American Band College

 

(Returning ABC Candidate) What scores do I need to pass the Praxis I (PPST) or National Teacher's Exam (NTE)? If you are a returning ABC candidate, three exams will be accepted for admission to Sam Houston State University: 1a. Praxis I (PPST) Computerized Tests: TEST NAME QUALIFYING SCORE Computerized PPST Reading 174 or higher Computerized PPST Writing 171 or higher Computerized PPST Mathematics 175 or higher 1b. National Teacher's Exam (NTE): Note: Effective October 1, 1995 the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission (TSPC) implemented the new NTE Praxis Series examinations (PPST - Reading, Writing and Mathematics) listed above. Although new exams have been adopted, Sam Houston State University will continue to honor the NTE examinations for basic skills and specialty area exams listed below if taken prior to date test was discontinued by TSPC. TEST NAME CODE QUALIFYING SCORE (Old) NTE Core Battery Tests     General Knowledge 10510 654 or higher Communication Skills 20500 659 or higher TEST NAME CODE QUALIFYING SCORE (Old) Praxis I Tests     CBT: Reading 10711 321 or higher CBT: Writing 20721 317 or higher CBT: Mathematics 10731 320 or higher If you have taken the Praxis (general test: reading, writing, mathematics) or the NTE (general test: general knowledge, communication skills), please see the score listed above to see if they qualify for admission into Sam Houston State University. All test scores must be official and sent directly from the testing agency or from a university file. Personal copies may not be used. 2. GRADUATE RECORD EXAM (GRE): Educational Testing Services has changed the way in which scores are determined (effective 10/02). Verbal: Possible total of 800 points; same as before. Quantitative: Possible total of 800 points; same as before. Analytical: Possible total of 6 points on essays; new, instead of 800. Because of this change, the 1200 points required for admission to Sam Houston State University no longer applies. You will need the following: Verbal and Quantitative: 800 or more points out of the 1600 possible. Analytical: 3.5 or more points out of the 0 to 6 possible. Because we measure each candidate's background through our own entrance exam, we have been granted permission to NO LONGER REQUIRE A MINIMUM OF 400 IN VERBAL (as stated in the old red ABC catalog). 3. New ABC THEORY COMPONENT: The ABC Theory Component: The alternative for non-admitted, returning candidates is as follows: Send all required transcripts and complete the online Application for Admission at SHSU by April 1, 2010. Be on campus to take ABC's new Theory Entrance Exam component (in Ultimate Pursuit) on June 20. Sign up for the Session C Theory Course (required for those using this alternative) If you pass this exam, then you will be admitted providing that your GPA is 3.0 or higher and your file at SHSU is complete and accepted. If you pass this exam, then you may switch to the other Session C course (Jazz Tech in 2010) if desired. If you do not pass, then you must take the Session C Theory course and pass it to move on to the 3rd year exit exam and final conducting assignment. Provisional Admittance: If #6 applies to you after taking the theory entrance, you can still be provisionally admitted to the Graduate School but you will not be able to progress beyond the end of the second year until that component has been successfully passed. (ALL new candidates will be required to take the path involving both the ABC entrance exam and the theory entrance exam. Returning candidates who do not attend in 2010 will also be required to take the theory entrance exam in any year thereafter unless previously admitted to the Sam Houston State University Graduate School.) Practicality: The exciting part about this new plan is that the theory course will have a lot of practical aspects that will apply to teaching band. This will include real-world analysis of band scores (chord progressions, form and analysis, etc.) and useful aural training. In addition, that course will count as one of your three electives required for graduation. We expect to have an extensive theory database in place as part of Ultimate Pursuit by February 2010. At that point you'll be able to use UP's Quick Test Generator to get ready for the new component included in our entrance exam process on June 20. (For more info about Ultimate Pursuit --> Click Here) ADMISSION DEADLINE: April 1 is the deadline for SENDING all materials (application form for graduate admission, GRE, Praxis, or NTE scores, and all official transcripts) to Sam Houston State University. By June 1 of the second summer, all candidates MUST BE IN POSSESSION of a letter of admission from Sam Houston State University. Be sure to send all materials to SHSU by April 1! Note: If you are using the ABC Theory method (#3 above) then you DO NOT need to send GRE or Praxis I scores to Sam Houston State University. QUESTIONS: Visit the ABC 3-YEAR CHECKLIST (with printable pdf's and screen images) Only the exams above are used for admission into Sam Houston State University and the American Band College program. No other exams may be used.