Gearing up for the 2019 ACT & WorkKeys ACT - Wednesday, February - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Gearing up for the 2019 ACT & WorkKeys

ACT - Wednesday, February 20th WorkKeys - Thursday, February 21st

DPI - Mandated Testing

• Wisconsin requires all 11th graders to take the ACT &

WorkKeys.

• Intended to measure students’ college & career readiness.
• You do not have to pay for this ACT test

○ College reportable, 4 scores for free!

WI - Dept of Public Instruction

• Ensure every student graduates ready for further

education & the workplace.

• Increase career & college readiness.
• Ensure all students graduate with the skills necessary for

post-secondary success.

What's the Big Deal?

• The ACT is not just an achievement test. It’s used for...

○ College Selection ■

The ACT is a college entrance test used for admissions. Use Naviance to see the average ACT score needed for a given college.

○ Scholarships ■

The ACT is a competition for scholarship dollars. A score of 24-28 is a benchmark for significant scholarship money for some colleges. For some private schools, the benchmark is a 30–31.

ACT...also used for:

• Instead of the “Accuplacer” test, the ACT can be used for

admission & course placement at Technical Colleges such as MATC.

• Course Placement - Some colleges use ACT scores for placing

students into college courses.

• NCAA - scores earned on the ACT can be used by students for NCAA

eligibility requirements.

• State Accountability - Are WI / CHS students learning the skills

required for post-secondary success?

ACT Scores

• The composite is an average of the 4 test scores

○ Eng, Math, Reading & Science ○ Each subject test is scored on a 1-36 scale ○ All questions multiple-choice (except Writing)

• WI Avg. Composite Score for 2018 Grads - 19.7
• CHS Avg. Composite Score for 2018 Grads - 23.9

ACT Scores – Take a Closer Look

The Basics for the ACT....

• Get a good night SLEEP
• Report to your Advisory or assigned testing location

○ Arrive no later than 7:28 AM

• Snacks/water provided at break
• Break for Lunch before the Writing test

○ Go home after completing ALL tests

What to bring… just 1, 2, 3….

• 1. Acceptable Photo ID (School ID or Driver's License w/name &

recognizable photo)

• 2. Two No. 2 Pencils with good erasers

(No pens or mechanical pencils)

• 3. Permitted Calculator

What NOT to bring to testing:

• Cell phones, Smart watches or other electronic devices
• Portable listening device, camera
• Prohibited calculators such as TI-89 or TI-92
• Food or water
• Scratch paper
• Notes, books, dictionaries
• Highlighter or colored pens/pencils

A Word on Cell Phones….

• Cell phones are prohibited from the testing room & cannot

be used during all breaks, this INCLUDES the lunch break!

• Applies to any digital/electronic equipment

Q: What may happen if…

...a student is seen using a cell phone or if a phone or electronic device makes any noise? A: The student will be dismissed immediately, his/her scores will be canceled & the device will be confiscated.

The tests of others students may also be invalidated!

ACT Testing Schedule

Test 1 - English 45 min - 75 questions Test 2 - Math 60 min - 60 questions

Break: 15 min (with a snack/water/restroom)

Test 3 - Reading 35 min - 40 questions Test 4 - Science 35 min - 40 questions

LUNCH Break - (30 min)

Test 5 - Writing 40 min - 1 essay prompt

ACT English Test

• Usage & Mechanics 53% - 40 questions

○ Punctuation - 10 questions ○ Grammar & Usage - 12 questions ○ Sentence Structure - 18 questions

• Rhetorical Skills 47% - 35 questions

○ Strategy - 12 questions ○ Organization - 11 questions ○ Style - 11 questions

ACT Math Test

• 60 multiple-choice questions:

○ Pre-Algebra 23% - 14 questions ○ Elementary Algebra 17% - 10 questions ○ Intermediate Algebra 15% - 9 questions ○ Coordinate Geometry 15% - 9 questions ○ Plane Geometry 23% - 14 questions ○ Trigonometry 7% - 4 questions

ACT Reading Test

• Four Types of Reading Passages:

○ Prose Fiction ○ Humanities ○ Social Studies ○ Natural Science Passages from published materials such as books & magazines

ACT Science Test

• Content Areas: Biology, Chemistry, Earth/Space Science,

Physics ○ Data Representation: 38% - 15 questions ○ Research Summaries: 45% - 18 questions ○ Conflicting Viewpoints: 17% - 7 questions

Test Taking Tips - Pacing

❏ English - 75 questions/45 min = 36 seconds per question ❏ Math - 60 questions/60 min = 1 minute per question ❏ Reading - 40 questions/35 min (10 questions each from 4 passages)

= about 8.5 minutes for each passage & its questions

❏ Science - 40 questions/35 min = 52.5 seconds per question

= about 6 minutes for each of the 6 passages & related set of questions.

Test Taking Tips - Pacing

• Take deep breaths
• Pace yourself

○ Limit your time on any one question or passage.

• Keep track of time
• Pay attention to announcement of 5 min remaining
• Practice with a timer when possible

Test Taking Tips - Guessing

• There is NO penalty for guessing on the ACT, so…

○ Take a chance & take advantage by answering every question. ○ If guessing, make educated guesses after eliminating 1 or more incorrect answers. ○ Answer questions you know first; go back to more difficult questions ○ Read directions for each test & question carefully.

More Test Taking Tips

• Check your answer sheet to make sure you are placing

your answers correctly.

• If you complete a test before time is called, recheck your

work on that test.

• Use your test booklet as scratch paper.
• Be sure to fill in/erase entire circle.
• Do not mark ovals after time is called. If you do, you will

be dismissed & answer sheet will not be scored.

ACT Test Prep During Resource

Review your PreACT Student Profile Report See your handout for specific ACT prep lessons Sign-up in Enriching Students! Check the:

2018-2019 Resource Support Session Calendar

Be ACT Ready!

Method Test Prep (MTP): Free for Juniors

• Over 1,500 practice questions
• 500 Video explanations
• 2 Full length practice exams
• 15 Minutes/day, 1 hour/week lessons
• Very predictable test…know the question types
• Choose the practice areas you want

Other ACT Prep

CHS Counseling Website

• Knowledge Edge - Tutoring & Bootcamps (Feb 14, 6:30-8:30)
• WI Test Prep - College Tutors.com
• Real ACT Prep Guide - ACT Practice Test
• North Shore Tutoring - Kaplan & Online links

ACT Test Prep Resources CHS Counseling Study Skills & Tutoring Links

ACT WorkKeys:

National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC)

• WorkKeys

○ Measures essential “Real World” skills that employers believe are Critical to occupational ○ Questions are based on situations in the everyday work world

• The NCRC is a credential of work-readiness skills that are:

○ Recognized nationally by businesses & industries ○ Awarded at 4 levels based on core-assessment scores ■ Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum ○ Portable: You can take it to employer as part of your resume or portfolio ○ More than 1000 companies use it to evaluate prospective employees

Levels of Difficulty

Levels of Difficulty: Levels 3 - 7. Level 3 is the least complex & Level 7 is the most complex.

Bronze: 3 Silver: 4 Gold: 5 Platinum: 6 & 7

National Career Readiness Certificate

Wisconsin NCRC Certifications Earned Percentage of Jobs in ACT JobPro

ACT WorkKeys Test Schedule In the Field House

Test 1 - Workplace Documents - 55 min Test 2 - Applied Mathematics - 55 min

Break: 15 min (Restroom)

Test 3 - Graphic Literacy - 55 min

The Same Basics for the WorkKeys...

• Get a good night SLEEP
• Arrive no later than 8:13 AM

○ Acceptable Photo ID (School ID or Driver's License that has name and recognizable photo) ○ Two No. 2 Pencils with good erasers (NO PENS OR MECHANICAL PENCILS) ○ Permitted Calculator

• Bathroom Break

Testing will end around 12:20 AM & ALL Juniors will go to lunch, then 4th Block class

What NOT to bring to testing:

• Cell phones or other electronic devices
• Portable listening device, camera
• Prohibited calculators such as TI-89 or TI-92
• Food or water
• Scratch paper
• Notes, books, dictionaries
• Highlighter or colored pens/pencils

PreAdministration Day:

Advisory on Wednesday, February 13th

• Come prepared to your Advisory w/ pencils
• Come with ideas - Counseling Dept. sent email regarding:

○ College Major & Occupation ○ College Codes for 4 prospective schools

• Transcripts will be provided

○ Overall Cumulative GPA ○ Grades achieved in Core Courses

Score Reports

• Score reports will be available 4-6 weeks after the ACT &

WorkKeys assessments are given

• Students will be able to access your NCRC (WorkKeys)

certificate online

Class of 2020... YOU CAN DO IT!

• Take ADVANTAGE of test prep!
• Get a good night’s sleep. Eat breakfast!
• Answer all items on the test. Take your “best guess” on

difficult items that you are not sure of!

• Re-check your work!
• Return to difficult items!
• Keep a positive mindset!