The Compass Guide to College Admission Testing …

1 THE Compass Guide TO College Admission Testing 2017 EDITIONFor updates, please visit electronic versions of the Compass Guide may be redistributed for non-commercial use so long as no changes are made to the document. Please contact for additional licensing or distribution options. Copyright 2017 by Compass Education Group, LLC. All rights reserved. Version updated 1/17/2018 OWNERSHIP OF TRADEMARKS*For all references herein, PSAT, SAT, and AP are trademarks owned by the College Board, and ACT and Aspire are trademarks owned by American College Testing , neither of which were involved in the production of, nor do they endorse, these materials.

2 College Admission and Testing 2 7 The Competitive Landscape 8 17 Testing Calendar 18 21 The Compass Approach to Tutoring 22 23 Comparing SAT and ACT: Scores 24 29 PSAT and PreACT 30 33 National Merit Scholarship Program 34 35 Evolution of the SAT 36 37 Comparing SAT and ACT: Content and Strategy 38 57 Reading 40 41 English 42 45 Math 46 49 Science 50 51 Writing 52 57 Subject Tests 58 63 Advanced Placement Exams 64 67 Testing Policies 68 69 School Day Testing 70 71 Score Choice and Superscoring 72 73 Testing Accommodations 74 75 References and Resources 76 79 Online Tutoring and Proctoring 80 81 The Compass Team 82 87 Compass for Counselors 88 89 Tips for Test Day 90 91We ve listed some of the most common questions and the pages where you can find the answers.

3 Of course, we welcome the chance to talk directly to you about these or other College Admission Testing (s) College AdmissionHow important are my test scores? 2 3 Which tests are required? What are my choices?4 What does test optional really mean? Should I skip taking these tests?5 7Is the SAT or ACT essay required? What does recommended or optional mean?53 What score do I need to get in to College XYZ? What is a good score? 8 14 What does my score report mean? Which scores do colleges use?28 29 Will colleges see only my best scores? 72 73 How do colleges compare ACT and SAT scores? 24 29 Test PlanningWhen should I begin preparation and when should I take the tests?

4 18 21 Are some test dates easier than others?26 Should I prepare to take the SAT or ACT? What are the main differences between the tests?24 25, 38 39 How do I register for the test, view my scores, and send my scores to colleges?68 69 What are the requirements and steps to get Testing accommodations?74 75 What should I expect from test prep? Does it work? What will I learn?22 23, 40 57 How frequently should I take practice tests?79 What should I do the night before and morning of the test?90 91 PSATWhat score do I need on the PSAT to receive National Merit recognition?35 Why is 1520 a perfect score on the PSAT?

5 32Is the PSAT easier than the SAT? What do my scores mean?30 31 SAT How has the SAT changed? 36 37 Will guessing help my score? Do all questions count toward my score?26 How do my scores compare to those of other students?16 17 How much reading will I have to do? What does it look like?40 41 What grammar should I study for the Writing and Language Test?44 How does the math on the SAT compare to the math on the ACT and the old SAT?48 49 What is the SAT Essay assignment? How will my essay be scored? 54 57 ACTHow difficult is the ACT English Test?42 What topics come up on the ACT Math Test, and how difficult are the problems?

6 47 49 What factors inform the Testing strategy for ACT Math?47 How is the ACT Reading Test different from the SAT s? Is one easier?40 Does the ACT Science Test require knowledge from science classes?51 How has the ACT Writing Test changed? How is it now scored?52, 55 57 Subject TestsWhat are the SAT Subject Tests and when should I take them?58 59 Which colleges require Subject Tests?60 63 Which colleges waive the Subject Tests requirement if I submit the ACT?60 Frequently Asked QuestionsAdam Ingersoll Principal Adam began his career in test prep in 1993 while at the University of Southern California, where he was a student-athlete on the basketball team, worked in the Admission office, and graduated magna cum laude.

7 Over the last two decades he has guided thousands of families to successful experiences with standardized tests and has mentored hundreds of the industry's most sought-after tutors. Adam is known nationally as a leading expert on College Admission Testing and is a frequent presenter at higher education conferences, faculty development workshops, and school seminars. Art Sawyer Principal Art graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University, where he was the top-ranked liberal arts student in his class. Art pioneered the one-on-one approach to test prep in California in 1989 and has written more than a dozen test prep books.

8 Although he has routinely attained perfect scores on the SAT and ACT, Art is far prouder of the thousands of students he has helped over the past 25 years. Nobody knows more about standardized tests and tutoring than Art, and we make sure all Compass students benefit from his Reed Executive Director Bruce graduated from Colby College and has served in leadership roles in education for more than 20 years. In 2004, Bruce founded our Northern California office, where he continues to serve as its hands-on leader while also guiding our Southern California team as Compass Executive Director. Bruce is recognized throughout the Bay Area and beyond as a visionary and passionate voice in the realm of teaching, Testing , and educational development.

9 He speaks regularly at higher education conferences and has written about College Admission Testing for TIME Compass Education GroupFoundersCompass is one of the world's leading providers of in-home, one-on-one tutoring for high school students aspiring to attend selective colleges. We provide individualized, comprehensive test preparation to thousands of students annually, either in their homes in the greater Los Angeles and San Francisco areas or online anywhere in the world. We are best known within highly regarded, competitive high schools for our private tutoring, and we partner with schools to offer affordable on-campus classes as well.

10 We also have a proud tradition of partnering with schools and nonprofit organizations such as Juma Ventures, 10,000 Degrees, Breakthrough, Summerbridge, The Alliance for Minority Affairs, Constitutional Rights Foundation, and Step Up Women s Network to help more students attend four-year colleges. Compass has earned an unmatched level of trust by schools and counselors over our founders history in the test prep field dating back to 1989. We are regularly invited to provide advising seminars for parents, diagnostic assessments for students, and professional development events for faculty and counselors at high schools and colleges.