LowerMorelandHigh School
Preparation for
Standardized Testing
December 2010
555 Red Lion Road
Huntingdon Valley, PA19006

I SAT/ACT

a. / What? Why? When?
b. / How many times?
c. / Scoring/Guessing – refer to pg. 4-5
d. / How colleges use the SAT
e. / Score Choice/Reporting – refer to pg. 6
f. / Registration
1. / College Board Web Site
Set up user name and password
2. / Fill out Student Descriptive Questionnaire
(only have to do it once)
3. / Pay with credit card
4. / School Code is #390303
TestCenter Code is #39-334
(Put alternate test center site in case LM is full)
5. / Student with disabilities must register with their SSD number.
See counselor if you do not have it.
6. / Print Admission Ticket – Must have on day of test along
with picture I.D.
II SAT Subject Test
a. / What? – One hour each – up to three per test date
b. / Cannot be taken on same day as SAT
c. / How are they used by colleges?
d. / SAT Subject Test Requirements

III ACT

a. / Register on line (English, Reading, Science, Math)
and optional Writing
b. / School code is #390303 - Lower Moreland is not a TestCenter
c. / Scoring difference with SAT/Concordance Chart - refer to pg. 7
d. / Test Prep
IV Testing Schedule
a. / Plan with counselor/parents – refer to pg. 2-3
b. / Test day checklist - refer to pg. 9-10

V Problems

a. / Remember user name and password
b. / Increased responsibility in test score reporting
c. / Change test date/center, etc. (2 ½ weeks prior to test or must change on test day and will be billed extra fee)
d. / Incorrect/inconsistent information (name, address, SSN, etc.)

VI Preparation

a. / Review books – The Official SAT Study Guide (College Board)/The Real ACT Prep Guide
b. / SAT Tutors – Linked to Guidance Website -
c. / Test Prep – also linked to Guidance Website – - Click on Test Prep. Links to CollegeBoard’s MyCollegeQuickstart and LMHS Library SAT Prep links. - refer to pg. 8
d. / Kaplan - Test Prep course at LMHS and Free Online Prep course – refer to pg. 11

Comparative Features of The ACT and SAT 2010-2011

The ACT
(ACT, Inc.) / SAT
(College Board)
Test Fee /
  • $32.00
  • $47.00 (with writing)
/
  • $47.00

Test
Purpose: / Designed to measure academic achievement in the areas
of English, mathematics, reading, and science / Designed to measure critical reading, writing,
and mathematical reasoning skills.
Test
Length / 3 hours, 25 minutes (including 30 minute optional essay) / 3 hours, 49 minutes
Test
Content: / ACT English Test (75 items, 45 minutes)
Usage/Mechanics
  • Punctuation (13%)
  • Basic Grammar and Usage (16%)
  • Sentence Structure (24%)
  • Rhetorical Skills
  • Strategies (16%)
  • Organization (15%)
  • Style (16%)
/ SAT Writing (Mandatory) (60 minutes)
Multiple Choice (35 minutes)
Essay (25 minutes)
ACT Mathematics Test (60 items, 60 minutes)
Pre-Algebra and Elementary Algebra (23%, 17%)
Intermediate Algebra and Coord. Geometry (15%, 15%)
Plane Geometry and Trigonometry (23%, 7%) / SAT Mathematics (70 minutes)
Arithmetic (20%)
Algebra (35-40%)
Geometry (25-30%)
Data Analysis (10-15%)
ACT Reading Test (40 items, 35 minutes)
Arts and Literature
  • Prose Fiction (25%)
  • Humanities (25%) (Art history, art, music, philosophy, theater, architecture, dance, religion/ethics, literary criticism)
Social Studies and Natural Sciences (25%, 25%)
  • History, Political Science, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Physical Sciences
/ SAT Critical Reading (70 minutes)
Sentence Completion
Critical Reading in Humanities, Social Narrative
(80% nonfiction)
  • 80% Extended Reasoning
  • 10% Literal Comprehension
  • 10% Vocabulary
Elementary Analogies
Adding Short Passages
ACT Science Test (40 items, 35 minutes)
Interpretation analysis, evaluation, reasoning, and
problem-solving skills in Biology, Earth/Space Sciences, Chemistry, and Physics
  • Data Representation (38%)
  • Research Summaries (45%)
  • Conflicting Viewpoints (17%)
/ No Science Test
ACT Writing Test (Optional) (1 prompt, 30 minutes)
Measures writing skills emphasized in high school English
classes and in entry-level college composition courses.
Consists of one 30-minute essay.
Method of
Scoring: / Scores based on number of right answers. No penalty for
Guessing. / Scores adjusted for guessing. Correct answers
carry full weight while a chance-level penalty
is applied for each incorrect answer.
The ACT (ACT, Inc.) / SAT (College Board)
Test Score / ACT English Test: 1-36 / SAT Writing: 200-800
Scales: /
  • Usage/Mechanics: 1-18
  • Rhetorical Skills: 1-18
/
  • Multiple Choice: 20-80
  • Essay: 2-12

ACT Reading Test: 1-36
  • Arts and Literature: 1-18
  • Social Studies and Sciences: 1-18
/ SAT Critical Reading: 200-800
ACT Mathematics Test: 1-36 / SAT Mathematics: 200-800
  • Pre-Algebra & Elementary Algebra: 1-18
  • Inter. Algebra & Coordinate Geometry: 1-18
  • Plane Geometry & Trigonometry: 1-18

ACT Science Test: 1-36 / No Science Test
ACT Composite: 1-36 / SAT Total: 600-2400
(average of 4 test scores-does not include writing) / (sum of SAT Critical Reading, Math, and Writing Scores)
ACT English and Writing: 1-36
  • Essay Subscore: 2-12

Student
Information: / Student Profile Section
  • Background (Demographics)
  • High School Courses and Grades
  • Admission/Enrollment Information
  • Educational Plans, Interests, and Needs
  • Special Educational Needs, Interests, and Goals
  • College Extracurricular Plans
  • High School Info. and Extracurricular Activities
  • Out of Class Accomplishments
  • Evaluation of High School Experience
Educational and Career Planning
  • ACT Interest Inventory
  • World-of-Work Map
  • College Majors and Programs
/ Student Descriptive Questionnaire
  • Background (Demographics)
  • Educational Background
  • High School & Community Activities
  • Sports
  • Student Plans for College

Common Uses: / Admissions (accepted by most, but not all colleges and universities)
Talent Identification
Academic Advising
Freshman Course Placement Decisions
Awarding Course Credit, especially in English and Math Courses
Awarding Scholarships (not sole criterion) / Admissions (accepted by most, not all colleges and universities)
Talent Identification
Academic Advising
Awarding Scholarships (not sole criterion)
Research
Services: / Class Profile Service
Prediction Research Service
Course Placement Service
Retention Research Service / Class Profile Service
Validity Research Service
Please Note: Every effort has been made to represent the ACT and SAT information accurately and concisely. All information has been drawn from official publications of the organizations offering the tests.

2010-2011 TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language-not given at Lower Moreland)

Visit for the most up-to-dte information.
Visit for practice online.

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