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SAT & ACT Scores Promote Diversity In Universities
Over the last several years, many colleges and universities have chosen to forego SAT/ACT admissions requirements which were previously considered standard. Other schools made these requirements optional for prospective students. Largely due to the pandemic, this adjustment was made in an effort to promote student body diversity and equitable education conditions. However, new data from the University of California suggests that eradicating standardized tests as part of admissions criteria may not lead to a more diverse community of students.
In January 2020, UC released a report stating that mandating SAT and ACT results actually promotes diversity and protects against prejudice during the admissions process. The report claims “because each applicant’s test scores are viewed within the applicant’s local context, they offer a means for protecting the diversity of the applicant pool.” Test scores are weighed against location, socioeconomic status, and other exterior factors, leading to a more well-rounded understanding of each applicant. Because of this research, some schools are rethinking their admissions policy regarding standardized tests.
Among them, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology has recently decided to re-institute its standardized test admissions requirement. Previously, MIT made test scores optional as part of their pandemic adaptations. Despite this, they have found that they will be able to foster a more diverse student body by once again requiring these tests and strategically reviewing them. Stu Schmill, the Dean of Admissions at MIT, has stated that not requiring test scores “tends to raise socio-economic barriers” since access to these tests is available in virtually all communities. Therefore, MIT is set to make the transition back to standardized test scores in the coming years.
Kayley Horton, Tutoring Coordinator
kayley@testprepchicago.com
(312) 848-1266
Sources:
https://www.cnn.com/2022/04/02/politics/sat-act-standardized-tests-what-matters/index.html
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/mit-reinstates-sat-act-mandate-will-colleges-follow-rcna22093
The Writing & Language Section on the SAT
On the SAT, the Writing and Language section is designed to measure students’ ability to follow standard conventions of written English. In this section, students will be asked to edit or revise selected texts for increased correctness and conciseness. Students will have 35 minutes to answer 44 questions—this means they should spend an average of 48 seconds on each question.
There are typically four writing passages on the test that are approximately 400-450 words, each with around 11 accompanying questions. Punctuation questions test your ability to correctly use punctuation marks. Grammar questions involve understanding grammar conventions including subject-verb agreement, verb formation, and preposition usage. Other questions will test your ability to construct sentences correctly, select precise words and avoid redundancy, and strategize about the overall effectiveness and organization of your writing.
While the optional essay was discontinued by the College Board in 2021, this section will still test your understanding of how to successfully communicate using standard English conventions. To tackle these questions, make sure you read each option carefully and pinpoint what rule or skill is being tested. Additionally, it always helps to read as much as you can in the months before the test to help develop your intuition for correct, effective writing!
Anna Jordan, Tutoring Coordinator
anna@testprepchicago.com
(312) 848-1266
The Reading Section on the SAT
The reading section of the SAT is composed of 52 multiple-choice questions that students have 65 minutes to complete. Students may earn from 200 to 800 points for this section and the writing section combined. During the allotted time, students are asked to read five different passages and answer questions that correspond with each passage. On average, each passage consists of 500-750 words followed by ten questions. These passages are broken up into the following categories:
Fiction
Students will read one passage of fiction from a piece of literature that has been established in the modern canon. For these passages, students will be asked to analyze plot structure, recognize literary devices, and have a general knowledge of the characterization, themes, and tones expressed throughout the passage.
Historical/Global Studies
Students will read one passage relating to historical/global studies. These texts are made up of U.S. founding documents or pieces of literature from the larger global discussion. These passages often focus on topics of liberty, human rights, and social justice.
Economics, Psychology, or Social Science
Students will read one passage that pertains to either economics, psychology, or social science. These passages are often followed by graphs or tables which the reader must be able to interpret.
Science
Students will be asked to read and interpret two science passages. These are typically peer-reviewed studies from scientific journals or databases and often include tables and graphs. As these passages are usually full of complicated language, it is less important to understand every small piece of data and more important to have a complete picture of what the body of literature is saying as a whole.
It is important to note that the reading section of the SAT is composed of one set of “paired passages.” These are passages that relate to each other but offer different perspectives or varying evidence-based information. Questions relating to these passages will ask students to engage with each text individually as well as draw conclusions based on both pieces of information.
Altogether, the Reading section of the SAT is designed to test each student’s reading comprehension ability while allowing them to engage with different mediums of text in a variety of ways. Most commonly, students will be asked to engage critically with literature, draw rational conclusions based on inference, interpret scientific/historic data, and synthesize information between multiple passages. To have the best chance of success, it is important that students feel comfortable with the formatting and time restraints of the reading section before taking the test.
Kayley Horton, Tutoring Coordinator
kayley@testprepchicago.com
(312) 848-1266
Sources:
https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/media/pdf/official-sat-study-guide-about-reading-test.pdf
https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/sat/whats-on-the-test/reading/overview
The Math Sections on the SAT
The SAT Math sections consist of one 25-minute section with 20 questions, where no calculators are allowed, and one 55-minute section with 38 questions, where calculators are allowed. Around 20% of problems are gridded-response questions, and around 80% are multiple choice. Students can score anywhere from 200 to 800 points on the Math section (including both the No-Calculator and Calculator sections). In addition, all questions in the Calculator and No-Calculator sections stem from four categories created by the College Board: Heart of Algebra, Problem Solving and Data Analysis, Passport to Advanced Math, and Additional Topics in Math.
Heart of Algebra questions can involve anything concerning linear equations, or systems of linear equations. Students may be asked to create equations of their own to solve for a variable given a situation, or interpret the relationship between two linear equations.
Problem Solving and Data Analysis questions ask students to solve problems using ratios, proportions, percentages, probability and unit conversions. They also involve interpreting data (spread, averages, frequency), graphs (line of best fit, exponential/linear growth,), tables, and in some cases, linear or exponential equations in relation to their visual representations.
Passport to Advanced Math encompasses all questions involving quadratic equations. This can include simplifying or factoring, solving for roots/zeros, manipulating radicals, or interpreting graphs of quadratic equations. Students will also be asked to create equations, but they will be more complex and often quadratic in nature.
Additional Topics in Math contains a variety of topics that don’t quite fit into the other three categories. These topics include 2-D and 3-D geometry (trigonometric functions, congruence/similarity, the Pythagorean Theorem, degrees and radians, arc length, and circles) and complex/imaginary numbers.
Overall, the SAT Math section is testing for not just understanding of all the concepts above, but students’ ability to apply them to real world situations. Similar to fully learning a new language, the SAT Math sections demand math comprehension as well as “math fluency.”
Nate Hall, Tutoring Coordinator
nate@testprepchicago.com
(312) 848-1266
What's the Difference Between the SAT and the ACT?
When deciding whether to take the SAT or the ACT, there are a few factors to consider. It’s helpful to know that the SAT and ACT are more similar than they are different! The material they cover is almost exactly the same, as is the formatting.
While the concepts on both tests are very similar, the ACT does involve slightly more complex math, including questions on topics such as trigonometry, imaginary numbers, and logarithms. While newer versions of the SAT do touch on advanced math, the ACT requires a more in-depth knowledge of such concepts. Additionally, there is a “science” section on the ACT, which does not actually require knowledge of science topics; it instead involves deciphering charts and graphs. This section will not test your prior scientific knowledge, but rather your ability to interpret information presented in various ways.
Another key difference between these tests involves timing. The ACT is much more fast-paced than the SAT. On the ACT, students have an average of 36 seconds to answer each question (though that varies slightly between sections), while on the SAT that average is closer to 70 seconds. This means the ACT requires you to move much more quickly through each question and has more questions overall than the SAT. If you’re a strong, focused test-taker with good time-management skills, the ACT may be for you! If you get distracted or overwhelmed easily, then it may be better to stick with the SAT.
Anna Jordan, Tutoring Coordinator
anna@testprepchicago.com
(312) 848-1266
The Impacts of COVID-19 on SAT/ACT Test Scores
For the last several years, the Covid-19 pandemic has caused major issues in the field of education. In general, students have not been able to get as much time in the classroom and have had to adapt to remote learning environments to receive instruction. Illness has also been a factor in attendance, causing many students to fall behind in their coursework. For all of these reasons, students taking the SAT and the ACT have struggled, resulting in lower average test scores in 2022.
In 2021 students averaged an SAT score of 1060 out of 1600 which has since dropped to 1050 in 2022. Similarly, in 2022 ACT students averaged 19.8 out of 30 compared to an average of 20.3 the previous year. This is the lowest composite ACT score of the last thirty years. Altogether 42% of students who took the ACT met none of the benchmarks meant to indicate college success.
Though scores are down, more students than ever are taking both the SAT and ACT. According to the 2022 SAT Suite of Assessments Annual Report, this year 1.7 million students took the SAT which is up 13% from the previous year. Similarly, the ACT has had an increase of 55,000 students from 2021 to 2022. Due to this increased demand, it is more important than ever that students begin preparing for these exams early, so they are left with the best possible chance of success.
Kayley Horton, Tutoring Coordinator
kayley@testprepchicago.com
(312) 848-1266
Test Prep Chicago's SAT Programming
Test Prep Chicago will be offering SAT Test Prep Programs beginning this winter.
The SAT is the most widely used college admissions exam, serving as a tool for colleges and universities to measure a student’s academic ability and college-readiness. The SAT is taken over the course of three hours and consists of two sections: Math and Evidence-Based Reading & Writing. Each section is worth 800 points for a maximum total of 1600 points.
TPC’s SAT programming will include 8-session SAT test prep courses. Our 8-session course reviews both sections of the SAT, as well as key test-taking strategies.
We are also offering 1-day Test Prep Palooza workshops for the SAT. These 6-hour workshops include a full graded practice test and a review of each question on the test (pizza lunch included!).
Finally, we offer in-home individual tutoring to prepare students for college entrance exams. To set up individual tutoring, please email info@testprepchicago.com or call (312) 848-1266.
Anna Jordan, Tutoring Coordinator
anna@testprepchicago.com
(312) 848-1266
CPS Announces Academic Center Entrance Exam Test Dates (2022-23 School Year)
Chicago Public Schools (CPS) has announced the test dates for the Academic Center Entrance Exam.
AC Entrance Exam Test Dates
Saturday, January 14
Sunday, January 15
Monday, January 16
Saturday, January 21
Sunday, January 22
Saturday, January 28
Sunday, January 29
The AC Entrance Exam will be offered at a designated CPS testing site based on a family’s location.
Applicants can apply and register for a test date using the GoCPS online application portal.
The application process for the 2023-2024 school year opens Wednesday, September 21 and ends Friday, December 2nd.
Charlie Howard, Owner
charlie@testprepchicago.com
(312) 848-1266
CPS Announces CPS High School Admissions Test Dates (2022-23 School Year)
Chicago Public Schools (CPS) has announced the test dates for the High School Admissions Test (HSAT). This year, the HSAT will be taken by CPS students on October 26th. Non-CPS students will have the option to take the HSAT on November 5th, 6th, 12th, or 13th. All test dates have been listed below.
HSAT Test Dates
CPS Students:
Wednesday, October 26
Non-CPS Students:
Saturday, November 5
Sunday, November 6
Saturday, November 12
Sunday, November 13
The HSAT will be offered in-school for CPS students. Non-CPS students will take the HSAT at a designated CPS testing site.
Applicants can apply using the GoCPS online application portal.
The application process for the 2023-2024 school year opens Wednesday, September 14 and ends Friday, December 2nd.
Kayley Horton, Tutoring Coordinator
kayley@testprepchicago.com
(312) 848-1266
Chicago Students are Still Struggling
According to recent data from Chalkbeat, Chicago Public School students are still suffering from the deleterious educational effects of Covid-19. Non-verified standardized test results indicate a severe drop in performance from previous scores in the 2018-2019 school year. After testing third through eighth-graders, the unofficial results show that only fifteen percent of students met the state standard for math and twenty percent for language arts. This is a stark contrast to pre-pandemic test scores where nearly twenty-five percent of students met the standard for math and twenty-eight percent for language arts.
While these results are preliminary, they present concerns for educators throughout Chicago. Students in third, fourth, and fifth grade had particular difficulty, indicating a lack of foundational knowledge that may lead to more severe problems at the middle school level. Paul Zavitkovsky, an assessment specialist at the University of Chicago states, “the implication here is that without deep structural interventions at the middle school level that have been very difficult to achieve under the best conditions, the likelihood of learning recovery for kids now entering the middle school years is pretty low.”
As this preliminary testing data was released sooner than in years past, education officials and administrators are able to use the summer to prepare intervention methods specific to students’ needs. Many educators plan to get students back on track via recovery plans and skill-oriented teaching. However, teacher shortages and staff burn-out may pose even more problems for struggling students and educational staff to overcome during the school year. Many worry that the long-term effects of this education crisis will have an adverse effect on students for years to come.
Kayley Horton, Tutoring Coordinator
nate@testprepchicago.com
(312) 848-1266