SES Spring Testing 2021
ACT, MCA Math, Bilingual & Multilingual Seals, AP Testing
AP Testing
Update 4/30/21:
AP exams start the first week of May.
- Exam Schedule for students taking the exam on paper
- Exam Schedule for students taking the exam digitally
If you have any questions about your specific exam please contact Mr. Thompson or Mr. Nelson.
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Dear SES Advanced Placement Students and Parents,
In early February, the College Board, which oversees the Advanced Placement program, made modifications to the schedule and format of the AP exam administration for spring, 2021. Decisions for 2021 AP Exams were made to prioritize the health and safety of educators and
students while preserving opportunities for AP students to attempt to earn college credit.
PLEASE NOTE:
Each AP course has one designated primary exam date, whether paper or digital, for all AP students in that course. Primary exam dates occur in early May and in late May.
SES Exam Dates located here
A student absent from the primary exam date due to illness, COVID quarantine, or an approved conflict, will be rescheduled to the digital make-up exam date in early June, 6/1 through 6/11. Make-up exams must be approved/assigned by the AP Coordinator. (Note: A student in quarantine is able to take a digital at-home exam.)
Paper exams must be taken at-SCHOOL on the primary exam date. Digital exams will be taken at-HOME on the primary exam date
Last chance for students to indicate their exam preference is April 1st. Surveys were sent out in students' classrooms.
All 2021 AP Exams, paper and digital, will be full length and will cover the full scope of course content. See AP Exam Format Information for specifics about the differences between paper and digital exams by course.
IMPORTANT: Students who will participate in a DIGITAL exam as their primary exam or as a make-up exam must be familiar with additional details regarding AP digital exams. Practice opportunities will be available in April and readiness steps must be completed before each digital exam. Please review the following document for more details: Overview of digital exams
Additional information about changes to AP testing for 2021 is available from the College Board at: https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/about-ap-2021/updates.
AP students have been working together with their AP teacher all school year to prepare for these required end-of-course exams. Please reach out to your AP teacher for additional support as needed through these remaining weeks of instruction and preparation. If you have questions regarding the AP exam schedule, paper or digital formats, or any related concerns, you may also contact me at trent.thompson@district196.org
Bilingual and Multilingual Seal Testing
The MN Bilingual and Multilingual Seals and Certificate is a proficiency assessment that grade 12 students can take, regardless of how they acquired a language other than English. This assessment is for students who speak another language at home, or have learned through school, Saturday school, or elsewhere. Students are assessed on their reading, writing, speaking, and listening proficiencies. Depending on results, students may qualify for college credit through Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, and their results are printed on their high school transcript.
Testing is offered in: Arabic, French, German, Hebrew, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin – Simplified, Mandarin – Traditional, Oromo, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Somali, Spanish, Tamil, Thai, Vietnamese, Karen, Hmong, Dakota/Lakota, Czech, and Amharic.
Students signed up for this test will be taking it AT SES on Wednesday, April 28. Below are the details to know, regarding test day:
- Students should plan to arrive at SES by 9:30 (district bussing is available)
- Testing will take place in the Media Lab
- Nothing allowed in the testing area
- The test is broken into reading/listening and speaking/writing
- Students should be able to finish the entire test before busses depart. They can have more time if they need it (it is untimed).
- Students may leave (if they drove) once they are done if they do not have other business at SES that day.
Questions? please email stephanie.steinbron@district196.org
MCA Math Test for Juniors
What is the MCA? The Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment is a statewide assessment meant to monitor student achievement, according to Minnesota standards. Taking the test is recommended, but a parent can opt their child out of the test.
MCA Math: All juniors will do an untimed math exam on Wednesday, April 14. This test will be taken on a computer, but in person at SES. Students enrolled in the Digital Academy can come into the building to take the test.
Studying for the test is not necessary. However, here are some test sample questions your student can access to get a feel for what the assessment feels like.
Additional Information for Families:
Dear Parent/Guardian
Students in grades 11 will take the math computer-delivered Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment (MCAs) on Wednesday April 14th (bussing provided). Testing will begin at 9:45 and end at 1:00.
The MCAs are part of the educational accountability system in Minnesota and evaluate district, school and individual student progress on Minnesota Academic Standards in reading, math, and science There is no minimum passing score on the MCA’s schools use MCA results to make curricular and instructional decisions for all students.
The mathematics test includes multiple-choice and other item-type questions involving numbers and operation algebra, geometry and measurement, and data analysis and probability. The grade 11 MCA also includes algebra geometry and measurement, and data analysis and probability.
As with any test, students have a responsibility to keep test content secure and act with honesty and integrity during the administration of the MCA’s. The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) expects students to follow all state and district policies for test administration. MDE has added a code of conduct that students must view before beginning any standards based accountability assessment:
On this test, do your best work to show what you know and can do.
Do not accept help finding answers to test questions.
Do not give answers to other students.
Do not tell others what is on the test.
For more information about the MCAs, please contact Trent Thompson trent.thompson@district196.org or 952-431-8797
ACT for Juniors
All junior students will be required to take the ACT Test in person for FREE through District 196 on March 30, 2021 beginning at 7:55 AM, at SES. There is no makeup test date option.
Per Minnesota state regulations, SES will be registering all juniors for this state ACT Test during the school day. Students do not need to pre register online for this ACT Test. COVID safety measures will be in place.
Read the following information about that test to prepare for it as a family:
What is the ACT College and Career Readiness Test?
The ACT Test is a college entrance exam taken by high school students across the nation and the world. The test includes four subject area tests of English, Math, Reading and Science.
This is an official ACT Test with No Writing
Why take the ACT Test?
The purpose of the ACT Test is to measure a high school student's readiness for college and careers after high school, and provide colleges with one common data point that can be used to compare all applicants.
Some scholarship opportunities utilize the ACT Test score.
What should students bring March 30, 2021?
An ACT approved graphing calculator
No. 2 pencils
Acceptable photo ID
Mask
What should students NOT bring?
Testing regulations do not allow these items in the testing room and need to be stored elsewhere during the test. Students are encouraged to leave all unnecessary personal items at home on this day.
Cell phones or iPads
Any electronic devices that record or make noise
Backpacks or purses
What can students do to prepare before the day of the test?
Plan to be in school that day. Do not plan appointments or vacations for this date.
Visit the ACT free practice site located here.
SES students will be doing more ACT test preparation through advisory upon returning to school for hybrid
Advantage ACT Prep Course (grades 10-12)
Improve your test-taking skills and overall test scores on college entrance exams. Focal points of this 12-hour program include diagnostic testing, vocabulary development, intensive mathematical review, reading comprehension improvement, science reasoning, concentration improvement, overcoming test anxiety and time management.
Sun | Feb 21-Mar 14 | 1:00-4:00 p.m. | 4 sessions | $150 | BHMS | YAACT-W1
Wed | Feb 24-Mar 17 | 5:45-8:45 p.m. | 4 sessions | $150 | SHMS | YAACT-W2
Thu | Feb 25-Mar 18 | 5:45-8:45 p.m.| 4 sessions | $150 | FRMS | YAACT-W3
Ask any questions to Mr. Nelson or Dean of Students, Trent Thompson in the Main Office.
What can students do to prepare the day of the test?
Get a full night’s rest and have breakfast (students will receive the option for lunch after the test).
Arrive early, in advance of the test start time.
Test proctors will not permit students who arrive late into the testing room.
We understand that this is a time of great uncertainty for college and career planning. Many colleges are changing not only their admission requirements, but how they work with prospective students. Colleges across the nation are also becoming ‘test optional’. Some have been for years and others are making this change in light of circumstances. To see the full list of colleges that are test optional, please visit: https://fairtest.org/university/optional
Also, the National Association for College Admission Counseling has a college admission status tool: www.nacacnet.org/college-admission-status-coronavirus which is a central resource for information about changes in college admission events, how to contact their admission/financial aid office, and more as a result of the coronavirus outbreak. This helpful tool will update in real-time as new input is received from postsecondary institutions.
We are fortunate as a district that we have these options and we will continue to provide access and opportunity to take the ACT.
Please remember that this is an OFFICIAL ACT Test with NO WRITING.
If your student has not already done so, we highly recommend that they create a “MyACT” account at my.act.org. Students with MyACT accounts can see their ACT scores through the account. Scores are usually available online before paper score reports arrive in the mail. It is important to remember the email address that students use to create their account; they will need to fill in this same information on their test answer document on test day.
The MyACT account may ask for students to provide a “Student Code”; this is a unique nine-digit identifier that links the test on March 30 to the student’s MyACT account. We will provide this number to students on test day and they have up to two days after testing to enter this information in their MyACT account.
School of Environmental Studies
Email: michelle.oberg@district196.org
Website: http://ses.district196.org
Location: 12155 Johnny Cake Ridge Road, Apple Valley, MN, USA
Phone: 952-431-8750
Facebook: facebook.com/SchoolofEnvironmentalStudies
Twitter: @SES_MN