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2007-2008
This information is intended to assist students and parents to understand the scope and sequence of standardized testing. Some tests are state mandated and are part of the high school graduation requirement, while other tests are college driven. Not all colleges have the same testing requirements; juniors and seniors are encouraged to research individual college testing requirements each year.
Tests
MCAS (Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System)
Under Education Reform, the Massachusetts Department of Education requires testing of all students at certain grade levels throughout the state. MCAS is administered to all sophomores in April and May with the requirement that students must pass the English Language Arts and Mathematics sections in order to receive a diploma at graduation. Exam results are generally released in the fall of junior year. For the most current and accurate information pertaining to this exam, you may access the Department of Education website at www.doe.mass.edu . Any student who fails all or part of the MCAS will be given periodic opportunities to retake the test. Manchester Essex will work with individual students to remediate areas in need of improvement. Depending on a student’s score, s/he
may qualify for scholarship money to state colleges and universities.
PSAT (Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test)
The PSAT is a test offered by the College Board to provide students an opportunity to familiarize and prepare for the SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test). Occasionally, there is confusion as to whether or not students should take this test as sophomores, juniors, or in both years.
Juniors: All juniors should take the PSAT. The test will be offered on Saturday, October 20, 2007. Guidance visits junior classrooms to discuss the test with students. Students register in the guidance office. Results of this test are not reported to colleges. Students receive a detailed score report from College Board highlighting strengths and weaknesses and students can use this report to help them prepare for the SAT: Reasoning Test which students typically take in the spring of junior year. High-scoring juniors may have the opportunity to participate in the National Merit Scholarship Competition, thus the PSAT is also called the NMSQT (National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test). Only juniors are eligible for this competition.
Sophomores: Last year as many sophomores as juniors took the PSAT. Sophomores are invited to take the test. Taking the test in the sophomore year should not replace a student taking the test during their junior year.
SAT: Reasoning Test
The SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) has been the subject of great publicity lately as the most popular college entrance exam has recently undergone some major changes. Starting with its name, the SAT I is now called the SAT: Reasoning Test. It is made up of three sections, Critical reading, Math and Writing and a perfect score is now 2400, or 800 on the three sections. Typically, students take this exam in the spring of their junior year and fall of their senior year. During the 2007-2008 school year, the SAT is offered October 6, November 3, December 1, January 29, March 1, May 3, and June 7. Scores from any and all SAT tests that a student takes appear on a College Board transcript, which most colleges will require as part of the application process. College Board strongly recommends registering online at www.collegeboard.com. A credit card is needed to register. Paper applications are available in the guidance office. This site also has valuable information on all College Board exams including
practice questions and test-taking strategies. Because MERHS is not a designated test center, students usually take the test in neighboring towns.
Manchester Essex school code (ceeb code) is 221315
Note: Students cannot take SAT Reasoning and the SAT Subject tests during the same testing day.
SAT: Subject Tests (Formerly called SAT II’s and/or Achievement Tests)
One of the more confusing questions for students to answer is whether or not to take SAT: Subject Tests in addition to the SAT I: Reasoning Test. It is confusing because not every college/university requires this in their applications.
SAT: Subject Tests, formerly called SAT II’s and the Achievement Tests, are one-hour long exams which measure knowledge of a particular content area. All SAT: Subject Tests taken appear on a student’s College Board transcript, so the decision as which tests to take, if any, should be made by the student with input from the guidance counselor, teacher and parent. In the 2007-2008 school year, the SAT: Subject Tests are offered on October 6, November 3, December 1, January 26, May 3, and June 7. College Board’s website www.collegeboard.com has information on what each subject test covers as well as registration information. Students should go into the individual schools web site to confirm subject tests requirements.
ACT
The ACT stands for the American College Testing Company. Like College Board, they provide a college entrance exam called the ACT. In parts of this country, particularly the Midwest and the South, students routinely take the ACT rather than the SAT: Reasoning Test, and recently, the ACT has increased in popularity in the Northeast. Most colleges will accept either ACT or SAT scores, and some colleges/universities accept the ACT in place of SAT: Subjects Tests as well. For the 2007-2008 school year, the ACT will be administered on October 27, December 8, February 9, April 12, and June 14. MERHS is not a testing center; students should register to take the test wherever it is convenient. Register online at www.act.org; Students should take the writing section of the ACT.
Advanced Placement (AP) Examinations
At MERHS students who are enrolled in an advanced placement course are expected to take that course’s AP exam in May. College Board coordinates this exam and like the SAT’s, a transcript is generated which contains all of a student’s AP exam grades. However, the AP transcript is separate from SAT reporting. A student who takes an AP exam is not required to send that exam grade to a particular college. The Advanced Placement program is a national curriculum and all students enrolled in an AP course will take that course’s corresponding exam on a national test date and time. In the 2007-2008 school year, the AP exam period runs from May 5 through May 16, 2008. More specific information with respect to registration and exact exam time/location becomes available from the Guidance Department in February. Depending on
the exam grade a student receives, some colleges and universities may grant college credit or future course placement.
Students With Disabilities
Students who have a disability may require accommodations on standardized exams. Whether or not a student is on an active education plan (IEP or 504) at school, s/he must be approved by the testing agency (College Board or ACT) before similar accommodations can be granted on their exams. Ms. D’Amour is the SSD (Services for Students with Disabilities) Coordinator. Questions may be directed to her.
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