Thousands of Delaware juniors to receive SAT scores
On April 18, Delaware public school juniors across the state took the SAT college readiness exam during the school day as part of the state-funded Universal SAT program. The Race to the Top grant-funded initiative ensures that promising students who might otherwise face barriers to standard Saturday testing—such as the financial cost, part-time jobs or other family responsibilities—do not miss out on a chance to prepare for the future. The state had a 98 percent registration rate for the April test. Starting today, students who participated in SAT School Day will learn more about their performance on the nation’s oldest and most widely-used college entrance exam as score reports are released to test-takers online and via mail.
“After last year’s pilot, we heard students share that they never would have considered pursuing higher education or taken the SAT exam, but after taking part, they realized college was an option for them,” Secretary of Education Dr. Lillian M. Lowery said. “This is about providing opportunity for all of our students.”
Created by educators and aligned to Common Core state standards, the SAT tests the reading, mathematics, and writing skills and the knowledge students acquire during high school. Scores for each section of the SAT are reported on a 200-800 scale, with additional subscores reported for the essay (ranging from 2-12) and for multiple-choice writing questions (on a 20-80 scale). The SAT score report provides valuable academic feedback, including a detailed breakdown of their score in each section, with insight into their strengths and areas for improvement. Based on information provided by students as part of the student questionnaire completed at registration, the SAT score report also provides information about prospective college majors and career paths. For more on scores, please visit http://sat.collegeboard.org/scores.
Because each section of the SAT is valid as an individual measure of reading, mathematics, and writing skills and knowledge, students are better able to demonstrate academic distinction in those specific subject areas. One of the reasons admission offices value the SAT is because it is the only college entrance exam in which scores from each section can be used as independent measures. The writing section—which is required on the SAT—is critical given the value employers across all industries now place on a job applicant’s ability to write. In addition to measuring the academic skills and knowledge students acquire in high school, the SAT also measures how well students can apply their knowledge, a factor that educators and researchers agree is critical to success in college and career.
“We are thrilled that students in Delaware participate in SAT School Day,” said College Board Vice President James Montoya, a former dean of admission. “The SAT is used in the admissions process at nearly every four-year undergraduate college and university in the United States. When used in combination with high school grades, the SAT is the most valid predictor of first-year college success.”
An SAT score opens doors to opportunities beyond high school and a wide range of free resources:
-- Students can use their scores to research colleges and universities on the College Board’s free comprehensive college planning Web site, BigFuture.org. The site was created with the Education Conservancy and in consultation with students and educators to help make the college planning process simpler and more accessible. BigFuture.org walks students through each step of the college planning process, from finding colleges that fit, to writing a college essay, to applying for financial aid. At the site, students can watch videos from real students giving tips on college planning, like what do to on a campus visit, and explore college options with advice from the schools themselves.
-- Students who opted to participate in the College Board’s Student Search Service during registration will have the opportunity to receive educational and financial aid information from colleges, universities and scholarship programs.
-- Students also have access to Skills Insight, which is a general guide to help students determine their current skill level in reading, writing and math—the areas tested on the SAT. http://sat.collegeboard.org/practice/sat-skills-insight
The SAT is administered to all public school students in the States of Delaware, Idaho and Maine, as well as in school districts throughout Connecticut, Florida, Indiana, Maryland, New Jersey and Texas.
|
Delaware's Department of Education is committed to promoting the highest quality education
for every Delaware student by providing visionary leadership and superior service.
|
Contact Info.
Alison Kepner Delaware Department of Education 401 Federal Street, Suite #2 Dover, Delaware 19901 Phone: (302) 735-4035 Fax: (302) 739-4654 Email: akepner@doe.k12.de.us |
Other Press Releases |
