ERHS AP Students and Parents:
It has been quite a whirlwind as school has changed for all of us in the last few weeks. No doubt, you may have questions about what the distance learning might mean for Advanced Placement exams. We received an update from the College Board (AP's parent organization) on Friday.
Critical points from the College Board include:
- Traditional face-to-face AP exam administrations will not take place this year. Students will take a 45-minute online free-response exam at home. (In AP, "Free Response" normally means short essay.)
- Some students may want to take the exam sooner rather than later, while the content is still fresh. Other students may want more time to practice. For each AP subject, there will be 2 different testing dates.
- The exams will only include about 3/4 of the year's content for each exam. See the chart at the bottom of the complete message for specifics on each content area.
- Students will still be able to earn college credit by passing an AP Exam. Colleges are on board with this shorted exam format due to the national emergency.
- Students will be able to take these streamlined exams on any device they have access to—computer, tablet, or smartphone. Taking a photo of handwritten work will also be an option.
- AP Art students will submit a truncated digital portfolio with fewer pieces of work. Classic paper portfolios will not be mailed to AP this year for scoring.
- Keep working on your AP class with your instructor each day. We are still working to support our ERHS AP students from a distance while you study at home. It is not time to give up on your AP class.
More updates are coming April 3rd
The full exam schedule, specific free-response question types that will be on each AP Exam, and additional testing details will be available from the College Board by April 3. They'll also unlock any relevant free-response questions in AP Classroom for digital use so students can access all practice questions of the type that will appear on the exam.
Exam cancelations
While we encourage students to wait until closer to the test date to decide, any student already registered for an exam can choose to cancel at no charge. ERHS comment: please wait to make any cancellation choices until we hear more from the College Board about how this might work. We expect to hear more by April 3.
If I have been approved for a test accommodation, (like extra time on test day) will that still be available for me to use? ERHS response: To the best of our knowledge, yes. We expect to hear more from AP on that shortly.
ERHS comment: We are doing our best to keep you abreast of any changes to AP. Unfortunately, the information we have is limited, as AP is still making decisions as this situation unfolds. Thank you for your patience and flexibility. There will be more to come after April 3rd.
Advanced Placement (AP) Testing
AP Exams take place each May. For more information about AP testing at East Ridge High School, please visit the AP Testing page.
Questions, please contact our AP Coordinator, Beth Salmon, at esalmon1@sowashco.org.
2019 October 15 Testing Day
On Tuesday, October 15, 2019, students in grades 9-12 will be participating in activities involving positive social interactions, college readiness testing, and college admissions preparation/planning.
- Grade 9: No School
- Grade 10: Pre-ACT test
- Pre-ACT Testing Rationale: Students will experience a timed, standardized test and receive predictive ACT scores in Math, English, Reading, and Science.
- Grade 11: MockACT practice test
- Practice ACT Testing Rationale: Students will experience a timed, standardized test and receive predictive ACT scores in Math, English, Reading, and Science.
- Grade 12: No School -- Students may use this day to visit colleges, prepare application materials for post secondary options, or research schools of their choice.
- NOTES:
- The PreACT and the MockACT tests will give sophomores and juniors an opportunity to practice a timed test and they will predict your performance on the ACT test that all juniors take in spring.
- Students in grades 10 & 11 should remember to bring their #2 pencil and a calculator!
2019 October 30 PSAT Test (optional)
On Wednesday, October 30,2019, students in grades 10 & 11 will have the option to take the PSAT test. Prior registration is required and will open in early September.
PSAT Testing Rationale: Qualifying test for National Merit Scholarships.
For more PSAT information click here.
2020 ACT + Writing (Juniors)
Minnesota legislation requires school districts to offer the ACT + Writing test to all juniors during the school day in the spring of their junior year at no cost to families. Districts request reimbursement from the Minnesota Department of Education. Though ACT scores are part of the student's official ACT record, they do not appear on District 833 transcripts. Students may review and send copies of their scores to colleges at www.actstudent.org.
Statewide Test Day: Tuesday, April 7, 2020
Grade: 11th Grade (Juniors)
Testing Rationale: Students take the official ACT test in Math, English, Reading, Science, and Writing. The score from this ACT test can be submitted for college applications and scholarships.
World's Best Workforce Information (MDE website)
Minnesota Stature 120B.11(Minn. Office of the Revisor of Statutes website)
ACT test dates [National] (ACT website)
ACT prep suggestions
Understanding your ACT score
ACT + Writing Test Day Activities for Freshman, Sophomores, & Seniors
To meet ACT test administration rules, testing our juniors will require building wide use of ERHS. Students in grades 9, 10, and 12 will not report to school on April 7, 2020. These students are expected to work on academics from home.
MCA Testing
**All MCA tests are given online.
10th grade MCA Reading: April 13-17, 2020
- Scheduled through English 10 class on Chromebooks.
- Testing Rationale: Measure reading proficiency against state standards; Reading college and career readiness score correlates to college entrance standardizes tests; Meet federal & state accountability requirements.
- View MCA Reading Sampler (SELECT Grade 10)
11th grade MCA Math: April 20-24, 2020
- Scheduled through US History classes on Chromebooks
- Testing Rationale: Measure Math proficiency against state standards, Correlate college & career readiness score to college entrance standardized test, Meet federal & state accountability requirements.
- View MCA Math Sampler (SELECT Grade 11)
High School Science: May 4-8, 2020
- Scheduled through Biology class on Chromebooks (students test the year in which they are enrolled in Biology)
- Testing Rationale: Measure science proficiency against state standards, Meet federal & state accountability requirements.
- View MCA Science Sampler (SELECT High School)
MTAS (MTA and Alternative Access)
The Minnesota Test of Academic Skills (MTAS) is an alternate assessment based on alternate achievement standards for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities. It is part of the Minnesota assessment program. The MTAS measures reading, mathematics, and science skills that are linked to the general education curriculum. These skills represent high expectations for students with significant cognitive disabilities, but tasks to measure these skills are considerably less difficult than the items on the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCA).
MTAS Reading, Math and Science: April-May, 2020
MCA Results
Students receive last year's MCA results/scores by fall conferences. Reports are sent home with students.
Questions on Testing & Assessment
Please contact our Testing & Assessment Coordinator, Adam Hayes, at ahayes@sowashco.org or 651-425-2408.