Standardized Testing

Testing Advice for Grade 10

PSAT

All students in Grade 10 will take the Preliminary SAT (PSAT) exam in October. Students do not need to register for this exam. The PSAT is a national exam designed for Grade 11 students, but Milken administers the test to Grade 10 students in order to provide early feedback about their reading, writing, and mathematics skills. This test is administered to Grade 10 students in small classroom environments to gently familiarize them with a national standardized test format. The PSAT is not used for evaluative purposes by colleges, and colleges never see PSAT scores.

SAT Reasoning Test (formerly SAT I)

There is no need for Grade 10 students to take the SAT Reasoning Test.

SAT Subject Tests (formerly SAT II: Subject Tests)

SAT Subject Tests are specific, one-hour exams required by many selective colleges and some majors at some University of California campuses. [Please note: Beginning with students applying to the University of California for the fall 2012 term, SAT Subject Tests will no longer be required and students who do not submit SAT Subject Test scores will not be penalized during the review process. Some majors at some UC campuses may recommend particular tests; individual UC Campuses will determine this at a later date and the UC will post the information on the admissions page of their Web site.] Students should consult with each individual college they are considering to learn about specific test requirements.

The majority of Milken students take their SAT Subject Tests in their junior year. However, students who are working at advanced levels in Grade 10 may benefit from taking one or more SAT Subject Tests in June. The Office of College Counseling recommends that only students who are enrolled in the honors or AP level of a particular course take the SAT Subject Test in that subject at the end of the tenth-grade year. Students should always consult with their teachers before registering for any subject test.

English—There is an SAT Subject Test in literature. Most Grade 10 students are not prepared for this test. Typically, those students who take this test do so in the spring of their junior year or fall of their senior year.

History—There is an SAT Subject Test in world history. We do not recommend this test for a Grade 10 student unless s/he is a natural history buff who has excelled in an honors curriculum.

Math—These recommendations are based on the student’s current math level:

• Geometry students should not take an SAT Subject Test in math during the sophomore year.
• Algebra II/Algebra II Honors students might want to take the Mathematics Level 1 test for practice purposes, although many colleges will no longer accept results from this test because most of the subject matter has now been folded into the SAT Reasoning Test.
• Students enrolled in Pre-calculus or higher might want to take the Mathematics Level 2 test.

Science—Students enrolled in, and excelling at, an honors-level biology or chemistry course should be prepared to take the SAT Subject Test in biology or chemistry.

World Languages—These recommendations are based on the student’s current level:

• SAT Subject Tests in French or Spanish may be taken by students enrolled in level IV honors or AP unless otherwise recommended by their teacher.
• The SAT Subject Test in Modern Hebrew is designed for students with a wide ranging knowledge of the language. Typically, students enrolled in the highest levels of Hebrew perform well and should consider taking this test. (Note: The SAT Subject Test in Hebrew is administered only in June.)