Understanding Your PSAT Scores January 9, 2017 Gerry

Today’s Purpose: Introduce PSAT scores Show you how to use your PSAT scores to review strengths and weaknesses in preparation for upcoming SAT Donna Today we will provide you a brief summary of PSAT scores, what they mean, and how they can help you. When you apply to college, schools will not be interested in your PSAT scores; however, they will be interested in your SAT scores. You can use your current PSAT scores to help prepare for future SATs.

2 Report Types - Same Information Paper Report 4 page booklet provides easily accessible scores and descriptions and an overview of all important PSAT results. Online Report Online PSAT score report provides easily accessible links to guide your SAT preparation and high school/college planning Donna Everyone will receive a copy of their scores on paper. Once you have created a College Board account, you will be able to access your online report.

PSAT NMSQT PSAT/NMSQT Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test Donna To help clarify, it is helpful to know what the SAT does. The SAT, or Scholastic Aptitude Tests is a test designed to measure the aptitude, natural capability, of high schoolers for college. The PSAT, or Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test is a test designed to prepare you to take the SAT in that your PSAT scores will highlight your strengths and weaknesses so you can better prepare for the SAT. An additional bonus of the PSAT is the NMSQT, or National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. Your PSAT results will automatically make you eligible for Merit - or Earned - scholarships, IF your score is high enough. If not, you are not eligible, but it will not hurt you in any way.

PSAT Measures your skills and knowledge (what you learn in high school and what you need to succeed in college) Provides feedback that allows you to measure your progress over time Excellent practice for the SAT

This is what the top half of your paper score report looks like.

Total Score - Maximum is 1520 Let’s break it down...Total Score...

Evidence Based Reading and Writing Score - Maximum is 760

Math Score - Maximum is 760 Math score

Total Score - Maximum is 1520 430 (ERW) + 530 (Math) = 960 The total score is obtained by adding your reading/writing score and your math score.

Highest Evidence Based Reading and Writing Score = 760 (Benchmark is 460) Highest Math Score = 760 (Benchmark is 510) Highest PSAT Score = 1520 Benchmarks are the numbers that are used to determine whether or not you have scored high enough in a particular section of the PSAT (or other tests).

We want to call attention to percentile rank score that you will see below your ERW, Total, and Math Score. The 31st means that nationally, out of every 100 students, 31 score the same or lower than you. The 51st means that 51 out of 100 scored the same or lower than you. So, of course, 69th means that 69 out of 100 scored the same or lower than you. So from this you can see that this student relative strength is math.

The bottom half of the paper score report gives more specific information on each subtest.

National Merit Score - Asterisk means you did not qualify National Merit Score - Asterisk means you did not qualify. We are not going to spend time talking about this today, but you will notice when you view your online report, there is information available. Below National Merit Score is Your Scores: Next Steps These scores provide your score - for example, 23 - and then the range below. For example - 8 to 38. To the left of each score is a list of skills you are already likely to be able to do. To the right, a list of skills you might need to improve and suggestions to do so.

We know you cannot see this very well, but just to familiarize you with the format. This page represents every test question in every subtest. Your question level feedback includes the question #, the correct answer, your answer, the level of difficulty, and the area assessed. In the lower right hand corner of this page is the key.

Accessing Your PSAT Report

Next Steps...

See your Guidance Counselor with any questions or concerns