HALFWAY THERE!

In your junior year of high school, you will have the opportunity to engage in new experiences that you haven't been able to up to this point in your high school career. These may include:

• Attending College and Career Fairs
• Job Shadowing/Career Forums/Internship opportunities
• Multiple hands-on preparation opportunities for the ACT test
• Scholarships and College discussions
• College visits
• Junior Prom

JUNIOR TESTING

Juniors have the largest amount of Standardized Testing in comparison to freshmen, sophomores, or seniors:

PSAT/NMSQT 

• Optional test for juniors who wish to qualify for the National Merit Scholarship program. Administered in the fall.

SAT 

• Optional college entrance exam test

ASVAB 

• Optional test for juniors interested in a career in the military. Administered in the fall.

North Dakota State Assessment (NDSA) 

• Science testing taken in the fall

Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC)  

• Math, Reading, and Language Usage testing in the spring

ACT Info

All juniors will be given the opportunity to take the statewide ACT plus writing test on Tuesday, March 20th. This test given during the school day is paid for by the State of North Dakota and is a great opportunity for students to take the ACT for free. DO NOT register for this test on the ACT website, as the counselors will be going into the classrooms to register the students for this test. If you have any questions feel free to contact your student's counselor.

You may register for either of two Test Options--the ACT Assessment or ACT Assessment Plus Writing, which includes a 30-minute Writing Test. Not all colleges and universities require a Writing Test.

Check with the colleges you are considering--or, for a list of institutions that require or recommend the Writing Test, go to: https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/register

Test Preparation Options:
The following are suggestions to help students prepare/practice for the ACT and SAT.

Number2.com

Number2.com 

A free online test preparation course which includes user-friendly tutorials, practice sessions that dynamically adapt to each student's ability level, a vocabulary builder, and more. Can be used to prepare for the ACT and SAT.

testGEAR

RUReadyND 

Explorer, Planner, and testGEAR

Preparing for the ACT

Preparing for the ACT is available in Student Services along with ACT registration materials and information.

Opportunities for Juniors & Seniors:

Job Shadow Experience:
A job shadow experience involves a planned observation at a work-site in order to gain knowledge or information about a particular career. Job shadows are designed to allow students a snapshot of a career while learning as much as possible in a short period of time.

Career Forum Event: (2-4 hour event conducted within a group setting)
A career forum allows students to experience a career or variety of careers at one business, but participation is conducted in a group setting rather than on an individual basis. Career Forums take place periodically throughtout the year, so watch the school announcements for interesting opportunities that might be a good fit for you.

Internship: (75 hours or more; opportunity for school credit)

An internship is a paid or unpaid experience in which a student is teamed with a company or organization to learn on-the-job skills and to take what's been learned in the classroom and apply it to the world of work.

Laura Sturn, Career Advisor
Bismarck High School / Bismarck Technical Center, Room 254
701-323-4356