1. ESSENTIAL QUESTION How can my PSAT score help me prepare for my future?

2. TODAY’S OBJECTIVES ► CONGRATULATE you for your positive step toward your future! ► Understand your score. ► Find out how you can improve your SAT scores. ► Other college opportunities

3. Score Release Schedule  Scores for the 2015 PSAT/NMSQT will be available online January 7th. Schools will receive paper score reports January 29th.  The College Board will email students an access code to view their online score reports.  Mrs. Baer will be able to look up access codes for students who didn’t provide an email address when they took the test.

8. What do all these numbers mean??? http://www.collegeboard.com/html/demo/

10. Understanding Scores HOW YOUR PSAT/NMSQT SCORES ARE CALCULATED AND WHAT THOSE SCORES MEAN.

11. Calculating Your Scores Because there’s no penalty for guessing, your raw score is the number of questions you answered correctly. Raw scores are converted to scores on a scale of 160 to 760 using a process called equating. Equating adjusts for slight differences in difficulty between various versions of the test (such as versions taken on different days). The College Board uses equating to make sure there’s no advantage in taking the test on a particular day. A score of 400, for instance, on one day’s test means the same thing as a 400 on a test taken on a different day — even though the questions are different.

12. Making Sense of the Scores Score ranges, mean (average) scores, benchmarks, and percentiles can be used to see if you’re on track for college readiness. For the next few years, norm groups for the score ranges, mean scores, and percentiles described below will be derived from research data, not the prior year’s test-taking populations. A norm group, also called a reference population, is the group whose data your results are compared to.

13. Score Ranges Tests can’t measure exactly what you know, and many factors can affect your score. After all, no two days are the same, and if you were to take the PSAT/NMSQT or PSAT 10 three times in a week or once a week for a month, your scores would vary. That’s why it’s helpful to think of each score as a range that extends from a few points below to a few points above the score earned. Score ranges show how much your score might change with repeated testing, assuming that your skill level remains the same.

14. Mean (Average) Scores Your score report will show you the mean, or average, scores earned by typical U.S. test-takers per grade. Unless your score is much lower than average, you’re probably developing the kinds of reading, writing and language, and math skills you’ll need in college.

15. College Readiness Benchmarks You’ll see a benchmark for each section of the PSAT/NMSQT and PSAT 10. Benchmarks are the scores that represent college readiness. In other words, if you score at or above the benchmark, you’re on track to be ready for college when you graduate high school. If you score below the benchmark, you still have time to work on your skills. Use the detailed feedback in your online score report to see which skills need the most improvement.

16. Percentiles A percentile is a number between 0 and 100 that shows how you rank compared to other students. It represents the percentage of students in a particular grade whose scores fall at or below your score. For example, a 10th-grade student whose Math percentile is 57 scored higher or equal to 57 percent of 10th-graders. You’ll see two percentiles: The Nationally Representative Sample percentile shows how your score compares to the scores of all U.S. students in a particular grade, including those who don’t typically take the test. The User Percentile — Nation shows how your score compares to the scores of only some U.S. students in a particular grade, a group limited to students who typically take the test.

17. Colleges DO NOT see your scores The College Board does not send PSAT/NMSQT scores to colleges. These scores are not intended to be part of college admission decisions. They are not included on student transcripts that will be reproduced and sent to colleges. Student Search Service Does Not Share Scores Student Search Service ® Student Search Service ® is a free program that helps students connect to colleges and nonprofit scholarship agencies. It does not share scores. The College Board does not sell student information to test- preparation companies, nor are such companies affiliated with the College Board.

18. PSAT Score and SAT Prep area

19. https://www.khanacademy.org

20. https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/

22. Creating an Account

25. Free SAT Practice from Khan Academy The College Board and the nonprofit Khan Academy ® have teamed up to provide free, personalized SAT study resources for all students. Important: Official SAT Practice Available Now Free SAT practice is available now on Khan Academy.Khan Academy. ​ Starting with the 2015-16 school year, students who take the SAT, PSAT/NMSQT, PSAT 10, or PSAT 8/9 have access to personalized SAT study resources. Khan Academy's world-class practice tools are free for all students and include: Thousands of practice questions, reviewed and approved by the College Board Four official SAT Practice Tests written by the College Board Personalized recommendations for instruction and practice to help students fill their knowledge gaps The official SAT Practice on Khan Academy's website links to classroom learning — the best preparation for the SAT.Khan Academy's website To ensure that as many students as possible can take advantage of these resources, the College Board is also collaborating with community-based organizations, including the Boys & Girls Club of America.

26.  May 7 th test date @ WASHS  April 8th registration deadline  Do you qualify for an SAT Fee Waiver?  An additional $28 if you register late!

29. National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (NMSQT)  If you got over the 96 th percentile you will be receiving more information from CollegeBoard (over 198 on the Selection Index)!  Juniors Only!

30. Another opportunity for Juniors only!  Lenfest Applications now available  There will be a meeting to explain details of the scholarship and application process

31. Review Handouts  Sample Results  Letter for parents  Websites to check out  How to sign up for a CollegeBoard account

32. ?Questions?