Descriptions of Standardized Tests

Ellen Richards Educational Services uses only authentic test materials when preparing students for standardized tests. We do not use materials from a test company that bases test materials on expectations of the test; our materials come right from the source and represent the content students will encounter when taking the assessments. By using the real materials to prepare, students gain a greater understanding of what to expect while taking the tests and what the test expects them to know.

SAT
The SAT Reasoning Test is a 395 minute test with multiple-choice questions in critical reasoning, math and writing, along with an essay. Each of the three sections is scored on a scale of 200-800 points, for a total possible score of 2400. Most colleges and universities require the SAT or ACT (see below) for admission. Many consider the SAT one of the most important tests that students face during their high school career. Ellen Richards Educational Services provides private, customized service to ensure the best results possible. The test is offered seven times year and tutors are available year-round.

ACT
The ACT (American College Test) is divided into four parts: english usage, mathematics, social science reading, and natural sciences and reading. An additional writing section is optional and should be taken if applying to the University of California. Students receive a score on a scale of 11-36 for each of the individual sections. The composite score – the average of the individual scores – is most often used by colleges for admission purposes. The ACT exam is accepted for admission at every college and university in the United States and students may replace the SAT score with an ACT score on college applications. The ACT is offered five times a year. Students may obtain a breakdown of their answers and a copy of the ACT if administered during December, April and June. Tutors are available year-round to begin preparing students to maximize their scores on the ACT. Ellen Richards Educational Services provides a unique approach to the exam; tutors customize preparation based on the students’ strengths and weaknesses within the test. The private, one-on-one sessions with Ellen Richards Educational Service tutors provide an advantage for students that cannot be matched by companies that offer classroom instruction or a structured curriculum of study.

SAT Subject Tests
These sixty minute exams are offered in a variety of subjects, such as English, history, the sciences, foreign languages, and mathematics. Subject tests are designed to measure specific accomplishment and knowledge in a single field. Most of the exams are multiple choice. Each Subject Test is scored on a scale of 200-800 points. Until the class entering in the Fall of 2012, the University of California requires students to take two SAT Subject exams in the subject area of their choice. Some top-tier, competitive private universities may require students to take three subject tests. Additionally, some programs dictate that students take specific examinations relevant to their area of proposed study. We urge students to take the subject exam at the end of the year during which they took the academic subject, since the material is fresh in their minds. Students who meet with our tutors gain an advantage during exams that cannot be achieved in the more traditional, large class setting.

PSAT
The PSAT (Preliminary Scholastic Assessment Test) is a form of the actual SAT, although it does not include an essay and the math section includes slightly easier questions on the PSAT than the SAT. Taking the PSAT offers students the opportunity to gain experience taking standardized college admissions exams. Although many students take the exam in both 10th and 11th grades, only juniors may qualify for the National Merit Scholarship Competition if they achieve a score that ranks them among the top in the country. Tutors review past PSAT exams with students to enable them to prepare for the actual test. Our tutors also use the PSAT as a tool to assist students in preparing for the SAT, since PSAT scores predict how students will perform on the individual SAT sections.

AP Tests
AP (Advanced Placement) exams are offered in a variety of subjects and taken each May. Students should be enrolled in a high school AP class in order to prepare for the examination. The tests are approximately three hours long and combine written and objective questions, along with oral selections (depending on the subject). The AP examinations measure college level achievement and are scored on a scale of 1-5. In most cases students must achieve a minimum score of 3 in order to earn college credit – although many colleges limit the number of credits they grant students.simply based on their AP scores Students prepare for the exam during the academic year through their studies. Our tutors usually begin working with students a few weeks before the administration by reviewing past AP exams and providing support in to enable students to improve on their weaknesses in the subject.

ISEE
The ISEE (Independent School Entrance Exam) is an entrance exam used by many independent schools on the West Coast, including those in Southern California. Designed and administered by the Educational Records Bureau (ERB), the ISEE is offered based on a student’s grade: the Lower level (Grades 5-6), Middle level (Grades 7-8), and Upper level, (Grades 9-12). All levels of the ISEE consist of five sections: verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, reading comprehension, mathematics, and a 30-minute, un-scored essay that is sent to the schools where the student plans to apply. The testing time is approximately three hours long. Our ISEE preparation program includes a multi-layered approach which enables the student to learn skills necessary not only for the ISEE test, but also those they may use in the classroom. We embed Latin roots into the curriculum to teach vocabulary, train students to  identify question types for the reading comprehension section as well as offer test taking strategies. Further, the skills students acquire enable them to prepare for standardized tests the encounter in upcoming academic years. With the Ellen Richards Educational Services program, students receive specialized and focused attention during one-on-one sessions with our tutors in order to maximize results.

CHSPE
Students in California who are sixteen years or older may take the CHSPE (California High School Proficiency Exam) in order to earn the legal equivalency of a high school diploma. Students have the opportunity to practice for the exam using tests administered over the past few years and thereby gain a complete understanding of the test and its structure. The exam is offered throughout the year, so students choose when and how they prepare.

ERB/CTP 4
Private schools offer the ERB/CTP 4 (Comprehensive Testing Program, 4th edition) which is a series of assessment tests which evaluate student performance in the following academic areas: vocabulary, reading, writing and mathematics. Schools generally offer the ERB in the Fall or Spring. Because the same company that develops the ERB also creates the ISEE and the exams are scored in a similar manner, many consider the ERB an accurate prediction of how students will perform on the ISEE. The scores from this exam further indicate areas of weakness for the student and help them prepare for the ISEE.

HSPT
Students who plan to apply to Catholic High schools must take the HSPT (High School Placement Test). This exam is comprised of five multiple choice sections, including verbal skills, quantitative skills, reading, mathematics, and language. Students usually take the exam during the January administration.

GED
Students who do not earn a high school diploma often take the GED (General Education Development Test) in order to earn the equivalency. Passing the exam indicates that students posses high school level skills. The GED consists of five individual tests, including writing, social studies, science, language arts/reading and mathematics. Students begin preparing for the GED at a time appropriate to the date they plan to take the assessment, which is offered throughout the year.

GRE
The GRE (Graduate Record Examination) is the standardized test used for students applying to graduate school and some business schools. This test underscores the student’s academic aptitude and achievement acquired during their college years. The general test measures verbal and quantative reasoning, critical thinking, and analytical writing skills. The level of emphasis placed on GRE scores varies widely between schools and even between departments within schools. The importance of a GRE score can range from being a mere admission formality to an important selection factor,  so students should research how heavily each graduate school relies on the GRE for admission. Our tutors are well versed in the subjects and material covered in the GRE, and are experts in test-taking strategies. They offer students excellent preparation and alleviate anxiety about the exam.

Stanford 9/10
The Stanford Achievement Test Series (usually referred to simply as the SAT 9 or SAT 10), is one of the leading standardized achievement tests utilized by school districts in the United States for assessing children from kindergarten through high school; it measures academic knowledge among elementary and secondary school students. The test is available in 13 levels that roughly correspond to the year in school. Each test is broken into subtests, or strands, covering various subjects such as reading comprehension, mathematical problem solving, science and social studies.

CAHSEE
The California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE) is a requirement for high school graduation in the state of California, created by the California Department of Education to improve the academic performance of California high school students, and especially of high school graduates, in the areas of reading, writing, and mathematics. Public school students must pass the exam before receiving a high school diploma, regardless of any other graduation requirements. The test first applied to the graduating class of 2006 when approximately nine of every ten students passed.