Post on 14-May-2015
ACT: What You Need to Know about Data and the Interest Inventory
November 4, 2011
Rose BabingtonConsultant, ACT Midwest Region
Columbus, Ohio Officerose.babington@act.org
What do you know about ACT?
About ACT
Not-for-Profit
Mission-Driven
Research-Based
Curriculum-Based
ACT National Curriculum Survey™ (Grades 7-14)
Course objectives based on high-performing schools
Standards-based and normative comparisons
Student success in college-entry courses in a nationally representative sample of colleges
READINESS for college and
workforce training programs
ASSESSMENT EXPLORE®, PLAN®, the ACT®, and
Student Readiness Inventory.
PROGRESS ACT’s College
Readiness Benchmarks
STANDARDS ACT College
Readiness Standards™
INSTRUCTION QualityCore™
RESEARCH
RESEARCH RESEARCH
RESEARCH
ACT’s College Readiness Benchmarks
► Empirically-Derived
► 50% chance of achieving a B or higher or about a 75% chance of achieving a C or higher in the corresponding credit-bearing college course
Test College Course PLAN The ACT8th Grade 9th Grade
English English Composition 13 14 15 18
Math Algebra 17 18 19 22
Reading Social Sciences 15 16 17 21
Science Biology 20 20 21 24
EXPLORE
ACT’s College Readiness Standards™
► Direct link between what students have learned and what they are ready to learn next.
► Suggested learning experiences provide links between the Standards in one score range and those in the next (higher) score range.
► Ideas for progressing to the next score range demonstrate ways that information learned from standardized test results can be used to inform classroom instruction.
ACT’s College Readiness Standards™
Example: Mathematics College Readiness Standards
Connecting Standards to the Classroom
► Assists in organizing teaching practices► Offers sequence for delivering content ► Provides clear scope of what must be taught to all
students
Curriculum Review Worksheets
All About the ACT
► ACT – four multiple-choice sections
► ACT with Writing – four multiple-choice sections plus 30-minute writing section
► Both tests offered six times each year in the United States
Structure
Section Questions Minutes
English 75 45
Mathematics 60 60
Reading 40 35
Science 40 35
Writing (optional) 30
Structure
Calculating the Score
► First we count the number of questions on each test that were answered correctly– No penalty for guessing!
► Then we convert raw scores (number of correct answers on each test) to "scale scores."
► Composite score and each test score (English, Mathematics, Reading, Science) range from 1-36– 0-0.49 rounded down; 0.5-0.99 rounded up
► We also compute seven subscores from 1-18– They do not add up to the overall composite score
Test-taking Strategies
► Pacing
– Answer every question
► Reading
► Outlining
Score Reporting► October 22, 2011:
– November 8, 2011 – December 23, 2011
► December 10, 2011:– December 27, 2011 – February 3, 2012
► February 11, 2012:– February 27, 2012 – April 6, 2012
► April 14, 2012:– April 30, 2012 – June 8, 2012
► June 9, 2012:– June 25, 2012 – August 3, 2012
Score Reporting
► Online; CD; paper reporting to high schools and colleges
► Reports to colleges/universities
► Changing report recipients
– Can be changed through ACT online account through noon of Thursday after Saturday test date
Score Reporting
► Up to six scores sent per test date administration
► Beyond six or sent after testing:
– $10 per regular report per school• Processed within one week; sent within two weeks
following
– $15 per priority report per school • Processed within two business days; sent within 3-4
business days
Test Information Release
► Available for December, April, June test dates
► Cost: $18
► Includes list of answers, a copy of the multiple-choice test questions used to determine your score, the answer key, and scoring instructions– Writing test: includes writing prompt, scoring rubric, and
assigned scores
► Request within 3 months of testing; arrives 4 weeks after score report mailed
The Writing Test
► Educator’s Guide to the Writing Test (online resource)– Includes copy of essay at each score range
► Essay View– www.act.org/essayview– Review essays written by students who have
released their ACT Writing scores to your school– Accessible for up to one year after the examinee's
high school graduation
Fee Waivers► All forms go through counselors
► Students are eligible for two waivers (ACT or ACT with Writing)
► Must meet one of the below indicators of need:– Family receives low-income public assistance– Student is ward of the state– Student resides in foster home– Student is homeless– Student participates in free or reduced-lunch program– Student participates in federally-funded TRIO program– Family income is at/below 2010 Bureau of Labor Statistics Low
Standard Budget
Arranged Testing
► Religious Faith Prohibits Saturday Testing and no non-Saturday Test Center Established for Any Test Date Within 50 Miles
► No Test Center in the Country for Any Test Date► Within the U.S. or Canada only, no Test Center established for
any test date within 50 miles► Homebound (confined to home due to medical reasons) on All
Test Dates► Confined to a Hospital on All Test Dates► Confined to a Correctional Institution from September 2011
through June 2012
Accommodated Testing
► To be filled out by counselor or other school personnel► Student must possess and provide documentation of both:
– Professionally Diagnosed Disability. • If diagnosed for the FIRST time before September 2008,
reconfirmation is required within the last 3 years.
• If FIRST diagnosed within the last 3 years, full written documentation must be submitted with the application.
– Current IEP, Section 504 Plan, or Accommodations • Plan must document ALL accommodations requested are provided
in school. Submit a copy of your current Individualized Education Program (IEP), Section 504 Plan, or school accommodations plan.
Becoming a Test Center
► Benefits to students:– Be able to take the ACT in a familiar environment.– Be able to take the ACT close to home.– Be more comfortable taking the ACT.
► Benefits to schools:– Demonstrate your commitment to college readiness.– Encourage students to go to college.– Provide a valuable service to your students, parents, and community.
► Requirements:– A staff member to serve as the Test Supervisor (paid by ACT)– Other school staff willing to serve as room supervisors and proctors (paid
by ACT)– Space for testing on national test dates
Looking Ahead …
► College and Career Readiness Information System
– To debut in winter/spring 2012
► Five years of EXPLORE/PLAN data; three years of ACT data
► Accessible by any individuals within school/district granted permission by principal/superintendent
ACT Student Report
ACT Student Report
► What do you want to know?
ACT Student Report – Student Version
ACT Student Report – Student Version
ACT Student Report
Student Scores
Benchmarks
Test College Course
EXPLORE
PLAN The ACT8th Grade 9th Grade
English English Composition 13 14 15 18
Math Algebra 17 18 19 22
Reading Social Sciences 15 16 17 21
Science Biology 20 20 21 24
Student-Reported Data
Sent Score Reports
Interest Inventory
World of Work Map
World of Work Map
► www.act.org/wwm
► Originally introduced in 1973 by ACT, based on research from Dr. John Holland
– Most recently updated in 2001
► Includes six clusters, 12 regions, and 26 career areas total
Ohio Career Information System (OCIS)
Ohio Data
Five Year Trend Data
Planned Majors/College Plans
Race/Ethnicity
PLAN Score Report
Commonly Asked Questions
► Should I retest?
– Of multiple test-takers:• 57% increased composite score on retest
• 21% had no change in composite score
• 22% decreased composite score
► Cap on multiple testing?
– 12 times.
Commonly Asked Questions
► What if I have problems on test day?
– Test Center Feedback Form• Must be submitted within two weeks of test
– Cancelled scores by administrators can be questioned by student/school by contacting ACT
Resources for Students and Parents
► www.actstudent.org
► ACT Online Prep – student
► The Real ACT Prep Guide
► ACT Question of the Day
► Using Your ACT Results
Resources for Teachers and Staff
► Curriculum Review Worksheets
► Connecting College Readiness Standards to the Classroom
► College Readiness Standards Posters
– Aggregate and separated by content area
Resources for Counselors
► www.act.org/aap
► Preparing for the ACT
► Get Set for College – Ohio edition
► ACT user guide
► ACT Online Prep – school version
► ACT sample test booklets/retired tests
► Forms – fee waiver eligibility, paper registration, accommodated testing