2016 ACT Practice Initiative

As a response to the phaseout of the EXPLORE and PLAN tests for our 8th and 10th graders to help predict their performance on and prepare them for the ACT, Collierville Schools will now provide that opportunity to its 8th, 9th, 10th, and 11th graders each September.

8th graders take an actual ACT test that has been pared down to match the original item numbers, skills, and standards assessed by the EXPLORE in hopes of providing some early performance feedback to our rising Freshmen. Current high school students take a full, proctored and timed ACT test which, like the abbreviated version for our 8th graders, is intended to give students a better grasp on their strengths and teachers a clearer direction for both sustaining and supporting future learning. Students additionally have an earlier exposure to the ACT to begin building their comfort with the testing format and experience, and because research indicates that students who begin testing earlier and repeat testing show gains much higher than their peers who test later or only once, it’s an important first step towards their readiness.

This document accompanies the individual student score reports and will explain the ACT College and Career Readiness benchmarks. Additionally, the process for translating student scores for each subject area and compiling a composite are provided along with a skills analysis for each subject area test. Students and parents can use these item analyses as a great tool to identify areas of need as a next step towards improving scores.

And because so many of the TNReady standards align with and overlap those of the ACT, we would hope that these next steps would garner improvement on each.

College and Career Readiness Benchmarks

The Benchmarks are scores on the ACT subject-area tests that represent the level of achievement required for students to have a 50% chance of obtaining a B or higher or about a 75% chance of obtaining a C or higher in corresponding credit-bearing first-year college courses. These college courses include English composition, college algebra, introductory social science courses, and biology. Based on a sample of 214 institutions and more than 230,000 students from across the United States, the Benchmarks are median course placement values for these institutions and as such represent a typical set of expectations. The ACT College Readiness Benchmarks are:

The basis for the required 21 cumulative score to earn the HOPE Scholarship is based on these readiness benchmarks. Regardless of your performance on this test, don’t feel that it is an accurate and final prediction of your future success. Use these scores and these skills analyses to focus your work on making improvements where they are needed while continuing to strengthen those areas in which you have an aptitude.

It’s important to note that of last year’s graduating class only about 25% of students met all four benchmarks nationally, and about one-third failed to meet any of the four benchmarks. At Collierville High, just shy of 50% of our graduates met all four of their benchmarks. We think that practice tests like these and the results our students receive helps them outperform their peers across the state and across the nation.

College Course ACT Subject Area Score

English Composition 18 : English

College Algebra 22 : Mathematics

Social Sciences 22 : Reading

Biology 23 : Science

College and Career Readiness Standards

Standards refer to the specific skills and knowledge a student needs to master in order to be successful either in their collegiate studies or in their chosen career. What your score says is that you may have mastered some skills, but you still need work on others. If you take your score and compare it to the score ranges attached to the standards, your performance will indicate that you’ve likely mastered the skills for all the score ranges below your score and possibly some above. So as you look at your score, think about those standards above your score and how you might find some help in strengthening your abilities with those.

The standards associated with our practice are available for download by clicking here or at the following web address:

https://www.act.org/content/act/en/education-and-career-planning/college-and-career-readiness-standards.html

Please note that there are no standards designated for scores below 13. ACT explains on their standards site that scores below a 13 indicate that students “are most likely beginning to develop the knowledge and skills assessed in the other ranges.”

Most importantly, at the bottom of each standards sheet there is a link to “Ideas for Progress.” Clicking the link for each score range will give you specific feedback on what you need to know to improve your score within that range.

Creating Your Score

At the top of each of your four subject area reports, beneath your name, you’ll see information similar to the graphic below:

Pay closest attention to Your Score - this is the number of questions you answered correctly out of the total number of questions (not the percentage) - this is your Raw Score. You need this number to determine your Scale Score. Write each Raw Score in the spaces provided below:

English - __________ Mathematics - __________ Reading - __________ Science - __________

Use the chart to find your Raw Score for each subject area to determine your Scale Score. Write each Scale Score in the spaces provided below:

English - __________ Mathematics - __________ Reading - __________ Science - __________

To determine your Composite Score - your overall performance for the test - add the four Scale Scores together & divide that number by four. Round any fraction to the nearest whole number:

Sum of scores - ____________ / 4

=

Composite Score - ____________

Scale ScoresRaw ScoresRaw ScoresRaw ScoresRaw Scores

Scale ScoresScale ScoresEnglish Mathematics Reading Science

Scale Scores

36 75 60 40 40 36

35 74 59 - - 35

34 73 57-58 39 39 34

33 72 56 38 - 33

32 71 55 37 38 32

31 70 54 36 37 31

30 69 52-53 35 36 30

29 67-68 51 34 - 29

28 66 48-50 33 35 28

27 64-65 46-47 32 33-34 27

26 62-63 43-45 31 32 26

25 60-61 41-42 30 30-31 25

24 58-59 38-40 29 28-29 24

23 55-57 35-37 27-28 26-27 23

22 53-54 33-34 25-26 24-25 22

21 49-52 31-32 24 22-23 21

20 46-48 29-30 22-23 20-21 20

19 43-45 27-28 21 18-19 19

18 41-42 24-26 19-20 17 18

17 39-40 21-23 18 15-16 17

16 36-38 17-20 16-17 14 16

15 33-35 13-16 14-15 13 15

14 30-32 11-12 13-16 12 14

13 28-29 8-10 11-12 11 13

12 26-27 7 10 10 12

11 24-25 5-6 8-9 9 11

10 22-23 4 7 7-8 10

9 19-21 - 6 6 9

8 16-18 3 5 5 8

7 13-15 - 4 4 7

6 11-12 2 - 3 6

5 8-10 - 3 - 5

4 6-7 1 2 2 4

3 4-5 - - 1 3

2 3 - 1 - 2

1 0-2 0 0 0 1

Skills Analysis : EnglishBelow is a list of the skills associated with each individual question. Though some of these

questions were deleted from your test, all questions are included for both remediation & enrichment.

Passage OneTaking Wing

1. Punctuation : Comma Rules : Using Commas with Interrupters2. Logic & Coherence : Simplification : Avoiding Wordiness or Redundancy 3. Correct & Consistent Verb Tense or Verb Form 4. Logic & Coherence : Revision for Purpose 5. Knowledge of Language : Appropriate Diction : Word Choice 6. Logic & Coherence : Unity and Sentence Order 7. Knowledge of Language : Appropriate Preposition + Correct & Consistent Verb Tense or Form 8. Knowledge of Language : Appropriate Diction : Word Choice 9. Logic & Coherence : Unnecessary Transition 10. Punctuation : Apostrophes : Unnecessary Apostrophe + Subject / Verb Agreement 11. Logic & Coherence : Revision for Purpose 12. Knowledge of Language : Homonyms + Appropriate Preposition 13. Sentence Structure : Sentence Combining + Run-ons 14. Logic & Coherence : Simplification : Avoiding Wordiness or Redundancy 15. Logic & Coherence : Paragraph Division

Passage TwoEdmonia Lewis and Her Marble Cleopatra

16. Logic & Coherence : Revision for Purpose 17. Logic & Coherence : Revision for Purpose 18. Punctuation : Apostrophes for Ownership19. Punctuation : Comma Rules : Superfluous Commas20. Logic & Coherence : Revision for Purpose 21. Punctuation : Comma Rules : Superfluous Commas22. Logic & Coherence : Necessity of Deletion23. Logic & Coherence : Simplification : Avoiding Wordiness or Redundancy24. Knowledge of Language : Appropriate Diction : Homonyms : Its v. It’s v. Its’ v. Its’s25. Usage : Subject / Verb Agreement26. Punctuation : Comma Rules : Superfluous Commas27. Knowledge of Language : Appropriate Diction : Appropriate Alternatives28. Logic & Coherence : Revision for Purpose

29. Knowledge of Language : Appropriate Diction30. Logic & Coherence : Simplification : Avoiding Wordiness or Redundancy

Passage ThreeA Peachy Winter Game

31. Knowledge of Language : Diction : Modifiers 32. Punctuation : Comma Rules : Commas with Interrupters 33. Sentence Combining & Sentence Structure 34. Logic & Coherence : Transitional Terms + Simplification : Avoiding Wordiness or Redundancy 35. Appropriate Alternatives : Sentence Combining & Sentence Structure 36. Logic & Coherence : Simplification : Avoiding Wordiness or Redundancy by Deleting 37. Punctuation : Comma Rules : Commas with Interrupters 38. Appropriate Alternatives : Knowledge of Language : Appropriate Diction 39. Sentence Structure : Clarity : Unclear Pronoun Referent 40. Sentence Structure : Clarity : Active Voice 41. Punctuation : Comma Rules + Apostrophes 42. Sentence Structure : Compound Predicate 43. Logic & Coherence : Needless Transition 44. Sentence Combining 45. Punctuation : Superfluous Commas + Incorrect Semicolon

Passage FourAn Evening Walk in Washington

46. Knowledge of Language : Diction : Homonyms : Forms of Its v. There / Their / They’re 47. Logic & Coherence : Revision for Purpose 48. Knowledge of Language : Appropriate Diction 49. Sentence Combining 50. Appropriate Alternatives : Diction 51. Logic & Coherence : Revision for Purpose 52. Logic & Coherence : Necessity of Effect of Addition or Deletion : Relevant Facts or Details53. Appropriate Alternatives : Appropriate Diction : Participles : Appropriate Prepositions 54.Punctuation : Superfluous Commas + Apostrophes for Possession 55. Logic & Coherence : Order of Sentences in a Paragraph 56. Logic & Coherence : Necessity of Effect of Addition or Deletion57. Logic & Coherence : Sentence Structure : Modifiers 58. Logic & Coherence : Appropriate Transition 59. Usage : Verb Tens & Form 60. Revision for Purpose : Logical Transition

Passage FiveDrought - In My Front Yard

61. Appropriate Alternatives : Logical Transition62. Logic & Coherence : Necessity of or Effect of Addition or Deletion63. Usage : Verb Tense & Form64. Appropriate Diction65. Sentence Combining66. Usage : Modifiers : Adjective v. Adverb67. Sentence Combining68. Logic & Coherence : Necessity of or Effect of Addition or Deletion69. Logic & Coherence : Sentence Structure : Logical Order70. Logic & Coherence : Necessity of or Effect of Addition or Deletion71. Punctuation : Comma Rules : Superfluous Commas72. Usage : Modifiers : Improper Superlative v. Comparative Forms + Appropriate Diction73. Punctuation : Commas v. Dashes for Interrupters74. Usage : Pronoun Agreement75. Logic : Appropriateness to Task

NOTES

Skills Analysis : Math

Below is a list of the skills associated with each individual question. Though some of these questions were deleted from your test, all questions are included for both remediation & enrichment.

1 Algebra word problem 2 % discount3 Conversions & & v = d / t 4 Substitution & pemdas 5 Algebra substitution6 Logic w/ inequalities 7 Algebra using formulas 8 Multiplication and exponent rules9 Probability 10 LCM 11 Triangle angle sum & congruent triangles

12 Simplifying complex fractions 13 Systems of equations word problem 14 Geometric logic15 Averages 16 Slope intercept form from standard form

17 Quadratic equations18 Absolute value 19 Comparing fractions 20 Finding slope between 2 points 21 Simplifying like terms 22 Analyzing graphs 23 Arithmetic sequences 24 Simplifying rational expressions25 Similar triangles & proportions26 b0 = 1 27 Perimeter of a polygon 28 Analyzing geometric maps29 Comparing like terms30 conversion using formula

31 Parallelogram properties 32 Applying rectangle area 33 Rhombus properties & Pythagorean theorem

34 Symmetry 35 Set up equation using rectangle area36 Prism volume & multiplying binomials37 Manipulating data/media 38 SOHCAHTOA39 Coordinate geometry/Pythagorean theorem

40 Similar solids & volume41 Equation of circles42

Story problem: rectangle area & perimeter43 Story problem: rectangle area & perimeter

44

Story problem: rectangle area & perimeter

45 Transformations graphing trig functions46 Number sense & inequalities47 Percents48 Trig identities49 Reflection through line 50 Circle arc length51 Geometry: intersecting solid & plane

52 Logarithms53 Graphing transformations of functions54 Parallel lines & special angle pairs55 Linear programming/analyzing linear

inequalities56Linear programming/analyzing linear inequalities

57 SOHCAHTOA58 Zeros of polynomial functions59 Dimensional analysis & scientific notation

60 Factoring difference of squares/inequalities

Skills Analysis : Reading

Below is a list of the skills associated with each individual question. Though some of these questions were deleted from your test, all questions are included for both remediation & enrichment.

Passage OneProse Fiction

1. Author’s Point of View2. Factual Recall : Cause & Effect3. Factual Recall : Specific Details4. Drawing Conclusions Based on Context5. Main Idea / Author’s Purpose - Paragraph Level6. Vocabulary in Context7. Factual Recall : Cause & Effect8. Factual Recall : Specific Details9. Factual Recall : Specific Details10. Factual Recall : Specific Details

Passage TwoSocial Sciences

11. Narrative Point of View12. Factual Recall : Specific Details13. Factual Recall : Specific Details14. Main Idea / Author’s Purpose - Paragraph Level15. Main Idea / Author’s Purpose - Paragraph Level16. Vocabulary in Context17. Factual Recall : Specific Details18. Drawing Conclusions Based on Context19. Factual Recall : Specific Details20. Drawing Conclusions Based on Context

Passage ThreeHumanities

21. Summary & Paraphrase : Recognizing an Effective Summary22. Main Idea / Author’s Purpose - Paragraph Level23. Drawing Conclusions / Making Inferences24. Factual Recall : Specific Details25. Whole Passage Comprehension & Factual Recall26. Vocabulary in Context27. Factual Recall : Specific Details28. Factual Recall : Specific Details29. Factual Recall : Cause & Effect30. Factual Recall : Specific Details

Passage FourNatural Science

31. Factual Recall : Specific Details32. Paragraph Level Comprehension & Factual Recall33. Factual Recall : Specific Details34. Factual Recall : Specific Details35. Main Idea : Paragraph Level36. Factual Recall : Cause and Effect37. Vocabulary in Context38. Factual Recall : Specific Details39. Factual Recall : Specific Details40. Factual Recall : Specific Details

Skills Analysis : Science Reasoning

Below is a list of the skills associated with each individual question. Though some of these questions were deleted from your test, all questions are included for both remediation & enrichment.

Passage OneData Representation

Biology

1. Reading Graphs 2. Reading Graphs 3. Applying Biology to Visual Organizers4. Interpreting Visual Organizers 5. Applying Graphs

Passage TwoResearch Summary

Physics

6. Interpreting time / distance graph 7. Representing table as a graph 8. Interpreting and inferring from a table 9. Solve an equation for a given variable 10. Applying physics to given information11. Interpret and make predictions

Passage ThreeConflicting Viewpoints

Refer to Viewpoints : Reading & Synthesizing information from multiple perspectives

12. Drawing Conclusions 13. Comparing and Contrasting Perspectives 14. Drawing Conclusions 15. Drawing Conclusions 16. Factual Recall 17. Supporting Evidence 18. Drawing Conclusions

Passage FourResearch Summary

Environmental Science

19. Reading Graphs 20. Reading Graphs 21. Interpreting data & making predictions 22. Interpreting data & making predictions 23. Calculations based on graphs 24. Making predictions

Passage FiveData Representation

Chemistry

25. Reading graphs 26. Interpreting graphic information 27. Interpreting graphic information 28. Interpreting graphic information 29. Analyzing graphic information

Passage SixResearch Summary

Physics

30. Recognizing given information31. Choosing appropriate units32. Making predictions33. Interpreting graphic information34. Drawing conclusions35. Comparing and contrasting data

Passage SevenData Representation

Geology

36. Interpreting graphic information 37. Interpreting graphic information 38. Reading graphs 39. Making predictions 40. Interpreting graphic information