The New SAT

SAT 2016                         

One big change for Juniors in Michigan next year is that the SAT will be part of MME testing instead of the ACT.  This has created a little uncertainty among students and parents who may have been surprised by this news that was announced earlier in the year.  So, what does it really mean for students?

The change will mostly mean that many more students in Michigan will be taking the SAT than ever before.  Most colleges have historically accepted both ACT and SAT scores and this will continue to be true.  Students in Michigan have usually taken the ACT because it is the test that has been given to all Juniors in Michigan since it was added to the MME in 2007. This will change starting next year as SAT won the bid to be the test given during the MME to all juniors in the state of Michigan. This will be an adjustment, but for students who have been preparing for the ACT, this does not mean they can not still take the ACT.  Students can still sign up to take the ACT on a national testing day, just like they used to do before.  Colleges will continue to look at both assessments.

Historically the SAT has been seen as a little more tricky in the types of questions they ask, but the format for the SAT is changing for the 2016 test takers.  The College Board has reformatted the test, and it looks more like the ACT in the way the test is set up.  There are a few big changes in the newly formatted SAT.  

1.  The first is that students used to lose a percentage of a point if they guessed incorrectly. With the new format for the SAT students will no longer be penalized for guessing.  Students should answer all the questions, just like they do with the ACT.

Critical Reading 52 questions 66 minutes

Writing 44 questions 35 minutes

Essay   1 question 50 minutes

Mathematics 58 questions 80 minutes

Total questions 155 questions (including the essay) 230 minutes (including the essay)

2.  Scoring:

• Total score ranging from 400 - 1600. 
• Scale ranging from 200 - 800 for Evidence-Based Reading and Writing.  
• Scale ranging from 200 - 800 for math
• 2 - 8 on each of three traits for Essay, and essay score is reported separately.
• Subscores will be reported for every test

3.  Students often correlate the SAT with tricky vocabulary and studying words off of note cards.  This will change next year.  The vocabulary will focus on relevant words in context.  

4.  There will not be a separate science section.  Students will apply their reading, writing, language, and math skills to answer questions in science, history, and social studies.

5.   Students will be asked to interpret, synthesize, and use evidence found to answer the questions.

6.  Math will focus on three key areas including, problem solving and data analysis (quantitative literacy), the heart of algebra (mastery of linear equations), and passport to advanced math (familiarity with more complex questions).  There will not be a separate Geometry section.

7.  There will be real world problems that directly relate to the work in college.

8.  The essay will more closely mirror college writing.  The writing prompt will be made public, and the only part that will vary is the excerpt the student is asked to analyze.  Students will read a passage and explain how the author builds an argument to persuade an audience. The essay is now an optional piece of the SAT and is given at the end of the test.  The essay will be mandatory for all 11th graders to take during the MME.  When students sign up to take the test outside of the MME they will be allowed to choose if they will take the essay portion or not.  Students will be given 50 minutes for the essay portion.

9.  Every student who takes the SAT will come across a passage from the a founding document or a text from the ongoing global conversation about freedom, justice, and human dignity.

These changes to the SAT will call for some getting used to, but I am confident our students will do well.  When meeting with a representative from the College Board we were told that students should do well if they do their work in school, and I am confident Novi High School students who do their work are well prepared for this test.  The representative also said that students should read, read as much as they can.  He mentioned reading different types of texts, so this summer students should pick up the newspaper each week and read it.  Visit the library and check out a variety of books; look for fiction, non-fiction, memoirs, classics, and any other category you can think of.  This will be a great way for students to prepare for the new upcoming SAT test.

This will be an adjustment for everyone.  As we go through this next year, please feel free to contact your counselor.  We are happy to answer any questions we can about this new test.  We will not have all of the answers, but we will do our best to find the answers and we will navigate this together.  

A great resource for preparing for the SAT is Khan Academy. They are partnering with the College Board to offer a number of resources to help students prepare for the new SAT.  Keep checking their sight as they add more resources for the new test.

Scheduling

Scheduling

Yes, everyone it is that wonderful time of year, scheduling season.  We have just started second semester, but it is time to start thinking about the 2015 – 2016 school year.  Some of you will be SENIORS next year, and you are probably excited about scheduling your final year of high school.  Some will be just starting the high school journey and may be a little nervous about navigating these next four years.  The rest of you are in the thick of it, you know all about scheduling but it still can be a daunting task.  This is written to hopefully put everyone at ease.  Please take time to read the tips, and be sure to know your counselors and teachers are here to help answer your questions, so don’t hesitate to ask!

This year we will be scheduling one on one with each student.  We are looking forward to this, although we may hit a few bumps in the road, we are hopeful that this will be what is best for each student.  We are also looking forward to connecting with each student face to face as we help them navigate the scheduling process.  Please see the tips below, and remember we are here to help so just ask.  We always have walk-in lunches, students can sign up to see us, plus we will be available at lunches in the atrium on February 13^th and 19^th for students to stop by our table to ask questions.

Some Helpful Scheduling Tips:

*Review the course catalog.  Make sure you look at all the options that are available, and choose the classes you need for graduation and those that interest you.  Don’t just choose classes based on what your friends are taking, look for classes that are in your area of interest. 

*Plan ahead, make sure you know if a class needs a prerequisite, and schedule for it.  Begin with the end in mind so that you can have the opportunity to take the classes you want.

*Take a look at your transcript.  It is now available on MiStar.  This is a great way for you to make sure you are meeting the graduation requirements or to check to see if you have the prerequisites required to take certain classes.

*Have a conversation with your teachers.   Ask them what class may be best for you to take next.  Do they think you are ready for an AP or IB class, should you take pre-calculus or statistics?  Teachers are experts in their field; they might really give you some insight as to what class would be a good fit for you.

*Be sure to also talk with your parent or guardian about your schedule for next year.  They will need to sign the pre-enrollment form, so sit down and have a discussion with them before you ask them to sign.  They know you well too, they can give you some insight as to how much you can handle next year.  

*Turn your completed pre-enrollment form into your English teacher by February 20th, you will not be allowed to schedule until that form is 100% complete and turned in.

• Please note that if you do not complete this form by the deadline you will be assigned classes based on course availability.

*Plan a brief one on one meeting with your counselor on your assigned date.  Make sure you have everything ready to meet with your counselor.  Some classes require applications, so if you are signing up for one of these classes make sure to bring in your application for scheduling.

*Your classes that you select are what we build our schedule around, so be sure are choosing classes you really want.  Switching classes can be difficult after the master schedule is built, so take this scheduling time seriously.

Happy Scheduling!!