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Overview of the PSAT(Preliminary SAT) PDF Print E-mail
Education - General Education

The preliminary scholastic aptitude test, or PSAT, is a standard test given to high school sophomore and juniors as preparation for the SAT test taken as a high school senior. These tests are primarily used for students to qualify for National Merit scholarships.

PSAT Similar to SAT

The PSAT has the same makeup as the regular SAT. Scores achieved as a junior count towards being eligible for a National Merit scholarship. The PSAT measures writing skills, math and problem solving skills, and reading skills. The score achieved here is meant to predict how a student will possibly do on the regular SAT test. Scores for the PSAT have a range of 20 to 80. Simply multiplying by ten can give you the corresponding SAT score. By better preparing for the SAT exams one can significantly increase their score, no matter what they may have achieved on the PSAT.

Why Take the PSAT Test

These tests don't necessarily take into account what you may have learned from any particular class, but more so are a measure of the knowledge you have accumulated throughout the years you have attended school. The reasons people normally take a PSAT test are to get a feel for what their strengths and weaknesses might be as they head into college. This will help them to focus on subjects they might need help in and have to study harder in order to get stronger. It could also be a way of measuring how your score stacks up against others who are applying for college. Another reason some take the PSAT is to qualify for a NMSC(National Merit Scholarship Organization) scholarship. Some take the PSAT to prepare themselves for the regular SAT. The directions for taking the tests are the same and the PSAT will also provide insight to the kind of questions you will have to answer for the SAT's. There is also an option on the PSAT called Student Search Service where a student can check a box to receive information from colleges after taking the test.

While the PSAT may be a preliminary for the SAT, like the SAT it is a good indicator of what weaknesses one might have when attending college, so taking the test as a sophomore could give someone more time to find out what skills they are lacking in and more time to try and better develop those skills for college. Your high school counselor can also help you in getting registration information for the PSAT as well as the time, date, and location of the test. Make sure you ask for a copy of the PSAT/NMSQT Official Student Guide.

In the guide you will find a complete practice test. The great thing about this practice test is you can find the answers online along with a complete explanation of how the answers were worked out. The PSAT/NMSQT Preparation Center online has lots of useful information to help you achieve the best results you can as well.

When is the PSAT Taken

The PSAT is taken in October and scores are reported to the schools in December. The student receives a report called Score Report Plus which not only gives the student their score, but also receives personalized and itemized feedback on their skills and how they can possibly improve them.

Students who take the PSAT also receive access to what is called My College Quickstart. This comes along with Score Report Plus and is like having your own college planning tool. Using the access code that comes along with the Score Report students can find complete answer explanations for the test, as well as projected ranges of SAT scores and a percentage breakdown of scores by state or over the entire nation. Students also receive a personalized plan of study, an initial list of colleges, and recommended lists of careers and majors per the Personality Profiler.

PSAT test dates for 2009 are Wednesday October 14 and Saturday October 17.
 
Florida Virtual School(FLVS) PDF Print E-mail
Education - General Education

Florida Virtual School(FLVS) is the top provider of online educational options for students and school systems between Kindergarten and the 12th Grade. Modern education is about using all of the available techniques and technology to ensure that students are constantly learning. Florida Virtual School offers a variety of courses which are approved by the NCAA and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

Florida Virtual School is there to provide the courses which students need. Florida Virtual School provides accredited courses, but it is not a diploma-granting facility. It does make a great supplement for high school students who are home-schooled or learning in a traditional institution.

Florida Virtual School is a free public school for residents of Florida. The courses are available for a tuition for students the world over, however. Educators can license this innovative model for use in other locations as well. Florida Virtual School is committed to the provision of high-quality, accredited learning courses which are compatible with educational requirements needed in K-12 curriculum.

The courses are taught by teachers who are licensed in the State of Florida. They stay in regular contact with students. All necessary materials are provided online. There are regular and Honors courses available, and students are empowered to take these courses at their own pace.

The internet has forever changed how we learn. Students and parents now have more options when seeking educational opportunities. Florida Virtual School has been a leader in providing K-12 educational solutions that work for students and parents all over the world. There are a variety of situations where supplemental online courses can help a student reach their educational goals more quickly or efficiently. Teachers can use the options delivered by FLVS to help their students achieve new academic heights. Florida Virtual School is committed to the development of innovative techniques to help provide students with convenient online courses. With the help of these programs, they can continue progressing towards satisfying the curriculum requirements that they will need in order to move on to higher learning.

Florida Virtual School offers over 90 courses to help beef up the study curriculum of students who are serious about advancing their education. Advanced placement, language, elective, and core classes are among the types offered. Florida Virtual School offers new tools in pursuit of a comprehensive education.
 
Florida High School Diploma with the GED PDF Print E-mail
Education - General Education

GED Test

What is the GED

GED stands for General Education Development.  Passing the GED test will allow an adult to earn a high school equivalency.  In the state of Florida, those that pass the GED receive a Florida High School Diploma.  The test takes approximate 7 hours to complete and test 5 different area, which are: Language Arts(Reading),Language Arts(Writing),Mathematics, Social Studies, and Science.   According the American Council on Education only, 60% of graduating seniors would pass the GED on their first attempt. 

The test is designed to measure what graduating seniors should have learned during their high school career.  Veterans of WW II were the originally intended audience for the GED.  The GED was designed for veterans that had not had the opportunity to complete high school to demonstrate their level of knowledge so that they could go on to college or the workplace after coming home from war.  New York State then adopted the same tests for civilians.  The other state in the United States soon followed.  It is also taken in Canada. The test is the same content in every state and Canada.  The GED is available in several different formats and languages including: English, Canadian English, Spanish, Canadian French, Braille, Audio, and Large Print. 

GED Test Not Online

GED test must be taken in person at a local testing center.  Although you may not have the convenience of taking the GED online you should be able to find a testing center near you.  Testing centers cater to the needs of adults and know that adults need to have flexibility when going for GED testing.  There are weekend, daytime, and evening testing available.

GED TEST Preparation

Preparing and taking the GED is probably going to be one of the best things you can do for yourself.  There is a lot of support that is available to prepare for the GED.  Public libraries and schools are some of the places that offer free or at a low fee GED preparation classes.  Even some private institutions may provide GED preparation services for free. 

Although you will not be able to take the GED online, there are some places that offer GED preparation online for free.
You may also decide to study the GED on your own.  You can purchase a GED preparation book from the bookstore, or online.  You can probably find a copy of the GED preparation book at your local library.

Local GED Resources

Citrus County Public Schools GED information at Withlacoochee Technical Institute

Hernando County Public Schools Adult and Community Education GED

Pasco County Public Schools Adult and Community Education Programs GED

Pinellas County Public Schools Adult Education GED

Polk County Public Schools GED Information

Hillsborough County Public Schools Adult and Community Education GED

More Information on taking the GED in Florida

GED information from the American Council on Education
 
ACT Test Preparation PDF Print E-mail
Education - General Education

The Act is one of two major tests taken by future college students as part of admission to a college or university. The test is intended to gauge how well a student will do in college, based on the knowledge that is tested on the ACT. The maximum an individual can score on the ACT is 36. Although the chance of scoring a 36 is rare, it does happen. Students should not be worried if they do not score a 36.

Each school gives a balanced look at GPA (Grade Point Average) and standardized test scores as part of the admission criteria. For example, the University of South Florida has an eligibility matrix that is used to determine admission. The lower the GPA a student has the higher the score on ACT or SAT has to be and the lower the standard test results the higher the student’s GPA should be.

Ideally, ACT preparation should begin way before the time to take the test. ACT tests are generally meant to measure how much someone has learned during their academic career. So, during the high school career a student’s academic curriculum should automatically include a lot of the information that is tested for on the ACT.

Formally studying for the ACT may include taking a course either privately or at school. Some schools offer ACT and SAT test prep classes as an elective for high school students. There are also tutoring centers that offer ACT test preparation services. A student may choose to purchase ACT test preparation material and study on his or her own.

On the web there are many free sources of ACT test preparation.

ACT Testing Resources

ACT official test prep web page.
This includes: a link to a free sample of an ACT test, an informative guide on how to prepare for the ACT, free ACT test taking tips, an official ACT description.

ACT practice books
 
SAT Books PDF Print E-mail
Education - General Education

The Official SAT Study Guide, 2nd edition

$12.86

  • by
The Official SAT Study Guide™ —with more than two million sold—just got better! Now offering 10 practice tests, The Official SAT Study Guide: Second Edition™ is the only book that features official SAT® practice tests created by the test maker. With over 1,000 pages and more than 20 chapters, it's packed with the most up-to-date information students need to get ready for the test.

Students will gain valuable experience and raise their confidence by taking practice tests, by reviewing critical concepts, test-taking approaches, and focused sets of practice questions just like those on the actual SAT.

The Official SAT Study Guide: Second Edition will help students get ready for the SAT with

- 10 official SAT practice tests, including 3 new recent exams
- detailed descriptions of math, critical reading, and writing sections of the SAT
- targeted practice questions for each SAT question type
- practice essay questions, along with sample essays and annotations
- a review of math concepts tested in the exam
- test-taking approaches and suggestions that underscore important points
- free online score reports
- exclusive access to online answers and explanations at collegeboard.com
-  $10 discount on The Official SAT Online Course to all book owners

There's also a complete chapter on the PSAT/NMSQT®.

Barron's SAT 2400: Aiming for the Perfect Score

$10.97

  • ISBN13: 9780764138058
  • Condition: NEW
  • Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
Even the brightest and most hard-working students aren’t expected to score a perfect 2400 on their SAT college entrance tests, but students who approach perfection with scores of 2100 or higher are virtually guaranteed acceptance at the country’s most prestigious colleges. The new edition of this popular guide for high-achieving college-bound students bypasses the standard test preparation drills and offers novel advice and innovative strategies for tackling the SAT’s hardest questions. The book presents Critical Reading strategies for both long and short passages, concentrated help for writing a near-perfect SAT essay, and extra coaching in arithmetic, algebra, geometry, statistics, and math word problems. Students will also find difficult practice questions with explained answers in all SAT test areas, upper-level vocabulary lists, and useful math formulas.

Cracking the SAT, 2010 Edition (College Test Preparation)

$11.84

The SAT is a critical exam for college applicants, and more than 2 million students take the test each year. In Cracking the SAT the experts at The Princeton Review provide the information and strategies you need to succeed on the math, verbal and essay sections of the exam. This new 2010 edition of our popular guide for the SAT offers proven techniques from the test prep experts, as well as 3 practice tests in the book and exclusive free access to another practice test and additional review and practice questions online.

In Cracking the SAT you’ll learn how to think like the test writers and

•Master specific strategies for answering every question type
•Boost your vocabulary with our exclusive “Hit Parade” — a list of words that appear most frequently on the SAT
•Practice, practice, practice with questions just like those you’ll see on the real SAT, and learn from your mistakes with detailed explanations for all answers

Plus you’ll get a customized study plan for your schedule and access to optional online essay grading.

Barron's SAT Critical Reading Workbook (Critical Reading Workbook for the Sat)

$6.93

  • ISBN13: 9780764141959
  • Condition: NEW
  • Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
Updated to reflect the current SAT format and questions found on its most recent exams, this workbook concentrates on the SAT Critical Reading section with an extensive series of exercises. They reflect that section’s two question types: sentence completion and reading comprehension. The exercises for both question types are divided into three levels of increasing difficulty, labeled from A to C, with all questions answered and explained. Students who master level C of both sections will be prepared to excel on the actual exam. The author also presents test-taking tips and an extensive vocabulary review.

11 Practice Tests for the SAT & PSAT, 2010 Edition (College Test Preparation)

$13.84

    The way to test your best on the SAT and PSAT is to get in lots of practice beforehand, and this resource offers you 11 prime opportunities to do just that! Other books just give you the tests themselves, along with an answer key, and then expect you to figure out why you got a question right or wrong. In this book you’ll find full explanations for every problem, using The Princeton Review’s score-improving techniques.

    11 Practice Tests for the SAT and PSAT, 2010 Edition     includes

    ·10 practice SATs and 1 practice PSAT
    ·Detailed answer explanations for every question
    ·Online score reports that allow you to discover your strengths and weaknesses on each test
    ·An insider’s guide to what ETS says is on the test and what they really mean
    ·Access to optional online essay grading

    Kaplan 12 Practice Tests for the SAT 2010

    $13.52

      Includes:

      • 12 full-length practice exams
      • More than 600 math grid-ins and multiple-choice questions
      • More than 800 sentence completion and reading comprehension questions
      • More than 500 writing multiple-choice questions
      • Complete answer explanations
      • 12 essay prompts, model essays, and a self-grading guide

      The SAT exam is administered in January, March, May, June, October, November, and December of each year.

      Check inside this book for a chance to win $5000 to use for school and other prizes!

      Barron's SAT Writing Workbook (Barron's Writing Workbook for the New Sat)

      $8.65

      • ISBN13: 9780764142048
      • Condition: NEW
      • Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
      The two-part Writing Test is an important component of the SAT, and this workbook offers college-bound students comprehensive preparation for both parts. Instruction in organizing one’s thoughts, drafting, and editing an essay includes advice on completing the essay within the SAT’s time limitation. Preparation for the Writing Test’s second part includes exercises consisting of multiple-choice questions that test each student’s skill in correcting mistakes in grammar and improving poorly-written sentences. This workbook also presents five writing tests with answers, explanations, and criteria for analyzing and assessing written essays.

      The Official Study Guide for All SAT Subject Tests

      $9.00

      • ISBN13: 9780874477566
      • Condition: NEW
      • Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
      The only source of previously-administered practice tests for all 20 SAT Subject Tests
       
      Every year nearly 600,000 high school students take one or more SAT Subject Tests. Many selective colleges recommend or require them for admission or placement. The Official Study Guide for All SAT Subject Tests is the only source of official questions and answers for all 20 SAT Subject Test exams, and it is the only comprehensive guide developed by the test maker. This all-new edition
      includes the following exclusive features:
      • never-before-published practice tests for all 20 exams
      • test-taking tips and strategies from the test-maker
      • two audio CDs to practice for the foreign language SAT
      Subject Tests with Listening (Spanish, German, French,
      Chinese, Japanese, and Korean)
      • practice tests for the SAT Subject Tests in Chinese, Japanese,
      Korean, Modern Hebrew, Italian, and Latin

      Includes 2 Audio CDs for language tests!

      Kaplan SAT 2010 Edition: Strategies, Practice, and Review

      $11.92

      Proven, practical tools to score higher on the SAT including:

      • New student-friendly layout and design
      • New callouts with tips from Kaplan's SAT experts
      • New advice and strategy callouts from ""Brainy Brian,"" Kaplan's SAT perfect-scorer
      • New helpful parents guide explaining how they can help their kids use the book and prepare for the exam
      • New student group study guide
      • 4 full-length practice tests with detailed answer explanations
      • 1 full-length practice test online
      • Smart Break activities designed for students to take a fun break from studying while keeping their SAT skills sharp

      The SAT exam is administered in January, March, May, June, October, November, and December of each year.

      Check inside this book for a chance to win $5000 to use for school and other prizes!

      The Official SAT Subject Tests in Mathematics Levels 1 & 2 Study Guide

      $7.99

      • ISBN13: 9780874477726
      • Condition: NEW
      • Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
      The best way to practice for the SAT Subject Tests in Mathematics
       
      Every year more than 230,000 high school students take a SAT Subject Test in Mathematics. The Official SAT Subject Tests in Mathematics Levels 1 & 2 Study Guide is the only source of official questions and answer explanations for these exams, and it is the only guide developed by the test maker. In addition to two fulllength, previously administered practice tests for each exam level, this book also contains complete solutions, answer explanations, and test-taking strategies.


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