TESTING INFORMATION

American College Test (ACT) www.actstudent.org

The American College Test is designed to measure classroom achievement in four broad content areas, as well as the ability to reason, and the application of problem solving skills. The test takes approximately three hours and covers English usage, Mathematics, Social Studies and Natural Science. The score is based on the number of correct answers given with no penalty for wrong guesses. Scores for English, Mathematics, Reading, Science reasoning and a composite score are returned to the high school for distribution to the students. This test is accepted by most colleges and universities nationwide.

Testing Time (Overall): Approximately 3 hours.

Test Purpose: Designed to measure classroom achievement in four broad content areas as well as the ability to reason and the application of problem solving skills (see test content section below).

Test Content:

English Usage - Punctuation, Basic Grammar and Usage, Sentence Structure, Rhetorical Skills, Strategy, organization and style.

Mathematics - Pre Algebra, Elementary Algebra, Intermediate Algebra and coordinate Geometry, Plane Geometry, Trigonometry.

Reading Test - Four Types, Prose Fiction, Humanities, Social Studies, Natural Sciences.

Science Reasoning Test - Data Representation, Research Summaries, Conflicting Viewpoints.

Scores Reported:

English - Usage/Mechanics, Rhetorical Skills

Mathematics - Pre-Algebra, Alg/Coord Geometry, Plane Geometry Trig.,

Reading - Soc Studies/Science, Arts, Literature

Science Reasoning - Composite (Average)

Note: There is a new writing component.

Method of Scoring: Scores based on number of right answers - no penalty for guessing.

Location of Regional Offices Serving California: Sacramento - 916-361-0656 Website: www.act.org

SAT Reasoning Test www.collegeboard.com

The SAT is designed to measure academic aptitude areas. The test contains questions on critical reading, written English and Mathematics. Scoring reflects incorrect guesses. Both verbal and mathematical scores are reported back to the student. This test is accepted by most colleges and universities nationwide. The Cal State System will not count the writing sub-score in their application analysis. The UC system will give equal weight to the SAT and the two SAT subject tests chosen. The Math II will be the only math test accepted by the UC’s.

Testing Time (overall): Approximately 3 hrs and 45 minutes.

Test Purpose: Designed to measure academic aptitude in terms of verbal and numerical reasoning and ability to recognize standard written English.

Test Content: Critical Reading - Sentence Completion, Reading Comprehension in Social, Political, Scientific, Artictic, Philosophical and Literary Areas. Writing - Multiple Choice questions, student written essay, punctuation, grammar, sentence structure, diction and style.

Mathematics - Arithmetic & Algebra, Geometry, Logic, Operations etc. (The use of a calculator is permitted on the mathematics sections of the SAT reasoning.)

Scores Reported: Verbal, Mathematical, Reading, Vocabulary, Test of Standard Written English, Student Background Information.

How Scores are disseminated: Scores sent directly to students to colleges and universities listed by the students, with a copy to the high school.

Method of Scoring: Score corrected for guessing.

Location of Regional Offices Serving California: Berkeley 510-654-1200 Website: www.collegeboard.com

SAT Subject Tests

The University of California and some private colleges require various combinations of SAT Subject Tests and some allow students to choose their own. Check the requirements of the private colleges you are interested in before deciding which tests to take. * Beginning with the class of 2012, the UC's are no longer requiring the SAT Subject Tests.

The tests fall into five general subject areas:

2 subject tests are required in 2 different subject areas:

English - Literature

History and Social Studies - US History, World History.

Math II - Mathematics II (Calculator),

Sciences - Biology, Chemistry, Physics

World Languages - Chinese with Listening, French, French with Listening, German, German with Listening, Modern Hebrew, Italian, Japanese with Listening, Latin, Spanish, and Spanish with Listening.

Korean with Listening.

All subject Tests take one hour of testing time, and all consist entirely of multiple-choice questions.

The use of a calculator is prohibited on all Subject tests except Mathematics II.

CALIFORNIA HIGH SCHOOL EXIT EXAM (CAHSEE)

STATE REQUIREMENT

· The purpose of the CAHSEE is (1) to improve student achievement in high school; and (2) to help ensure that students who graduate from high school can demonstrate competency in state academic content standards adopted by the State Board of Education (SBE). All students must pass the CAHSEE to be eligible for a diploma.

STUDENT PARTICIPATION

• All tenth-grade students are required to take the CAHSEE once in grade 10. Students may be given up to five additional opportunities to retake the examination. Only the part(s) not passed must be taken again.

TEST CONTENT

• The English-language arts part of the CAHSEE addresses state academic content standards through grade 10. The examination consists of the multiple-choice questions and a writing task. The reading and decoding portion covers vocabulary, informational reading, and literary reading. The writing portion covers writing strategies, applications, and conventions. The examination has one written response either to a literature or an informational passage or to writing prompt.

• The Mathematics part of the CAHSEE addresses state academic content standards. It includes statistics, data analysis and probability, number sense, measurement and geometry, algebra and functions, mathematical reasoning, and Algebra 1. Students must demonstrate strong computational skills and a foundation in arithmetic, including working with decimals, fractions, and percents. The math examination consists of all multiple-choice questions.

HOW CAN MY CHILD PREPARE FOR THE CAHSEE?

· Stay apprised of your child’s progress and work quality.

· Review your child’s most recent results of the STAR California Standards Test (CST) in English-language arts and mathematics. These results are a clear indicator of how he/she may continue to perform on standards-based tests. Receiving proficient or advanced levels indicates student is meeting or exceeding standards.

· Stay in contact with your child’s teacher(s) and counselor if any assistance is needed.

• Students with low Star scores will be required to attend Intervention classes to prepare for the exam.

INFORMATION ABOUT STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

• Students who are English learners are required to take the CAHSEE in grade ten with all other tenth grade students. During their first 24 months in a California school, English learners are to receive six months of instruction in reading, writing, and comprehension in English. During this time, they are still required to take the CAHSEE. All students must pass the CAHSEE in English to receive their high school diploma.

• Students with disabilities need to pass the CAHSEE to receive their high school diploma. These students must be permitted to take the test with any accommodation or modification specified for the CAHSEE, for standardized testing, or for use during classroom instruction and assessments in their Individualized Education Program (IEP) or Section 504 Plan.

• If a student takes one or both parts of the CAHSEE with an accommodation and earns a score of 350 or higher, then the student has passed that part of the exam. As long as all other graduation requirements have been met, the student is eligible to receive a high school diploma.

• If a student takes one or both parts of the CAHSEE with a modification and has received the equivalent of a passing score, the student has not passed that part of the exam, but is eligible to request a waiver of the requirement to successfully pass that part of the exam. Because the use of a modification changes what the test is measuring, the score report will be marked “not valid” for the applicable part of the exam. If the waiver is granted, and all other graduation requirements have been met, then the student is eligible to receive a high school diploma.

• Students who take one or both parts of the CAHSEE with a modification and have received the equivalent of a passing score are eligible for the waiver request process. At the request of the student’s parent or guardian, a school principal must submit to the local school governing board a request for a waiver of the requirement to pass the part(s) of the CAHSEE on which a modification was used and the equivalent of a passing score was earned. Education Code Section 60851c explains the waiver process in detail.