          
            Other Test Dates:      September 13, 2008 **
                                                October 25, 2008 **
                                                December 13, 2008
                                                February 7, 2009
                                                April 4, 2009 **
                                                June 13, 2009
                                   ** On the marked dates above, the ACT will be administered at RHS.
            For More Information:    www.act.org

        The SAT is designed to help measure a student's ability to handle college-level work.   The test consists of seven sections comprised of a variety of verbal and math questions.  The questions are written to measure a student's critical thinking and problem solving abilities.  Most students take the SAT-I in spring of their junior year, and many students take the SAT more than once because most colleges consider only the student's highest score.  Usually the only students who take the SAT-I are those considering very selective schools or those schools further away from the midwest. The vast majority of Romeoville H.S. students DO NOT take the SAT-I.
            Duration of Test:    3 hours
            Cost of Test:         $45   
            Test Dates:     October 4, 2008
                                     November 1, 2008
                                     December 6, 2008
                                     January 24, 2009
                                     March 14, 2009
                                     May 2, 2009
                                     June 6, 2009
            For More Information:  www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/sat/about/SATI.html

        There are 22 subject tests, each designed to measure what a student has learned in specific academic subjects such as Literature, American History, Biology, and Spanish.   SAT-II Subject Tests measure the extent of a student's knowledge in a specific discipline.
            Duration of Test:    1 hour per Subject Test (you  may take up to 3 tests per testing session)
            Cost of Test:    $29 - $49
            Test Dates:     October 4, 2008
                                     November 1, 2008
                                     December 6, 2008
                                     January 24, 2009
                                     May 2, 2009
                                     June 6, 2009
            For More Information:  www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/sat/about/SATII.html

        AP Exams are administered at the culmination of a student's enrollment in an Advanced Placement class.  AP classes give junior- and senior-level students the opportunity to take college-level courses while still in high school.  By doing well on the AP exam at the end of the course, students can earn credits toward their college graduation.  Romeoville H.S. offers AP courses in English, Calculus, Biology, Chemistry, US History, and European History.  Students cannot take an AP exam unless they have successfully completed the corresponding AP class.
            Duration of Tests:    2 - 3 hours
            Cost of Test:    See your AP teacher for details
            Next Test Date & Location:  See your AP teacher for details
            For More Information:    www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/ap/about.html

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