Steven Gering’s Post

Quantity does not mean quality. Ask your prospective schools questions such as: - Do you guarantee seats in all required courses to all admitted students? - How many full time faculty are employed and what’s the student-to-faculty ratio. - How many students are in each course? - Are assignments auto-graded or will I receive actual feedback on my work? - Does my advisor have industry experience? If not, what are their qualifications? - What is your attrition rate? Choose a school that values your time and your money. Don’t settle!

As many high school juniors and sophomores take the PSAT this month, it's a prime time to begin the standardized testing journey with a clear strategy. Remember, these early tests can serve as valuable benchmarks for future SAT/ACT preparations. Utilizing the results effectively can guide your study focus and improve overall performance in subsequent exams. It's also an excellent opportunity for students to familiarize themselves with the testing environment, reducing anxiety for future test dates. https://lnkd.in/geZ9waEH

As many high school juniors and sophomores take the PSAT this month, it's a prime time to begin the standardized testing journey with a clear strategy. Remember, these early tests can serve as valuable benchmarks for future SAT/ACT preparations. Utilizing the results effectively can guide your study focus and improve overall performance in subsequent exams. It's also an excellent opportunity for students to familiarize themselves with the testing environment, reducing anxiety for future test dates. https://lnkd.in/gyscJQm4

Between 2022 and 2026, approximately 1 million more AP Exams will receive scores of 3 or higher as a result of the College Board’s new method for raising AP scores. Why is this happening? Because the College Board knows that students pay for AP tests to get college credit and if they don't get a 3 or higher, no credit will be forthcoming. And they will stop buying what CB is selling. Test score recalibration is just evidence that the AP program is a money-making enterprise designed to confer cache in the college admissions process. It is not a substitute for college, nor does it develop the deeper learning students need from their high school educations. Colleges need to rethink reliance on AP test scores as a major admissions criteria. There are better ways to expose students to advanced coursework and obtain college credit (dual enrollment for one) than buying into the packaged curriculum of a profit-seeking monopolist. https://lnkd.in/gZ76Jk82

Between 2022 and 2026, approximately 1 million more AP Exams will receive scores of 3 or higher as a result of the College Board’s new method for raising AP scores. Why is this happening? Because the College Board knows that students pay for AP tests to get college credit and if they don't get a 3 or higher, no credit will be forthcoming. And they will stop buying what CB is selling. Test score recalibration is just evidence that the AP program is a money-making enterprise designed to confer cache in the college admissions process. It is not a substitute for college, nor does it develop the deeper learning students need from their high school educations. Colleges need to rethink reliance on AP test scores as a major admissions criteria. There are better ways to expose students to advanced coursework and obtain college credit (dual enrollment for one) than buying into the packaged curriculum of a profit-seeking monopolist. https://lnkd.in/gZ76Jk82

The ACT is changing! Last week, ACT announced changes to the test that will begin in Spring 2025 (rising juniors, pay attention!) Here's an overview of what's to come: ✅ The Science section will be optional ✅ A student's composite score will come from the English, Reading, and Math sections ✅ The test will be shorter overall If you want to read more of the details, read the statement from ACT: https://lnkd.in/enwJkk82 ACT

AP Exams are undergoing a massive "recalibration" so that 500,000 more students will earn "passing" scores of 3 or above this year. Check out my latest from Marco Learning

Courtesy of The College Board ~ New Analyses of AP Scores of 1 and 2 Background Students take rigorous AP® courses in high school, in part, for the chance to earn college credit and placement through a score of 3 or higher on the exam. New evidence now shows there are benefits to taking AP courses even for students who don’t meet that threshold. Researchers analyzed college enrollment records of approximately 1.5 million students and a subsample of 410,000 students for whom they had college grades, applying statistical controls to compare AP students to observational similar college students. The findings show that AP students who earn scores of 1 and 2 have significantly stronger college outcomes than college students who did not take an AP course and exam.

The New ACT: Major Changes You Need to Know The ACT, a widely used standardized exam for college admissions in the United States, has been significantly updated to meet the changing demands of students and universities. The most recent improvements aim to make the test more flexible, accessible, and aligned with how students learn. Here's an overview of the main updates: 1. *New Section-Specific Testing*   One of the most notable changes is the introduction of section-specific testing. Previously, students needed to retake the entire exam to improve their scores. Now, they can retake specific sections (English, Math, Reading, Science, or Writing) without repeating the entire test, allowing them to focus on areas needing improvement. 2. *Superscoring*   Superscoring allows colleges to consider the highest scores from multiple exam attempts, creating a "super" score. The ACT will now automatically calculate superscores for students who take the test multiple times. 3. *Availability of Online Testing*   The ACT is now offered in both paper and online formats. The online option provides faster results, with scores available in as little as two days compared to the typical two to eight weeks for paper tests. More exam dates will be available for students who prefer online testing. 4. *Optional Science Section*   The revised ACT includes an optional science section, enabling students to focus on their strengths and improve their overall score by choosing the sections they perform best in. 5. *Changes to Test Content*     - *Math Section:* The math portion now includes more questions on data analysis and real-world problem solving. The emphasis is on practical applications of math.     - *Reading Section:* Reading passages have been shortened, and there is an increased focus on questions related to the Integration of Knowledge and Ideas (IKI) category. 6. *Cost of the ACT*   The base cost of the ACT without Writing is $60, while the Writing portion costs $85. Additional fees may apply for section retesting, superscoring, and online testing, but these changes can help students save money by focusing on specific sections. #ACTUpdates #StandardizedTesting #CollegeAdmissions #HigherEd #ACTExam #EducationReform #OnlineTesting #Superscoring #HigherEducation #TestPrep Nihal Bhatt Sangeeta Ajwani Rashi Shah yogita patel Urmila Rani N Disha Jain

AP test scoring for many exams was notably higher this year than in previous years due to The College Board’s new approach with recalibrating scores using technology and data collection. College Board announced that they have set the AP "success rates" in 60%–80% range. College Board argues that they are merely aligning the new grading measurements with college grading to earn credit. While more high school students were pleased with the results, critics argue that the prestigious tests that often served as the “antidote to grade inflation in schools” are being devalued. College Board has also come under fire for being less transparent about the grading in the AP program. Educators aren’t made aware of the calibration project information and what exams are actually being recalibrated in what year. While these scoring changes may lead to challenges and frustrations for teachers, some students are appreciative of the new system. “Knowing some AP exams are getting easier has been a relief, [one high school student] said. She and her classmates feel that in AP classes, ‘our worth is defined by our scores and whether we pass or not.’” #APexams #APtests #CollegeBoard #collegecredit #collegecounseling #MadenbergCollegeConsulting #LoveTheJourneyToCollege @Love the Journey to College @Madenberg College Consulting