Wednesday, October 11, 2017 Student Information PSAT Wednesday, October 11, 2017 Student Information

Get to Know the PSATTM The PSAT is highly relevant to your future success because it focuses on the skills and knowledge at the heart of education. It measures: What you learn in high school What you need to succeed in college The PSAT measures reading, writing and language, and math skills developed over many years, both in and out of school. The PSAT does not ask you to recall facts from literature, history, or science, or to complete math formulas, because it measures your reasoning and critical thinking skills. You don’t have to discover secret tricks or cram the night before. There is no penalty for guessing on the PSAT . This slide provides students with information about the PSAT 8/9. The PSAT 8/9 is focused on the skills and knowledge they are working on in their classes. Students don’t need to learn additional facts or formulas in order to be successful. They don’t have to worry about “gaming” the test — their scores will be based only on the questions they answer correctly (there is no penalty for wrong answers). Ask students if this information matches their perception of the PSAT 8/9. If students have already taken the assessment, ask them if they agree with the statements on the slide, or if they would like to comment on their assessment experience with the PSAT 8/9.

Benefits of Taking the PSATTM Get a baseline of your college readiness. Prepare for the PSAT/NMSQT® and SAT®. Get free, personalized, and focused practice through Khan Academy®. Start getting ready for college with college and career planning tools. See which AP® courses for which you might be ready. The PSAT 8/9 is a preview of the content on the SAT and the PSAT/NMSQT, and can help them practice for both assessments. PSAT 8/9 scores, and all scores in the SAT Suite of Assessments, are accessible from the student’s online College Board account. In addition, the PSAT 8/9 offers other benefits. 1. If students link their College Board account with their Khan Academy® account, Khan Academy will use the PSAT 8/9 scores to design a practice plan and practice questions tailored to each student’s strengths and areas for improvement. This program is completely free, and practice test questions on Khan Academy are created with College Board approval, so this is the best SAT practice available. 2. The student’s online score report links to valuable tools for college and career planning. Students can use BigFuture™ and Roadmap to Careers to investigate their academic interests, colleges, and career options (more about BigFuture and Roadmap to Careers at the end of the lesson, slides 30-31). 3. PSAT 8/9 scores are indicators of ability to succeed in Advanced Placement® courses (for ninth-grade students). Students can find the AP® courses in which they are likely to succeed in the online reporting system (more information about the online reporting portal begins on slide 8). 4. If students opt in to Student Search Service® , they will begin to receive information about admission and financial aid from colleges that also participate in the program.

Where do I test? What do I need? Check Schoology to determine your testing location. Testing locations will also be posted outside the Main Office on Monday, October 9th by Student ID #. You will need: Two #2 pencils with soft erasers Acceptable calculator List is on College Board under Acceptable Calculators

Latecomers No latecomers will be admitted into the testing area once the test directions have been read. If you are tardy, there is NO make-up for the PSAT.

What NOT to bring on Test Day Do not bring electronic equipment including phones of any kind, personal computing devices, cameras, timers, audio players/recorders, wearable technology, digital watches including smartwatches that can be used to record, transmit, or receiving information, or any other prohibited device. There will be no highlighters, rulers, earplugs, dictionaries or other books, pens or colored pencils, pamphlets and papers of any kind, including scratch paper.

As you arrive Store all cell phones or electronic devices in your locker! Report immediately to your testing location. Report immediately to your assigned seat for testing.

CELL PHONES, CELL PHONES, CELL PHONES Once again, cell phones are not allowed in the testing area. Once the testing directions have been read, if a prohibited device makes noise or if you are seen using a prohibited device, the testing supervisor must dismiss you from testing and confiscate your device. The Connecticut State Department of Education will be contacted for further instructions if a device has been confiscated. THIS MEANS WE WILL BE GOING THROUGH YOUR PHONE TO DETERMINE IF THERE IS ANY TESTING INFORMATION ON YOUR DEVICE! A phone or other prohibited device in the testing area may be grounds for score cancellation.

Taking the Test You may not share test questions with anyone during the test. You may not go to your locker or leave the building during breaks. You cannot work on any section other than the one currently being timed. You cannot look ahead or back in the test book or answer sheet. You cannot continue to work after time has been called. You must take the entire test and not skip any sections. Skipping a section will adversely affect your score and may cause scores to be delayed.

Taking the test (continued) There will be a couple of breaks between sections. These are considered “stretch” breaks and you should not anticipate leaving the testing room. During the breaks, there will be NO: Using cell phones or electronic devices Visiting lockers Discussing the test or test questions

Needing to Leave the Room If you need to leave the testing location to use the bathroom or visit the nurse, the proctor will call for an escort. You will not be provided with additional time to complete the section or the test.

Marking the Answer Sheet Fill in each circle darkly and completely. If you need to erase a response, you must erase as completely as possible. You must mark your answers on the answer sheet – no credit is given for answers recorded in the test book. Scores will not be adjusted in cases of failure to follow instructions for marking the answer sheet.

Score Cancellation The PSAT allows student to cancel their scores for any reason upon completion of the test. Scores for all sections of the test will be cancelled. If you choose to cancel your test scores, please advise your proctor before leaving the testing location or advise Mrs. Ventura before the end of the day on October 11th.

Demographic Information If you did not have enough time to complete the pre-registration information, you can complete those items after testing has been completed.