Testing and Test Prep.
by Ginger Foster
ACT and SAT Test Dates 2011-2012
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2011 - 2012 |
Test
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U.S. Registration Deadlines* |
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Regular
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Late
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September10, 2011
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ACT
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August 12, 2011
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August 26, 2011
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October 1, 2011
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SAT & |
September 9, 2011
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September 21, 2011
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October 12 & 15, 2011
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PSAT
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Check with School Guidance Office
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October 22, 2011
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ACT
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September 16, 2011
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September 30, 2011
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November 5, 2011
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SAT & |
October 7, 2011
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October 21, 2011
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December 3, 2011
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SAT & |
November 8, 2011
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November 20, 2011
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December 10, 2011
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ACT
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November 4, 2011
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November 18, 2011
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January 28, 2012
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SAT & |
December 30, 2011
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January 13, 2012
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February 11, 2012
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ACT
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January 13, 2012
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January 20, 2012
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March 10, 2012
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SAT only
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February 10, 2012
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February 24, 2012
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April 14, 2012
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ACT
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March 9, 2012
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March 23, 2012
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May 5, 2011
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SAT & |
April 6, 2011
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April 20, 2011
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June 2, 2012
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SAT & |
May 8, 2012
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May 22, 2012
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June 9, 2012
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ACT
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May 4, 2012
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May 18, 2012
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TESTING: Grades 9-12 
THEA, ACCUPLACER: Before students are allowed to take college courses, either as a high school student or as a college student after high school graduation, they must demonstrate they are ready for college material. Proof of readiness can be provided by TAKS scores the junior year , ACT or SAT scores at any time, or by the THEA or ACCUPLACER if other methods were not successful. Though they serve the same purpose, THEA and ACCUPLACER are different.
THEA is a paper/pencil test given on only a few Saturdays each year. The closest sites are PJC or NTCC. ACCUPLACER is given via the computer and is available nearly every day at both community colleges. THEA tests reading, writing, and math, but a student must pay for the whole test even if all parts are not needed. ACCUPLACER also tests those same subjects but at NTCC, a student can pay for only the part needed. This address will provide further THEA information: http://www.thea.nesinc.com/ . Call the testing centers on the campuses of PJC (903-782-0446) or NTCC ( 903.434.8273) for further information about Accuplacer.
STAAR/EOC:
The State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR™) will replace the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS), which is the criterion-referenced assessment program that has been in place since 2003. STAAR™ includes the 12 end-of-course (EOC) assessments mandated by SB 1031 in 2007 and the new grade 3–8 assessments mandated by HB 3 in 2009. The new tests will be implemented in the 2011–2012 school year. 9th-graders will be the only high school students affected by STAAR/EOC (End of Course) requirements. Current sophomores and juniors must still pass the Exit Level TAKS in order to graduate, but TAKS is being phased out.
PLAN: Interested sophomores are given this preliminary ACT in the fall of the year. This test is a predictor of ACT scores when the students test typically during their junior or senior year. PLAN also provides feedback on suggested careers based on a student's interests and academic strengths. For more information about PLAN, go to http://www.act.org/plan/
PSAT: Interested juniors can take PSAT, a preliminary SAT, in October 2011. The results will be back sometime in December. When they arrive, I will discuss the results with the juniors in one of their classrooms. This address will give you more information about PSAT: http://collegeboard.com/student/testing/psat/about.html .
Rivercrest ISD pays for each interested junior to take the exam, but freshmen and sophomores are encouraged to take it at their own expense. The test is given mid-October each year. If you are interested in taking this as a 9th or 10th grader, see me.
SAT: This college entrance exam is more popular throughout the country, but in our area, ACT is more widely-taken. SAT information can be found at this site: http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/sat/about.html See me for information about registering. Students may begin taking this as freshmen. Fee waivers are available for juniors and seniors with financial need.
SAT TEST PREP SITE: http://number2.com/
ACT: This web site will give you information about dates, fees, and other options: http://www.actstudent.org. See me for registration assistance or fee waivers. I will visit the junior classrooms after Christmas to register them. Freshmen and sophomores are eligible to take the test. See me if you have questions. Fee waivers are available for juniors and seniors with financial need.
ACT TEST PREP SITE: http://number2.com/
ASVAB
(Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery): This test is given to all Rivercrest juniors usually in December. It consists of nine parts:
General Science (GS)
Arithmetic Reasoning (AR)
Word Knowledge (WK)
Paragraph Comprehension (PC)
Mathematics Knowledge (MK)
Electronics Information (EI)
Auto Shop (AS)
Mechanical Comprehension (MC)
Assembling Objects (AO)
While the military does use it for recruitment, other valuable non-military career information can be gleaned from the results if students will take the test seriously.
