Testing: PSAT, SAT I, SAT II, and ACT
Overview
Testing should not be confused with educating. We in the Ramaz College Office believe that the primary duty of a student is to educate him/herself. The high school years should be a time to acquire both skills and knowledge that will serve a student well during college, graduate school, and life. Studying for the SAT or the ACT, with or without the help of a tutor or course, should never take precedence over studying for the high school courses that will form the core of a solid, liberal education.
There is no question that high standardized test scores (with the SAT I or ACT more closely considered than SAT II subject tests) are a factor in admission to competitive colleges today. However, they are never considered as strongly as grades earned in a challenging program over the course of an entire high school career. Fortunately or unfortunately, high standardized test scores will not compensate for poor grades or a flat program in college admissions. In fact, particularly high scores in conjunction with low grades are a red flag for colleges. Admissions committees would much prefer to see a consistent and hard working profile than very high potential (as indicated by high scores) that has not yet been fulfilled.
The PSAT
Before taking the SAT I Reasoning Test, students will take the PSAT. The PSAT, or preliminary SAT, is administered in the fall of the junior year to provide practice for the SAT, which is generally taken twice, once in the spring of the junior year and once in the fall of senior year. The PSAT is not entered on a student's permanent record and therefore represents an opportunity for a student to see how he or she would perform on the SAT without preparation. After reviewing and analyzing PSAT results with the college adviser, the student, in conjunction with his or her parents, can then decide how best to prepare for the SAT. A student should read the information about the PSAT distributed by the College Office and take one or two sample tests provided by the college advisers in order to become familiar with the format of the PSAT. More extensive preparation is not advised because it eliminates the preparatory value of the test.
In Ramaz we administer the PSAT only in the junior year because we believe that there is ample time for our students to prepare for the SAT between the winter (when PSAT results come in) and the spring of the junior year. Only short term preparation, of about six weeks duration, should be required because a good high school education and varied personal reading are ultimately the best preparation for standardized tests and for college.
The SAT I
The SAT Reasoning Test, required by most colleges our students will apply to, is a three and three-quarter hour test that attempts to measure critical thinking skills of analysis and problem solving. Most students will take this test once in the spring of junior year, generally in May, and once in the early fall of senior year, in October or November. The test includes critical reading, math, and writing sections, in addition to an unscored section that may appear, unidentified, in any of the above named sections. The 2005 changes to the SAT I included the addition of a student-written essay, shorter reading passages, and new content from third-year college preparatory math. In addition, analogies and quantitative comparisons were eliminated. These changes were designed to eliminate preparation by rote memorization and to emphasize critical thinking instead. In general, Ramaz students have benefited by these changes. They are scoring very well on all parts of the new test, including the new writing section. Thus far, in the admissions process, colleges seem to be emphasizing the reading and math sections of the exam and considering the writing section more like an SAT II subject test in writing.
New in March, 2009: Students now have "score choice" in submitting SAT I scores to colleges. They may choose to submit scores from any SAT I test date, and all three sections will be reported.
The SAT II
Almost all colleges to which Ramaz students apply will require the SAT I. Some of the most competitive colleges will also require SAT II subject tests.
Colleges requiring SAT II subject tests include:
- Barnard College
- Boston University
- Ivy League colleges
Colleges
not requiring SAT II subjects tests include:
- Brandeis University
- University of Chicago
- Johns Hopkins University (except engineering)
- University of Maryland
- University of Michigan
- New York University
- SUNY-Binghamton
- Yeshiva University
Colleges that do require SAT II subject tests usually require two tests. No liberal arts program (including the pre-medical program) requires specific tests, although some specialized programs, such as engineering, have other requirements. Engineering programs that require SAT II tests generally require one in math and either the test in chemistry or the test in physics. The college advisers are always available to answer questions on such requirements.
Those students who are considering colleges that require SAT II subject tests will have ample time to take these tests over the course of high school. They should take tests in the areas in which they excel. They should feel no compulsion to test in any specific subject merely because others are doing so, especially if preparing for the test will require a significant time commitment that could detract from regular classwork. Consult with one of the college advisers about the advisability of taking any specific SAT II subject test.
SAT II subject tests are given in foreign languages, including French, Spanish, and Hebrew; in English Literature; in the sciences, including Biology, Chemistry, and Physics; in history, both in World History and in American History; and in math, Level One and Level Two. Certain tests, such as the science tests and American History, are best taken in June of the year when a corresponding course is completed, if they are to be taken at all. Other tests, such as literature, foreign language, and mathematics tests, are cumulative in nature and should be taken as late in the high school career as possible, towards the end of the junior year or the beginning of the senior year.
New in March, 2009: Students now have "score choice" in submitting SAT II scores to colleges. They may choose which subject tests they wish to appear on their record.
The ACT
The ACT with Writing section is accepted by colleges in lieu of the SAT I and often (it is essential to check with individual colleges about this policy) in place of both the SAT I and SAT II subject tests.
The ACT exam consists of four multiple-choice tests that cover English rhetorical skills, math skills, reading comprehension, and the interpretation, evaluation, and problem solving skills required in the sciences, as well as a 30-minute writing sample. If a student takes the ACT more than once, he or she must choose which date's scores to submit to colleges.
The SAT I is more conceptual in nature, while the ACT is more subject oriented. Students who are adept readers and good at learning bodies of material, but anxious about conceptual thinking under timed conditions, may do better on the ACT than the SAT. Consult your college adviser about making this decision. Please note that the ACT test is not administered in Ramaz. See the Calendar section on this website and consult, as well, www.actstudent.org.
Currently, a handful of Ivy League colleges still require two SAT II subject tests in addition to the ACT. For more specific information, please check college websites and/or ask your college adviser.
The College Board has its own website which may provide additional information. You can obtain information regarding test dates from the College Board as well.
Frontline, the PBS program, did a show on the SATs which is available at their website.
The registration procedures for testing for students with disabilities is located separately.
For help in filling out the registration form for the SAT I or SAT II tests click here.
For help in filling out the registration form for the ACT test click here.
Our high school code for both tests is the same, 333900.
Some students may be assigned to the SAT test center at Northeastern Academy, for which directions are available.
New York University is a Sunday test center for the ACT.
