Your high school career ends and you have to figure out
what the next. If it's college, chances are you'll take
ACT, a test that is used to predict a student's ability
to succeed in college. See
Abbreviation Finder for meanings of ACT. The test consists of four
multiple choice test areas: English, mathematics,
reading and science. The sample also includes an
optional writing test. Proper preparation is important
to pass the ACT test.
1. Determine which areas you think may be difficult for
you. Concentrate on those areas first.
2. Take the self assessment module quizzes can be found
on the Test Prep Review website (see below). Try taking
quizzes, even in areas where you do not feel you need
help; This will expose you to all of the types of
questions found on the ACT exam, and will help you to
pass the ACT.
3. Take advantage of ACT exam study guides. Some can be
found online, and some are available in libraries or
bookstores.
4. Sign up for an ACT classroom course or online course,
if necessary. Most sessions last six weeks.
5. Find a private or group tutor in your area, if a
classroom setting is not for you, and you do not have
access to a computer. Most will find a small group of
friends learn together works best for them.
6. Get plenty of sleep the night before the test. It is
important to be mentally alert and well rested; you will
be more likely to pass the ACT then.
The Difference Between Standard Scores & Z-scores
Students are subject to all kinds of State and national
test now to determine how much they have learned in
relation to other students in the same State or country.
Educators and politicians, need some way to compare the
scores to know how well students are doing. How well
students score determines the education funds for State,
school district and individual schools. Standard scores
and z-scores are used to determine how these funds are
distributed.
Standard Scores Explained
Standardized tests have all their own scoring systems.
The SAT is scored on a scale of 800 points for each
section, while ACT scored 36 points on a scale for each
test section. When a student receives his scores back
from testing agencies, she will only know how well she
scored for this test. This score is the raw, or standard
score. The students will not know how her score is
compared to other national or Statewide without having
any other information available to her.
Standard Distribution
When all standard scores are picked and plotted on a
histogram of the number of times that particular score
occurred, a bell shape tend to show up on the graph.
This time the form is called the default distribution.
All results can be plotted and found on this bell curve.
The upper part of the curve, where the average, median
and mode of scores is usually. It's average, the median
score, and the score, there occurred the most,
respectively. A standard normal distribution
corresponds to the standard distribution described
above. But in the case of a standard normal
distribution, mean, median and mode are all zero (0).
The standard normal distribution will have a standard
deviation, which is the average distance from the mean,
1. . This means that most of the scores will be found
within a deviation from the mean. In fact, 68 percent of
all scores on the distribution be within 1 standard
deviation of the mean, 95 percent within 2 standard
deviations and 99.7 percent within 3 standard
deviations.
Z-Scores Explained
Z-score is a score that is located somewhere in the
standard normal distribution. His counterpart on the
standard distribution is the standard score. The
standard normal distribution and z-score give all
standardized scores must be weighed straight through a
few calculations. Z-score can then be used to determine
what percentile rank score falling by finding z-score on
a z distribution chart.
Standard Scores to Z-scores
As noted above, a simple calculation transform standard
score to a z-score. Z-score can be found by subtracting
the mean of standard scores from standard score being
evaluated, and then divide this difference with the
standard deviation of the standard distribution. The
formula is: z = (XM)/sd
This z-score is, how many standard deviations from the
mean, the standard score falls. If the z-score is
positive, so is the standard score is above average. If
the z-score is negative, then the default score is below
average.
Other Standard Scores
Standard scores used any time there is any kind of
testing or evaluation involves a kind of point system.
Standard and z-scores are also used to test claims that
manufacturers make their products with regard to
durability, strength, or other measurable function. |
