Activity 30
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6 of 11
Overview
Self-Advocacy
Assistive Technology
Planning for College
Applying to College
Introduction
Getting Started
Activity 26
Activity 27
Activity 28-29
Activity 30
Activity 31
Activity 32
Activity 33
Activity 34-35
Summary
Disability Services
Adult Services
Overview of a Preliminary Admission or Placement Test
What Students Do
Following research on the Internet (Activity 26 and 28), a campus visit (Activity 27), and a meeting with a counselor (Activity 29); students take the necessary pre-college tests. For many, this will involve applying for test accommodations. Using the test results, students revise their plans if necessary. This may take the form of reconsidering a goal, college choice, or test preparation strategy.Planning
Look-up the dates for the PSAT and PLAN tests. Review practice tests and applications for accommodations. The counseling and career center offices usually have up-to-date testing information. If not, use the The College Board Web site or the ACT Web site. Download fact sheets on accommodations and become familiar with the requirements needed to get these accommodations.Once test results have been received, review test score information and how it correlates with likely future scores on the SAT and ACT. Also, become familiar with the scheme colleges in your area use in factoring in SAT and ACT results in the admissions process.
Many communities offer pre-college test preparation classes. Your counseling office will have information on local classes. This is an excellent opportunity for you to work in concert with your colleagues in the counseling office. In addition to talking with you, students should discuss the results with the school guidance counselor. Together you can support your students in developing a plan to prepare for placement tests or revise their college goals.
Introducing the Activity
Explain that the PSAT and PLAN tests are used to acquaint them with the test taking process and provide a statistical prediction of scores on the SAT and the ACT tests. The College Board and ACT Web sites have helpful information for you and your students. Encourage students to practice taking admission tests. You can prepare them for these activities by:
- Sharing sample pre-college tests found in preparation study books or on the Internet.
- Discuss how their disability may adversely affect their test performance. Help students develop a plan to mitigate that effect. The plan may include studying for the exams, taking a class to prepare and learn test taking strategies, evaluating appropriate accommodations, or reevaluating their educational and career goals.
- Review appropriate accommodations. Discuss whether they are eligible for accommodations during the exams.
- Review how to apply for accommodations.
- Help students practice using the accommodations so that they get the full benefit from them.