U-46 to offer overview of redesigned SAT at Monday program

Elgin Area School District U-46 is offering a second parent presentation about the SAT test on Monday, March 7 at the Educational Services Center, 355 E. Chicago St., Elgin.

The presentation will cover the SAT, developed by the College Board, and provide study tips in advance of the Tuesday, April 12 administration to all juniors.

"This session will give parents an overview of the SAT along with free study resources," said CEO Tony Sanders. "Students should be prepared if they have been attending classes and doing their work, but we want to provide some additional tips and background to feel as prepared as possible."

A director from the College Board's Midwest office in Chicago will be the featured speaker at the meeting from 6 to 7 p.m. in room 240.

The focus of the redesigned test is to ensure that assessments not only measure readiness but connect students to opportunities, including free practice tools. The SAT will send scores to four colleges at no cost to families. The 2016 SAT features eight main changes, the biggest change being that there is no penalty for wrong answers, which prevents over-analysis by the students.

"The new SAT makes it easier for students to navigate a path through high school, college and career," said Effie Rouse, College Board Director of K-12 Services. "It allows them to interpret more text with less questions."

SAT is aligned to this year's PSAT tests that students took earlier this fall. The test is divided into three sections totaling three hours: math, evidence-based reading and writing. Math, reading, writing are worth 200-800 points each for a total of 1,600 points.

The U-46 Board of Education approved one-year contracts with College Board and ACT in January. Illinois State Board of Education previously covered the cost but cannot guarantee it because of the budget impasse. With these approved contracts, all junior students will sit for a SAT on Tuesday, April 12.

Students interested in taking the ACT on a Saturday national testing day such as April 9 or June 11 should contact their school counselor for a voucher.

Visit www.u-46.org.