News
Algebra Exit Exam Dates
CPS has confirmed the dates for the Algebra Exit Exam, an annual assessment given in late May to 7th or 8th grade students enrolled in Algebra I. The test is given to determine if students are prepared to move on to more advanced math classes, such as geometry. For more information about the Algebra Exit Exam, click here.
CPS students will take the exam in their algebra class at school, but non-CPS students who plan to attend a CPS school in the fall of 2024 must register on the CPS website.
Algebra Exit Exam Test Dates
CPS students will test at their school between 5/20-5/24.
Non-CPS students will test on Saturday, 5/18.
Anna Jordan, Tutoring Coordinator
anna@testprepchicago.com
(312) 848-1266
ACT Test Scores at a 30-Year Low
The ACT college admissions test scores for high school students in the United States have declined to their lowest levels in over thirty years, indicating a concerning lack of preparedness for college-level coursework. This decline has been ongoing for six consecutive years, with the trend intensifying during the years of the COVID-19 pandemic. The nonprofit organization responsible for administering the test, ACT, highlights the urgent need to better equip graduates for postsecondary success in both college and career paths.
The average composite score for U.S. students on the ACT in 2023 dropped to 19.5 out of 36, down from 19.8 the previous year. Scores in reading, science, and math all fell below the benchmarks deemed necessary for success in first-year college courses, emphasizing the concerning trend in student preparedness. Despite criticism of standardized testing for favoring wealthier students and disadvantaging low-income ones, ACT CEO Janet Godwin argues that these scores remain crucial for placing students in appropriate college courses and aiding academic advisors in providing adequate support.
While many universities have made standardized testing optional for admissions, with some, like the University of California system, not considering ACT or SAT scores even if submitted, the debate over the relevance and usefulness of such tests continues. Student perspectives vary; however, the decline in ACT participation suggests a significant shift in the landscape of college admissions, with potential long-term implications for assessing student readiness and academic success.
Anna Jordan, Tutoring Coordinator
anna@testprepchicago.com
312-848-1266
Illinois Potentially Switching from SAT to ACT
Within the next year, Illinois may be switching from the SAT to ACT as it’s mandated state test. In the state of Illinois, all public high school students are required to pass a standardized college entrance exam to graduate. The Board of Education’s current contract with College Board requires 11th grade students to take the SAT and 9th and 10th grade students to take the PSAT. As this contract expires in June, it is likely the Board of Education will make the switch to the ACT for the 2024-2025 school year.
The state has begun negotiating a deal with ACT Inc. that will award the company a $53 million contract over the course of three years. If this deal is successful, it will be the first time the ACT is mandated for Illinois public school students since 2016. While the state is developing these contracts, the Chicago Board of Education recently renewed its contract with College Board for another two years. Therefore, Chicago public school students can expect to continue taking the SAT until 2026.
Some are dismayed by these potential changes, claiming the ACT does not align with current Illinois educational standards. Matthew Raimondi, a district employee, stated “that high school assessment is ultimately going to guide how teachers teach. Teachers are going to teach to the test you select. I urge you as board members to make sure you make the best decision to move to Illinois forward and not back to a test from the last century.” The state superintendent responded to this by assuring educators that whatever test is selected will align with the requisite learning standards.
Kayley Horton, Tutoring Coordinator
kayley@testprepchicago.com
312-848-1266
Underfunding Public Universities in the State of Illinois
A state-funded commission reports that public universities are underfunded by approximately 1.4 billion dollars in Illinois. Co-chair of the commission Kimberly Lightfoot outlines how underfunding these establishments creates an inequitable educational environment as it “perpetuates a cycle of inequalities, where those from affluent backgrounds have access to better education and subsequently better opportunities, while others are left behind.” Similarly, the executive director of the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability claims “we are making higher ed more unaffordable for everyone in Illinois generally, but in particular, for low-income families and families that have been marginalized for decades.”
From 2002 – 2021 they found that state funding has decreased from 72% to 35%. The commission posits that allocating 100 – 135 million dollars to public universities each year would nullify this issue within the next 10-15 years. A 135 million dollar increase would amount to a 12% difference leading to a 10-year track to fully funding public universities, while a 100 million dollar increase would net a 9% difference culminating in a 15-year timeline. These findings will be presented at budget hearings within the coming weeks.
Kayley Horton, Tutoring Coordinator
kayley@testprepchicago.com
312-848-1266
Digital SAT Updates
In the 2024 school year, College Board has officially switched to an all-digital model for the SAT. This comes as a significant change from the former paper and pencil model that was utilized for the past several decades. College Board representative Priscilla Rodriguez stated that based on information gleaned from focus groups, students found digital testing to be less complicated and more natural than other alternatives. Students expressed feelings of anxiety when taking the physical SAT and had more confidence when it was administered digitally. This comes as no surprise considering the amount of technology that has been integrated into modern education structures. Because of this, 2024 is the first year that the SAT will be fully adapted to a digital format for all students.
In practice, this means students must take the SAT on their own electronic devices or devices provided by their schools. The digital exam will be administered through an app called Bluebook. This app requires access to an internet connection though College Board claims that the exam takes up very little bandwidth. As an added precaution, the app will automatically save all progress within the exam so that students do not risk losing their work due to internet outages.
College Board is confident in their digital SAT infrastructure as this is not the first time they’ve offered the exam digitally. Throughout 2023 international students took the digital SAT and many high school students took the digital PSAT in the fall of the same year. Thus, College Board believes that the digital SAT will be a successful step towards modernizing the exam for students in the years to come.
Kayley Horton, Tutoring Coordinator
kayley@testprepchicago.com
607-848-1266
Standardized Testing Requirements at Yale
Following Dartmouth’s lead, Yale is the most recent Ivy League school to reinstate standardized test scores as a requirement for new students. This means that Yale applicants will need to submit either SAT, ACT, or advanced placement scores in order to be considered for admission. This adjustment will go into effect for students applying for the fall class of 2025.
Yale claims their previous choice to forego standardized test scores became a hindrance to applicants from low socioeconomic backgrounds. According to the Ivy League, admissions committees had less student information to work with therefore putting more emphasis on GPAs and extracurricular activities when assessing applications. Thus, students who suffered in these areas were not given an opportunity to reinforce their scholastic strengths via test scores.
Administrators at Yale assert that requiring standardized testing scores helps them get a fully rounded view of each individual as a student. They claim having access to these scores will “highlight an applicant’s areas of academic strength.” However, they wish to emphasize that test scores alone can not predict student achievement and will only be used as a piece of a larger puzzle when reviewing student qualifications.
Kayley Horton, Tutoring Coordinator
607-848-1266
Test Score Requirements at Dartmouth
Since the outbreak of Covid-19 in 2020, most universities including Ivy League schools opted to make SAT and ACT scores optional rather than required upon application. This measure was taken to ensure a more equitable application process for students. However, in 2024, Dartmouth will be the first Ivy League school to reverse this decision by once again requiring students to submit either their SAT or ACT scores for its newest class of students. While many are outraged by this decision, Dartmouth claims its ultimate goal is to increase diversity.
A study conducted by Dartmouth suggests that making test scores optional has actually harmed their goal of inclusion. Students from disadvantaged families and low socioeconomic backgrounds submitted test scores less frequently than advantaged students. However, disadvantaged and/or marginalized students who did submit their test scores frequently achieved higher scores than students without these disadvantages. Thus, if SAT or ACT scores had been required, it is believed that more diverse students would have been admitted.
In addition, Dartmouth administrators believe that reinstating their test score requirement is necessary to predict student performance. Test scores considered in conjunction with high school grades are the best indicator of a student’s success according to research conducted at the college. This study also claims that test score requirements tend to attract students from schools that do not frequently send students to Dartmouth. Thus, if proven correct, the mandate would lead to a more inclusive student body. Still, it remains to be seen if other colleges and universities will follow in Dartmouth’s wake and once again require SAT and ACT scores.
Kayley Horton, Tutoring Coordinator
kayley@testprepchicago.com
312-848-1266
Final Paper SAT on December 2, 2023
December 2nd, 2023, which is the final SAT date of 2023, also signifies the final administration of the traditional paper-based SAT. The College Board has decided to exclusively shift to a digital format moving forward, representing a significant transition in standardized testing methods. Students in the USA, including Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands, will take the new digital test starting in March of 2024, while international students have had the option to take the new digital SAT since March of this year.
The paper SAT has been a longstanding tradition, but with this final administration, the College Board is embracing technology and emphasizing adaptability and innovation in testing practices. To read more about the digital SAT, click here.
Anna Jordan, Tutoring Coordinator
anna@testprepchicago.com
(312) 848-1266
Study Finds Increase in College Enrollment Rates for CPS Graduates
A study by the UChicago Consortium on School Research found a significant increase in the proportion of CPS graduates who enrolled in college. The study also found an increase in the number of students who plan to pursue their college education.
Despite general concerns over rising higher education costs and student debt, CPS students are increasingly opting for a college education, whose benefits include higher earning potential and increased job opportunities. This trend is notable considering that the national trend is the opposite: nation-wide college enrollment rates are still decreasing, not yet having recovered from the pandemic.
These college enrollment rates outperform national averages for high-poverty schools, a success which CPS credits to the collaboration of counselors, nonprofits, and teachers. The study did, however, highlight racial disparities in their projections; CPS administrators have acknowledged these disparities and the need to address them.
Anna Jordan, Tutoring Coordinator
anna@testprepchicago.com
(312) 848-1266
NWEA Acquired by HMH
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, a learning technology company known as HMH, will acquire the research and assessment nonprofit NWEA. The press release states that, “The combined organization will harness the collective power of instruction and research-based insights to support educators in their efforts to drive better outcomes for students.”
NWEA, the Northwest Evaluation Association, was used by 10,000 school systems last year and will now function as a division of HMH. NWEA’s materials will be integrated with the HMH platform, and NWEA’s suite of MAP assessments will not be impacted. Tools will continue to be available to educators, and assessments and workshops that are scheduled will proceed as normal.
Proceeds from the acquisition will be used to form a new national charity based in Oregon. The details have yet to be finalized, but the foundation will serve students and educators across the country.
Anna Jordan, Tutoring Coordinator
anna@testprepchicago.com
(312) 848-1266