ACTs College Readiness System

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• ACTs College Readiness System
• Helping students prepare for high
• school and transitions after high school

8th/9th
10th
11th/12th
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How Do EXPLORE, PLAN and ACT Measure College
Readiness?

• Curriculum-based achievement tests
• English, math, reading, science
• Optional Writing Test (ACT)
• Aligned to state standards
• Include a Career Interest Inventory
• Provide information to help students plan
  
  
  for future education and work
• Used for admission and course placement (ACT)
• Norm and criterion referenced
• College Readiness Standards and Benchmarks
• Same Score Scale

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• Grades 8/9
• Middle school baseline - 1-25 score scale
• English/Math/Reading/Science
• approx. 2.5 hrs test time
• non-test sections 45 minutes
• predicts PLAN score
• test window fall or spring
• includes all materials standard reports

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• Noncognitive Components
• Student Information Section
• Needs Assessment
• Plans and Background
• Career Interest Inventory
• Local Supplemental Items

Administrators Handbook Pages 11-12
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Curriculum Blueprint for EXPLORE
EXPLORE English Test (30
minutes) Contents/skills Number of
items Punctuation 6 Grammar and
Usage 8 Sentence Structure
11 Usage/Mechanics Subtotal
25 Strategy 5 Organization 5 Style 5 Rheto
rical Skills Subtotal 15 Total
40
EXPLORE Mathematics Test (30
minutes) Content Number of
items Pre-Algebra 10 Elementary Algebra
9 Geometry
7 Statistics/Probability
4 Total 30
EXPLORE Science Test (30 minutes) Content/Fo
rmats Number of items The content areas of the
test are Biology Earth/Space Sciences, Chemistry
and Physics. The content is distributed across 3
formats Data Representation 12 Research
Summaries 10 Conflicting Viewpoints
6 Total 28
EXPLORE Reading Test (30 minutes) Type of
reading selections Number of items Prose
Fiction 10 Humanities 10 Social
Sciences 10 Total 30
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• PLAN - Grade 10
• midpoint - score scale 1-32
• curriculum-based tests science, math, English
  reading
• career planning component
• needs assessment
• predicts ACT score
• PLAN EOS (for college recruitment)
• approx. 3 hrs total test time
• non-test sections 70 min.
• flexible, in-school testing
• test window anytime (fall best)
• includes all materials reports
• PLAN scores can also predict AP success

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Curriculum Blueprint for PLAN
PLAN English Test (30 minutes) Contents/sk
ills Number of items Punctuation 7 Grammar and
Usage 9 Sentence Structure
14 Usage/Mechanics Subtotal 30 Strategy 6 Organ
ization 7 Style 7 Rhetorical Skills
Subtotal 20 Total 50
PLAN Mathematics Test (40 minutes) Content
Number of items Pre-Algebra
14 Elementary Algebra 8 Pre-Alg/Algebra
Subtotal 22 Coordinate Geometry 7 Plane
Geometry 11 Geometry
Subtotal 18 Total 40
PLAN Science Test (25 minutes) Content/Forma
ts Number of items The content areas of the test
are Biology Earth/Space Sciences, Chemistry and
Physics. The content is distributed across 3
formats Data Representation 10 Research
Summaries 14 Conflicting Viewpoints 6 Total 30
PLAN Reading Test (20 minutes) Type of
reading selections Number of items Prose
Fiction 8 Humanities 9 Social
Sciences 8 Total 25
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College Readiness Benchmark Scores
The ACT Benchmark Score indicates a 50 chance
of obtaining a B or a 75 chance of obtaining a
C in corresponding credit-bearing college
courses.
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Interpreting EXPLORE

• Provide Its Your Future to each student
• What are my academic strengths and areas needing
  improvement?
• What are my plans and goals for high school and
  beyond?
• Am I on target for college?
• Have students highlight their College Readiness
  Standards and what they are ready to learn next
• Match plans for after high school with EXPLORE
  high school coursework plans
• Note College Readiness Benchmarks
• Compare career interest inventory results with
  students Career Area Preferences
• Keep possible careers in mind when planning
  courses
• Use Career Exploration with EXPLORE
• Student-led interpretive session

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Administrators Handbook Page 13Its Your
Future Page 2
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Administrators Handbook Page 15Its Your
Future Page 4
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Administrators Handbook Page 19 Its Your
Future Page 6
Career Options
World-of-Work Map
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