Counselor Corner

Course Offerings 

Testing
OGT: The Ohio Graduation Tests are a set of state assessments which an Ohio student must pass in order to receive his/her diploma. Students take the OGT for the first time in the spring of their sophomore year. The OGT consists of 5 separate tests which are given over the course of a week. The tests include: Reading, Mathematics, Writing, Science, and Social Studies. The test is offered each October and March for students who have not completed all five sections.
• Online resource: www.ode.state.oh.us
• 2008-2009 OGT testing dates: week of October 27th for junior/senior make-ups week of March 16th for sophomores & additional jr./sr. makeups.

PSAT: Each year CCS junior students are provided the opportunity to take the PSAT in order to help them prepare for their college entrance exams. The PSAT/NMSQT is a practice test for the SAT Reasoning Test as well as a qualifying test for the National Merit Scholarship. The results of the PSAT give the student information on his/her testing skills in the areas of Critical Reading, Mathematics, and Writing in two forms:
1) by comparison by percentile to other juniors who took the PSAT, and
2) by providing approximate SAT test scores.

The National Merit® Scholarship is an annual, academic competition among high school students for recognition and college scholarships. The program is conducted by National Merit Scholarship Corporation, a not-for-profit organization that operates without government assistance. Achieving an exceptional score on the PSAT is the first step in the process to earning a National Merit Scholarship.

Sophomores who wish to take the PSAT for a practice exam may do so, but must pay the exam fee and notify the Guidance Office of their intent to participate in testing prior to August 31st of the testing year.
• On-line resource: www.collegeboard.com/psat
• 2008-2009 PSAT testing date: October 15th.

PLAN: Each year CCS sophomore students are provided the opportunity to take the PLAN test in order to help them prepare for their college entrance exams as well as to give them their first career interest inventory. The PLAN test is a practice test for the ACT. The results of the PLAN give the student information on his/her testing knowledge compared to other sophomores and give an approximate ACT test score. In addition, the test includes a career interest inventory. The results of the test include a summary of how the student’s interests fit into one or more of four categories: Work with people, work with data, work with things, or work with ideas. It also gives brief descriptions of each area, and several job suggestions within the area.
• Online resource: www.actstudent.org
• 2008-2009 PLAN testing date: October 20th.

AP EXAMS
STANFORD ACHIEVEMENT TESTS:
ASVAB

SAT REASONING TEST: The Scholastic Aptitude Test is a standardized exam used by colleges to predict a student’s potential success in college. It is usually taken in the spring of the junior year after students have had a chance to take the PSAT and review their results. The SAT measures the critical thinking skills that demonstrate how well you analyze and solve problems. The test is composed of three sections: critical reading, mathematics, and writing. The critical reading section is made up of sentence completion and passage-based reading questions. The mathematics section is based on the math that college-bound students typically learn during their first three years of high school. The writing section has multiple-choice questions and a written essay. Scores on the SAT range from 200-800 per section, with a score of 500 being close to the 50th percentile.

Students may take this test more than one time. Multiple classes and materials are available around the city to help a student prepare for the SAT. If a student finds that he/she took the test and would like help in preparation for taking it a second time see the Guidance Office for information on prep. classes available.

Cincinnati Christian Schools does not administer the SAT on-site, but registration materials and a preparation booklet are available in the Guidance office. The preferred form of registration is on-line at www.collegeboard.com. The cost of the test for 2008-2009 school year is $45.00

CCS SAT SCHOOL CODE: 360-954
2008-2009 SAT dates

SAT Subject Tests: The SAT II tests are optional tests administered in a variety of subjects and are used to test the level of knowledge of a student in a particular academic discipline in relation to other students throughout the country. Some colleges use SAT II scores as placement for various levels of freshman courses; some use them as an additional indicator in the admissions process. Check with you college of interest to see if this is a necessary test for you.

ACT: The American College Testing Program, ACT, is another standardized exam used by colleges to predict a student’s potential success in college. Scores on the ACT range from 1-36 with a score of 20 being close to the 50th percentile. The test is composed of four academic sections with a fifth section being optional. The English Test is a 75 question, 45 minute test that measures your understanding of the conventions of standard written English and of rhetorical skills. The Mathematics test is a 60 question, 60 minute test designed to assess the mathematical skills students have typically acquired in courses taken up to the beginning of grade 12. The Reading Test is a 40 question, 35 minute test that measures your reading comprehension. The Science Test is a 40 question, 35 minute test that measures the interpretation, analysis, evaluation, reasoning, and problem-solving skills required in the natural sciences.

The ACT Writing test is optional. If you wish to register for the writing test, you register for the ACT Plus Writing. This test will be administered after the four multiple choice tests, and will not affect the composite score. The Writing Test is a 30-minute essay test that measures your writing skills.

Students may take this test more than one time. Multiple classes and materials are available around the city to help a student prepare for the ACT. If a student finds that he/she took the test and would like help in preparation for taking it a second time see the Guidance Office for information on prep. classes available.

Cincinnati Christian Schools does not administer the ACT on-site, but registration materials and a preparation booklet are available in the Guidance office. The preferred form of registration is on-line at www.actstudent.org. The cost of the test for 2008-2009 school year is $31.00 without the optional writing section; $46.00 with the optional writing section.
CCS ACT SCHOOL CODE: 360-954

2008-2009 ACT testing dates