PSAE: The Intro What is it? How do I prepare?. PSAE Basics: What is it? Stands for: Prairie State...

PSAE: The Intro

What is it?How do I prepare?

PSAE Basics: What is it?

• Stands for: Prairie State Achievement Exam

• It’s 2 days of tests

• Combines your scores from the ACT (day 1) and WorkKeys (day 2) to determine if you meet the Illinois Standards

• It’s a Graduation Requirement!

• It’s a Senior Promotion Requirement!

PSAE Basics: When is it?

Day 1: ACT – Wed, April 23, 2014

Day 2: Work Keys – Thursday, April 24, 2014

PSAE BreakdownDAY 1 DAY 2

ACTEnglishMathReadingScience

Measures College Readiness

WorkKeys Applied Mathematics Reading for Information Science

Measures Career Readiness

Score Range

:1-36

PSAE Day 1: ACTENGLISH

75 Questions45 minutesPunctuation, Grammar, Sentence Structure, Style, Organization

READING

40 Questions35 minutes…Pacing is KEY!!4 Passages (8-9 min per passage)Main Idea, Vocabulary, Development, Voice, Implied Idea, Explicit Detail, Application

MATH

60 Questions60 minutesEasy HardPre-Algebra (14Q), Elementary/Intermediate Algebra (19Q), Geometry (23Q), Trig (4Q)

SCIENCE

40 Questions35 minutesInterpretation of graphs and charts!!Data Representation (15Q), Research Summary (18Q), Conflicting Viewpoint (7Q)

Let’s talk ACT

Did you know you can take the ACT before April?Set up an account on www.actstudent.orgYou’re eligible for 2 fee waivers per year

Getting ½ of the questions correct is enough to enter many 2 and 4-year Colleges without paying $$ for remedial classes. That’s a score of 18-20!

Did you know that getting a score of 13 is the same as choosing one letter all the way through?

ACT Facts:

ACT Facts: What do IL schools want?

• U of I at Champaign-Urbana….22 with a strong G.P.A.

• UIC…. 22 with a strong G.P.A.

• Chicago State University….18 or higher

• Northeastern….19 or higher, or top 50% rank

• Southern Illinois University-Carbondale…18 with a strong G.P.A.

• NIU….19 with a strong G.P.A.

ACT Q: why do I want to go to college?

A:

20+ is a great score, but difficult to attain…

• AHS averages over the past 5 years have ranged from 15.6 -17.0, which is below College Readiness Standards

• The good news is that with good preparation, you can raise your score!

• Just getting a few more questions right in each subject will bump your score those extra couple points!

Let’s take a 2nd look..PSAE Day 1: ACT

ENGLISH

75 Questions45 minutesPunctuation, Grammar, Sentence Structure, Style, Organization

READING

40 Questions35 minutes…Pacing is KEY!!4 Passages (8-9 min per passage)Main Idea, Vocabulary, Development, Voice, Implied Idea, Explicit Detail, Application

MATH

60 Questions60 minutesEasy HardPre-Algebra (14Q), Elementary/Intermediate Algebra (19Q), Geometry (23Q), Trig (4Q)

SCIENCE

40 Questions35 minutesInterpretation of graphs and charts!!Data Representation (15Q), Research Summary (18Q), Conflicting Viewpoint (7Q)

Now for the goods: How to prepare for the ACT

• Let’s do an exercise together–First I’ll show you how•Then you’ll do it on your own–PRIZES will be available to those who complete this very easy assignment!»Yes, I said PRIZES!

• Step 1: Find a computer during an acceptable time..

Step 2: Go to www.whatsnextillinois.org

Step 3: Sign inAccount name:cps########

Password:cps########

DON’T ENTER #s, Enter YOUR OWN ID #!

all lower-case!!

Step 4: reset your password

Make your life easy! Make your new password:

cps########

Step 5. Enter some personal information…

Next steps:6. Click College planning

7. Click Test Prep

8. Look! Pick one test prep option

testGEAR

Number 2

Example—Number2

Click on ACT

Click BEGIN TEST PREP

Pick a practice test, any test

I’ll pick Pre Algebra..remember there are _?_ pre-algebra Qs on the ACT

Pick an answer and Submit

No worries if you get it wrong—check out the hint, and try

again..

Look! They show you how to get the right

answer!

Print results to show me how you did…

ONE practice test on NUMBER 2

OR 5 testGEAR practorials (20 Qs)

Questions?

Alright, Vikings…

• Let’s kick some ACT butt!

• Action steps: – Online prep homework– Create a study plan and start putting it

to work– Consider signing up for a National ACT

test

• Need one-on-one guidance…

See Mr. Ebrahimi!