College and Career Readiness—Semester A

Sample Lesson - Introduction

Lesson 2.13: End-of-the-Year Tests

It's ok. Standardized testing can make even the cutest among us feel like piles of nothing.
(Source)

The three most recognized and common standardized tests are the PSAT, SAT, and the ACT. Just the mere mention of these acronyms has even big time seniors shaking in their Jordans and loafers.

Considered by some to be a rite of passage, hated by most as IQ exams in disguise, these old testing geezers are still the new hotness in terms of getting into college.

These tests are like psychic friends designed to predict your abilities to succeed in college or at the university. Moreover, the PSAT serves as kind of a practice round, the SAT is meant to test your reasoning or logic skills, and the ACT is designed to test your general college readiness.

Let's say you're a well-rounded student who's had a positive influence on your community, you have impressive reasoning skills, a flawless complexion, washboard abs, and you've taken advanced courses and mastered all of the content in them. Do you really have to suffer through hours and hours of testing just to prove you're college-ready?

Yep. You sure do.

Ugh.

Standardized tests are big and bad and scary, and we hate them the way Gollum hates Hobbits. They are, however, a fact of life, so pull yourself together and climb out of the cave and into the light. There's just one question: how do you go about doing that?

Take a deep breath and realize that SAT and ACT scores are important, but they won't make or break you. There are lots of pieces to your application, and lots of places for you to shine that do not in any way involve numbers. College admissions officers freely admit that a 100-point increase in test scores won't make much of a difference to your application.

Also, if you give yourself enough time, you can take the SAT or ACT more than once. It's not a fun fact, but at least it's an option. Another FF is that some schools are "test-optional," meaning you can recognize them by the holy light emanating from their campuses. These ethereal places of magic state that the strength of your application will not be affected if you choose not to submit standardized test scores. And we've got a top-secret list of test-optional schools right here.

But understand that these schools aren't the norm. The rest of us are still going to have to suffer through what has been known to make even Donald Trump cry. But Shmoop is made of stronger stuff than maximum-hold hairspray, so you can count on us to remain steadfast even when Hurricane SAT blows through town.

Sample Lesson - Reading

Reading 2.2.13a: The PSAT and the SAT

Before you can jump into the SAT your junior or senior year, you must submit to its Padawan—the PSAT. Just like a young Jedi with a mullet-tiny-braid combo, the PSAT comes swaggering in your sophomore year and dares you to dance with the dark side.

Who could resist the temptation to rid the galaxy of evil and prove you're ready to become a Jedi master at the ripe old age of sixteen? No one. And the PSAT mysteriously knows that.

While it's definitely "optional" to take the PSAT, most guidance counselors will physically grab you out of class, plunk you down in a study carrel, and basically force you to fill in the bubbles. And this is all for good reason. Practicing for standardized tests almost assures you that you'll hit the target when the Death Star is approaching. You can't simply trust your instincts when there's your future college at stake.

The PSAT

The PSAT— or Preliminary Scholastic Assessment Test — is a shorter version of the SAT that students can use to practice for the PSAT's hairier, angrier big brother. Yeah, it's sort of like facing off with the Tasmanian devil before trying to tackle Wolverine.

Five Facts about the PSAT

1. What is it? The PSAT is the training-wheels version of the SAT. It's like the minor leagues, the amateur wrestling circuit, or the cruise-ship stand-up comedy tour of college placement exams. That doesn't mean the test isn't important: there may be money at the end of the PSAT rainbow in the form of a National Merit Scholarship.
2. What's on it? The test has five parts: two 25-minute Critical Reading sections, two 25-minute Math sections, and one 30-minute Writing section. Sorry—there's no essay, just in case you were really hoping for one.
3. How often is it given? Unlike the SAT or the ACT, the PSAT is only given twice a year, usually on a Wednesday and a Saturday in October.
4. Where is it given? The PSAT is given at local schools, but not all schools that give the test are willing to host students from outside the school, so be sure to confirm before signing up.
5. When should you take it? Never. Heh, heh, heh—not. Take the PSAT in October of your sophomore or junior year. If you want your score to be considered for a National Merit scholarship—and who doesn't?—then you have to take the exam your junior year, whether you took it as a sophomore or not.
6. Thought there were only five facts about PSAT? Hah! We fooled you. Perhaps the best fact about the PSAT is that you can prepare for it with Shmoop. More Shmoop, FTW.

The SAT

The SAT is the preppy poster boy of standardized tests for college applications—clean cut, wholesome, but with subtle hotness just bubbling under the surface—wait, never mind, that was just a strange SAT-anxiety daydream we had.

Seriously though, the SAT is the test that freaks the most people out. A huge percent of that freak-out quotient comes from not knowing what to expect. Remember: fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering—which sometimes leads to great art—and all this sadly leads to the Dark Side. To help you avoid turning into a Sith Lord, Shmoop will gladly clarify some of the big q's about the SAT.

Six Facts About The SAT (will there really be six this time?)

1. What is it? The SAT is a standardized test that exists to drive college-bound high school students insane—oh, and also to test their reasoning and logic abilities. If you're a good problem solver, you're safe; if you're not—gulp. JK, we've got answers for this coming up, so stay tuned.
2. What's on it? The test is divided into three sections—Critical Reading, Math, and Writing (part of which is the mandatory Essay). These are broken down into ten subsections (three from each section, plus an unscored variable section) and given separately on test day, with time limits ranging from 10 – 25 minutes. Sounds like your kind of party, right?
3. How often is it given? The SAT is offered during every full moon, the better to channel more souls from the testing center to places of eternal rest. Nah, it's held eight times a year in the United States and seven times a year worldwide.
4. Where is it given? You can take the SAT at official testing centers—aka certain high schools, college campuses, or community centers.
5. When should you take it? Never. Oh, wait, you want to go to college? In that case, give yourself enough leeway to take the test multiple times, in case you want to improve your score. (Note that there's no guarantee that taking the SAT more than once will lift you up and over that 2350 you scored on attempt number one.) Most folks dip their toe in the SAT pool sometime near the beginning of their junior year.
6. How will schools look at your scores? If you don't get at least a 2400, most colleges will burn your application on a funeral pyre. Others will take the highest section scores across test dates. Every school is different.

Standardized tests can haunt your dreams and harrow your soul, so we're sorry to have to say this, but, if you're an international student, there's no exact answer to question six. In most cases, however, your standardized test scores are going to be super-duper important, because they allow colleges to compare you to your peers in a way your transcripts can't.

Bonus? You can start preparing for an all-out brawl with the SAT right now. Shmoop's totally in your corner.

SAT Subject Tests

You may think the SAT alone is enough to deal with. But we're the happy harbingers of bad news—there's more.

Deep sighs.

The SAT Subject Tests—sort of like the SAT's minions—are shorter, content-specific tests that students can choose to take to supplement their college applications.

Why on Earth would anyone choose to take more tests?

For a few reasons. First of all, some of the more competitive colleges and universities recommend or require that students take a number of Subject Tests. Second, if you excel in one or more subject areas and either want to show off or eventually major in the area of study, a solid performance on the corresponding subject test will speak volumes.

1. So what is it and what's on it? The SAT subject tests are available in five different content areas—English, Science, Math, History, and Languages. There are 20 subjects within these areas. Each test lasts an hour and will contain between 50 – 80 multiple-choice questions. Some language tests will also contain listening sections.
2. How often and where is it given? Subject tests are given six times during the year, but not every subject is given every date, so be sure to check what tests are being offered when. Tests are given at the same time as the regular SAT, which means you can't take the SAT and Subject Tests on the same date, so plan accordingly. If you need help signing up or need advice on what tests to take when, be sure to Get to Know Your Guidance Counselor. Have we mentioned this one before? Hmm.
3. When should you take it? It should go without saying that you should take Subject Tests after you have studied the subject in high school. Duh. Depending on the course progression of your school, this may allow you to take some earlier-level tests—like US History or Biology—in your junior year, and then take some later-level tests—like Physics or Mathematics Level 2—senior year. Just remember that you must choose to take the SAT or Subject Tests on a specific date; you cannot take both. Choose wisely, young grasshopper.

And, as always, you can be supremely prepared for any and all the SAT Subject Tests with Shmoop Test Prep.

Sample Lesson - Reading

Reading 2.2.13b: The ACT and other Friends

The ACT, which used to stand for "American College Testing" but now stands for nothing (weird, we know), is a standardized test used to assess your content mastery in determining how likely you are to succeed in college. Many people are unfamiliar with the ACT, which makes it the scary stepsister of the SAT. But don't ignore taking the ACT just because you don't know much about it. Some students may do much better on the ACT, so it makes sense to give it a try.

Here's a quick and dirty description so you know what to expect:

1. What is it and what's on it? Unlike the SAT, the ACT is meant to test mastery of high-school curricula. This means that, to do well, you should have been paying attention in class. The test is divided into four sections—Math, Reading, Science, and English (which contains an optional Essay). Each section tests separately, with time limits ranging from 35 – 60 minutes.
2. How often and where is it given? The ACT is given six times a year in the United States, and five times worldwide. Tests are given at official testing centers, which may be a high school, on a college campus, or in a community center, but there is certain to be one near you; in fact, the test might even be administered at your school. If you need help signing up, be sure to Get to Know Your Guidance Counselor.
3. When should you take it? What's important is that you provide yourself with the option to take the test a number of times if you want to improve your score. Since the ACT tests content mastery as well as reasoning, it makes sense that your score might improve over time for a couple of reasons. First, familiarity with the test and with pacing can help improve your score. Second, you will have had more time in higher-level classes in between exams, exposing you to more content.

Plan to take the ACT the first time in the middle of your junior year. This will give you plenty of chances to take it again later that year or in the first part of your senior year before needing to submit scores to colleges.

Prepare for the ACT with Shmoop ACT prep.

TOEFL AND IELTS

So. Many. Acronyms. It's overwhelming—no doubt. TOEFL stands for Test of English as a Foreign Language and IELTS stands for International English Language Testing System.

If you're an international student interested in applying to U.S. colleges, you should strongly consider taking one of these tests to demonstrate your proficiency in English. Prove you aren't one of these guys.

• To learn more the TOEFL, head to this site.
• To learn more about the IELTS, head here.

Need help determining which test to take? We've got you covered.

Sample Lesson - Reading

Reading 2.2.13c: Testing Fight Club

Shmoop's more than a little bit petrified to get in the octagon and go a round with Ronda Rousey, but you can bet your UFC that we're ready, willing, and able to duke it out with the PSAT, SAT, or ACT anytime.

Bring it, test dudes.

Here's how we'll help you choose which test to take by bringing out the big guns and sparring a little—Shmoop-style.

Round One: SAT

The SAT is meant to measure your reasoning and logic abilities. The idea is that, no matter what classes you've taken, you should be able to do well on the SAT if you're a good problem solver. The test is divided into three sections—Critical Reading, Math, and Writing (part of which is the mandatory Essay). These are broken down into ten subsections (three from each plus an unscored variable section) and given separately on test day, with time limits ranging from 10 – 25 minutes.

If this info looks familiar to you, good. It should.

Pros: Because the SAT is designed to test reasoning ability more than content, strong students who haven't taken some advanced courses still have the opportunity to do well. Reasoning generally takes longer than answering content questions, so the SAT gives test takers a bit more time to answer each question. The test also doesn't include a Science section (this is great if you slept through Chemistry). Short sections can also help with students who have difficulty maintaining focus—squirrel—or sitting still for a really long time.

Cons: The SAT is meant for students to apply logic to new material, so learners who depend on memorization over problem-solving may find this test more difficult. The test is also English-heavy, with 2/3 of the score coming from the Critical Reading (why so critical?) and the Writing sections. The Essay is mandatory, so students who struggle with writing may face a challenge here, too.

Knockout: Take the SAT if you're are a good problem solver and aren't afraid of the Big Bad English sections.

Round Two: ACT

Unlike the SAT, the ACT is meant to test mastery of high-school curricula. This means that, to do well, you should have been paying attention in class. The test is divided into four sections: Math, Reading, Science, and English (which contains an optional Essay). Each section tests separately, with time limits ranging from 35 – 60 minutes.

Pros: Content mastery is the name of the game, so students confident that their high school courses have prepared them well should rock this out. For those who hated their English teacher, less focus on English and an optional essay may be attractive.

Cons: Science. If you bombed any class having to do with particles, molecules, DNA, or heat transfer, you may have a hard time with this section. The ACT also packs lots of questions into each section, so be prepared for rapid-fire answering.

Knockout: Take the ACT if your high school transcript is full of advanced courses and you feel like you mastered the content for each course.

Sample Lesson - Reading

Reading 2.2.13d: The Bomb and Taking Shelter

Duck and cover, friends, duck and cover.

We've all bombed at least one test, essay, game, date, match, etc. in our lives at some point. And considering the stakes are pretty stinkin' high when you're taking a "high-stakes" test—the bombing can totally crush you at SAT/ACT altitude.

Bombing a standardized test doesn't necessarily mean your life is over and your dream of getting into college can be wrapped in a time capsule and buried until the next century. It's actually a great indicator of what you need to work on so you can wipe off the nuclear fallout and get better at what you're not so great at currently.

Some of us need a wake-up call like this to shrink our over-inflated I'm a super-smart genius heads and zap us back to reality. Since standardized tests are taken by students all over the country, or even the world, it can put things into perspective about how we're going to do when faced with competition from 50,000 students at a university rather than a graduating class of 1100.

Of course it would be great to get your results back and not have to worry. A confirmation of what you already knew—that you were a total Einstein—would really make anyone's semester. But many of us need to take these types of standardized tests another time, even to just give it "the old college try." Don't totally lose it if you don't get the score you thought you deserved. There are ways to recover from disaster—slow, creeping, evolutionary ways—but there are ways.

Five Things to Do If You Bomb a Standardized Test

1. Remember that your standardized test scores are only one part of your college application. You'll have other opportunities to dazzle those college admissions officers (who, by the way, are well aware that many outstanding applicants may not be good test takers).
2. Understand where and why you screwed up. The first step to improving your score is to recognize your weaknesses. It doesn't have to be ugly, like a plastic surgeon circling all your flaws with a red Sharpie. You just need to take a good, honest look at your strengths and your shortcomings.
3. Practice and prepare. Just like fire juggling, magic tricks, or beating your own high score in Pac-Man, taking tests is a skill that can be improved with practice and preparation. How can you make this happen? Use the PSAT diagnostic to help you figure out where you need to improve, and get to work with Shmoop Test Prep. Seriously—it's there for a reason.
4. Take advantage of accommodations if you have a learning disability. If you've ever had an Individualized Education Program at your school, you should really look into this. Have you been diagnosed with ADD/ADHD, Anxiety, Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, or Dyspepsia? The good news is that, if you have Dyspepsia, you just need some Pepto-Bismol—and a doctor who knows that indigestion doesn't qualify as a learning challenge. Even though some days we might feel otherwise.
5. Examine college admissions requirements. Ever heard of a Testing Optional School? If you regularly crash and burn on standardized tests, then look into these colleges. They're dedicated to making standardized test scores an optional part of the application process, and it may be worth your time to check a few of them out.

A Word about Applying for Accommodations

The folks in charge of the PSAT, SAT, and ACT are aware that some students are faced with challenges and difficulties in the classroom that make test-taking more difficult. They can grant specific accommodations to students with documented need.

That's a documented learning or physical disability. While you may think that trying to schedule Tough Mudder training around your weekly How I Met Your Mother marathon is challenging, that's sadly not the kind of thing that will qualify you for accommodations during a standardized test.

What kind of documented needs are we talking about here? If you've ever had a 504 or an Individualized Education Program (IEP) because of a learning challenge, you might be eligible. If you think a 504 is a type of cleaning spray, then you need to move along. Examples of learning needs include ADD/ADHD, Anxiety, Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, Processing Speed Issues, Math or Writing Disorders, etc.

Testing accommodations vary based on need, but might include 50 – 100% extra time, large-print exams, small-group settings, and additional or extended breaks.

Sorry, free apple fritters are not a potential accommodation.

To apply for testing accommodations, Get to Know Your Guidance Counselor. They should be able to help you with any accommodations you need. If you can't access help at school, have a look at the following websites to access instructions for application:

• PSAT and SAT
• ACT

Sample Lesson - Activity

Activity 2.13a: Partner up with the PSAT/SAT

Hey Shmooper, before you read further into all our testing shenanigans, go ahead and take a looksee at this article, Test Taking Tips. It's practically guaranteed to take the stress out of testing. Emphasis on the practically.

Now head on down to the most fabulous test prep on the web—Shmoop HQ, obvs. Go ahead and begin your studying quest with our SAT test prep.

Spend exactly one hour, Shmooper, practicing with our test prep materials.

Make sure you take the Dashboard tutorial, and read the Overview materials.

You can then practice away to your heart's content. You can choose from Reading, Writing, Essay, or Math. We suggest starting first with a subject you're going to need the most practice with.

Go ahead and start your test prep journey here.

Be sure to log the date and time you've accessed the materials, what you've studied and how you did. Around three sentences should do just that. For example,

I logged into the Shmoop SAT Test Prep materials on Monday, January 1, 2020. I spent about one hour and 15 minutes going over the materials (from 8:30 A.M. to 9:45 A.M.). I tried some of the Math prep and it was great having the material explained to me by Shmoop. I'm not quite so afraid to take the test now, but I realize that I have a lot to study for.

Sample Lesson - Activity

Activity 2.13b: Acing the ACT

We're back again and this time we're proudly parading new preparation materials. Because you just never know, we're going to cover all the bases by exposing you to both the SAT and ACT. We'll leave out the ASAP because we want you to take your time with this stuff.

We crack ourselves up.

Down at the Shmoop HQ we've got a boatload of study materials for the ACT. First on your agenda will be to take the ACT diagnostic tests we've got goin' on. They'll help you determine where you should focus your super powers when you're ready for additional test prep a la Shmoop.

Hop on down to Shmoop HQ. We've got 18-question diagnostic tests for English, reading, math, and science. Each diagnostic should take you around 15 minutes, putting you at right around one hour of study time.

Go ahead and take our ACT diagnostic tests right nowsky.

Let us know in about three sentences, Shmooper, how you did on each diagnostic. Reflect on how this information will help you in the future as you prepare for the ACT exam. For example:

I was able to take all four diagnostics in about 15 minutes each. The questions were all about things I've seen during my high school career, but some of the information I really need to brush up on. I scored the highest on my math test with an 83%, and my English was okay with a 75%. My reading was a 72%. But I totally bombed the science portion. I got only a 50% on that. I don't think I'm prepared enough in that area as I haven't taken chemistry yet, and I think it's affecting my content knowledge.

Sample Lesson - Activity