News
MIT Reinstates SAT/ACT Requirement
In March, MIT made headlines for reinstating its requirement that applicants submit their SAT or ACT scores, beginning with the 2022-2023 admissions cycle. Like many schools, MIT had waived these requirements during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, although the pandemic was a consideration in their decision-making process, the decision to remove and reinstate the requirement was more complicated. In addition to improving pandemic conditions, MIT also referenced socioeconomic diversity and the predictive power of standardized tests.
Advocates for test-optional admissions have often argued that standardized testing requirements are unfair to students from disadvantaged backgrounds, who might not have the same opportunity as their peers to prepare for these tests. However, in a Q&A with Stuart Schmill, the Dean of Admissions at MIT, he stated that in MIT's experience, these requirements generally had the opposite effect. He argued that standardized testing provided a way to identify promising students who may not have had access to rigorous coursework, extracurricular activities, or strong letters of recommendation. Although he acknowledged that standardized testing could also create barriers to entry in some cases, he believed those barriers to be less than those created by looking purely at other factors.
MIT also stated that its data suggested that SAT and ACT scores, particularly mathematics scores, were strongly indicative of whether a student would succeed at MIT. Schmill suggested that this was largely because of the rigorous mathematics requirements at MIT; even if students had strong skills in other disciplines, if they were not prepared for MIT's math curriculum, they often struggled. Schmill argued that standardized testing could predict whether a student would be able to succeed in these math courses.
Although some factors, such as the effect on disadvantaged students, are relevant to all colleges, other factors, such as the rigor of MIT's mathematics curriculum, are specific to MIT. So far, no other colleges have followed suit, so it is unclear what impact, if any, MIT's decision will have on other colleges. However, it is likely that in the coming months, many colleges will choose to clarify their policies, regardless of whether they keep those policies the same, transition to being test-optional, or reinstate a mandatory testing policy that they had put on pause.
Francis Burke, Test Prep Chicago Intern
Potential Changes to the Selective Enrollment Admissions Process
Chicago Public Schools have recently suggested for the Chicago Board of Education to alter the admissions process for selective enrollment elementary and high schools. The purpose of this initiative is to lead to a more equitable admissions process for students of all socioeconomic backgrounds.
What is the Current System?
The current system involves admitting students based upon their grade, their scores on entrance exams, such as the CPS High School Admissions Exam, and their socioeconomic status. For instance, students are ranked into one of four tiers, each corresponding to a different socioeconomic level. Tier four represents students in the highest socioeconomic level and tier one represents students in the lowest socioeconomic level. Under the current system, 30 % of the available seats are given to students who received the best grades and exam scores, regardless of their tier categorization. The remaining 70 % of available seats are then split equally among the four tiers and the highest-scoring students within each tier are placed into the available seats.
What is the Problem?
The great majority of seats in selective enrollment elementary and high schools are given to tier 3 and 4 students. According to CPS, the percentage of seats occupied by tier 3 and 4 students in selective enrollment elementary and high schools was 85% and 73% respectively in 2021. Driven by the leadership of the new CEO of CPS Schools, Pedro Martinez, this new initiative seeks to find a more equitable approach.
What is the Solution?
CPS has suggested two possible solutions to the Chicago Board of Education.
To keep the 30% rule but redistribute the remaining seats to ensure that enrollment is more evenly distributed among the four tiers.
To remove the 30% rule and give each tier 25% of the available seats.
Any changes in the admissions process will not be implemented until the application cycle for the 2023-2024 school year.
Source: https://cpsengagement.com/selective-enrollment-policy
Nate Mann, Test Prep Chicago Intern
An Overview of the Algebra Exit Exam
The Algebra Exit Exam is an annual assessment given in late May to 7th or 8th grade students enrolled in Algebra I. The purpose of the exam is to determine if students are prepared to move on to more advanced math classes, such as geometry. The result from this exam along with other factors determines a student’s math placement for the following year. For example, some CPS schools will use a student’s score to place them into either regular or honors geometry. Other schools may use the Algebra Exit Exam in addition to their own math placement assessment. The benefits of this exam are that it helps administrators place students into the proper math class for their level and allows qualified students to take advanced placement math classes in the future.
The exam is 120 minutes long and is composed of 34 multiple choice problems and 6 short constructed response items. Short constructed response items are questions that ask students to use algebra concepts to critically solve real world problems. The exam is administered online and is scored on a pass/fail system where students can receive either a high pass, pass, or fail.
Test Prep Chicago offers a 1-day four hour workshop in preparation for Algebra Exit Exam. The workshop includes a full practice test, review of test questions, and instruction for key test strategies and skills. For more information about setting up tutoring, please call (312) 848-1266 or send an email to info@testprepchicago.com.
Nate Mann, Test Prep Chicago Intern
Pandemic has deleterious effects on Illinois’ standardized test scores
The Illinois State Board of Education has recently published data that indicates that since the start of the pandemic, standardized test scores have dramatically decreased while chronic absenteeism has increased. This data comes as a result of juxtaposing students’ 2021 standardized test scores with the corresponding scores from 2019.
Specifically, after taking the Illinois Assessment of Readiness exam (IAR), average CPS test scores decreased in both reading and math. The data describes that 21% of students met the standard for competency in English in 2021 as opposed to 28% of students who took the exam two years prior. Similarly, only 16% of students met the competency requirements for Math as opposed to 24% in 2019. As students did not take the IAR in 2020, some suggest the data is incomplete.
Members of the Chicago Teacher’s Union question the integrity of standardized tests altogether as CTU president argues that students should not have the pressure of performing well on standardized tests when they are already overwhelmed by the health and safety concerns COVID-19 has presented. He stated, “to grade any person, or any school district, under these circumstances is cruel…when everyone’s M.O. for the past year has been maintaining proper health, safety, and sanity.”
Moving forward, the data collected is highly valuable as it provides some insight into how to support student learning throughout the pandemic. As more information becomes available, educators and administrators will gain a better understanding of how to aid students and communities to help achieve their educational goals.
Kayley Horton, Tutoring Coordinator
kayley@testprepchicago.com
(312) 848-1266
Source: Chicago Sun Times
DataManager Platform to be Used for CPS High School Admissions Exam
Beginning with the admissions test for the 2022-2023 school year, taken in the fall of 2021, the CPS High School Admissions Test will no longer be administered on paper. Instead, students will take the test on computers, using the secure DataManager platform. To prepare for the test, students will have access to a “Student Practice Experience,” which will give them the opportunity to learn how to use the features of the DataManager platform.
The DataManager platform allows students to use many of the same features they would have access to on a physical test. For example, students can skip questions and come back to them, or mark questions for later review. An explanation of each of the features available can be accessed within the platform by clicking on the “Help” button, and students should make sure they understand these features during the Student Practice Experience.
Francis Burke, Test Prep Chicago Intern
Selective Enrollment Chicago Public Schools Dominate Illinois High School Rankings
Each year, the U.S. News and World Report release a ranking of thousands of high schools across all 50 states. The ranking is based on a number of factors, including student performance on state testing and preparedness for college. Of the 647 Illinois high schools that made the list, the top five are all in the Chicago Public School (CPS) district!
Ranked in order, the CPS schools are Walter Payton College Preparatory High School, Northside College Preparatory High School, Jones College Preparatory High School, Whitney Young Magnet High School, and Lane Technical High School. In fact, Walter Payton is ranked as the fourth best high school in the Nation.
These five schools are all classified as Selective Enrollment High Schools, an initiative designed to support a diverse population of high achieving students. This network of 11 schools provides students with many opportunities and prepares them for success after high school. Schools in this program have a selective application process that involves students’ 7th grade final grades and scores on the CPS High School Admissions Exam taken during the fall of 8th grade.
To help students prepare for the Selective Enrollment Entrance Exam, Test Prep Chicago offers both group courses and individual tutoring sessions. For more information about setting up tutoring, please call (312) 848-1266 or send an email to info@testprepchicago.com.
Nate Mann, TPC Intern
CPS Changes to Selective Enrollment High School Admissions for Incoming 8th Graders
For students applying to selective enrollment high schools for the 2022-23 school year, CPS has modified the admission process by removing the NWEA Map Exam as an eligibility factor. Accordingly, the 900 point score system used in previous years (300 points for NWEA MAP exam, 300 points for Selective Enrollment High School exam, and 300 points for 7th grade grades in math, reading, science and social studies) has been adjusted to have the Selective Enrollment High School Entrance Exam (renamed as the CPS High School Admissions test - "HSAT" ) and 7th-grade grades now each count for 450 points. The elimination of the NWEA MAP exam also means that students need not have obtained a minimum score on the test in order to qualify to take the entrance exam thereby allowing more students to sit for the HSAT.
The Selective Enrollment High School Entrance Exam was renamed as the CPS High School Admissions Test to more accurately reflect that the test is used not only for admission to selective enrollment high schools but also for admission to certain honors programs and IB schools.
The HSAT covers the identical material that the Selective Enrollment High School Entrance Exam covered. Students attending CPS schools will take the exam at their school during a weekday. Non-CPS students will sit for the exam on certain weekends and locations designated by CPS.
CPS has not yet announced the dates of the exam but expects to do so sometime later this summer. CPS has also stated parents should expect to be provided more information about the admissions process from the primary school their child attends sometime this upcoming September.
Nate Hall, Tutoring Coordinator
nate@testprepchicago.com
(312) 848-1266
High School Entrance Exam Prep Courses in the Fall
This fall, Test Prep Chicago will offer classes which encompass all three high school entrance exams: the CPS High School Admissions Test (formerly known as the SEHS), the independent school entrance exam (ISEE), and the high school placement test (HSPT). Over the course of eight weeks, students will dive into the content of the tests, test-taking strategies, as well as the formatting and timing of each test. Though eight weeks may seem like a short amount of time to prepare for three tests, it’s an accessible timeframe given the likeness of each exam.
First, the content is exceedingly alike. Each of the tests include math (up through geometry), reading comprehension, vocabulary, and language skills (multiple choice for the CPS High School Admissions Test and HSPT, essay for ISEE). Given these similarities, students studying for any or all exams are able to work toward reviewing or learning the same concepts. Where there are a few differences, such as the essay section on the ISEE, students studying specifically for the ISEE will be provided with supplementary, exam- specific material for homework. However, since the student is engaging in language and grammar in our class, they will still be getting their fair share of in-class language and grammar prep for the ISEE.
Next, the time permitted to take each test ranges from two hours and thirty minutes to three hours. Accordingly, the stamina needed to build up in order to successfully take each exam is almost indistinguishable. The only exception is that the HSPT has quite a few more questions than the other two exams. Similar to the essay section with the ISEE, supplementary materials will be provided for those students who wish to work specifically on quickly getting through the many questions that the HSPT will inevitably have.
Lastly, since the formatting of each exam is slightly different, we include questions formatted in the likeness of each exam, so students feel fully prepared. If you’re interested in enrolling in our comprehensive high school admissions course, visit testprepchicago.com and sign up for our newsletter. Once we add dates for the fall (including online and in-person courses), we’ll send an email notification to let you know registration has opened. We will likely add dates sometime in July for our courses that will begin in late August or early September.
Lauren Lynch, Director of Tutoring and Communications
lauren@testprepchicago.com
(312) 848-1266
An Overview of Amundsen High School
Nestled between Andersonville and Lincoln Square, Amundsen High School has been a part of the CPS district since 1929. It was named after the famed arctic explorer, Roald Engelbregt Gravning Amundsen, who is known for leading the first expedition to the South Pole in 1911, as well as being the first to sail through the Northwest Passage. The school’s student to teacher ratio is 15:1, and its student to counselor ratio is one of the best in the CPS district. Amundsen has a diverse student population as well (84% minority enrollment).
Amundsen is also an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School, offering the IB Diploma Program since 1999, and the Middle Years Program since 2003. About 22% of students participate in IB programs and classes, and the school has had a 70% pass rate on the IB Exam for the last four years. Students that take part in these programs are guaranteed college credit in all Illinois public colleges and universities. Amundsen states “The IB Program offers students an opportunity to have a well-rounded and rigorous college preparatory curriculum in a neighborhood school. The IB Program provides students with the discipline and skills necessary to take on future endeavors. Besides an excellent academic education that prepares them for post-secondary study, the IB Program gives students an opportunity to build character and perseverance to become future leaders in the community.”
Beyond the IB programs, Amundsen also offers a Career and Technical Education Program (CTE). This intense training program allows students to make the leap from in-school learning to applicable industry problem-solving. It also has some truly unique concentrations, including Web Design, Game-Programming, and even an Apple-designed program to develop apps on their systems.
Over the years, Amundsen’s facilities have also undergone significant improvements and changes. The gymnasium, on-site pool, and computer and science labs have all benefited from the $20 million in renovation. Amundsen students also have immediate access to Winnemac Park’s softball, soccer, and baseball fields. The football stadium, Jorndt field, was also recently renovated, and seats over 1,000 people.
For more information on Amundsen High School, visit their website at https://www.amundsenhs.org/
Nate Hall, Tutoring Coordinator
nate@testprepchicago.com
(312) 848-1266
CPS Cancels NWEA MAP Exam
Last week, on Thursday, 4/15, Chicago Public Schools (CPS) announced that they are cancelling the NWEA MAP test for all elementary students: kindergarten through 8th grade. In addition, the NWEA MAP will remain canceled through the full selective enrollment and academic center testing cycles for current 5th and 7th graders for both CPS and non-CPS students. It is still unclear what CPS will do for rising 5th and 7th graders in the next testing cycle.
Though the NWEA MAP is canceled, other components of the selective enrollment and academic center admissions processes will remain relatively the same. For students applying to academic centers, they will still need to take the Academic Center Entrance Exam (which is typically administered in late fall/winter), and schools will still also use the student’s 5th-grade grades in math, reading, science, and social studies. For students applying for admission into selective enrollment high schools, they will need to take the CPS High School Admissions Test (administered in late fall/winter). This test will be the same as the Selective Enrollment High School exam (SEHS) from previous years, however the name will be changed. In addition, as usual, selective enrollment schools will also look at the student’s 7th-grade grades in math, reading, science, and social studies.
Test Prep Chicago will offer test prep courses for both the Academic Center Entrance Exam as well as the CPS High School Admissions Test in the fall and will likely add dates for these to our website in the late summer (or as soon as CPS announces those test dates). In addition, we offer one-on-one tutoring for both tests as well as subject matter tutoring and help with school, and we can begin this at any time. For more information about our services or to set up tutoring, feel free to call us at (312) 848-1266 or send us an email at info@testprepchicago.com.
Lauren Lynch, Director of Tutoring and Communications
lauren@testprepchicago.com
(312) 848-1266