1. 2017-2018 PSAT and SAT SAT = Scholastic Aptitude Test
PSAT = Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test
PSAT and SAT

2. Why PSAT? Workforce Trends:
Over 99% of job growth (since 2008) in the recovery went to workers with more than a high school education
Workers with a high school diploma or less saw virtually no jobs recovery
11.5 out of 11.6 million jobs created went to workers with at least some college education
Workers with a bachelor’s degree added 8.4 million jobs, but workers with high school diplomas or less added only 80,000 jobs
Have the audience read these and ask them if they are surprised by the information.
WHY PSAT???
Since the 2008 recovery, virtually all new job growth requires post secondary education. This data indicates that going to college, whether you plan on attending a four-year, two-year, or a vocational school, is important if you hope to be competitive in today’s job market.
The PSAT provides practice and data so that you can see where your are strong and what skills you need to improve in order to get the score needed to get acceptance into a four or two year college…WITHOUT HAVING TO TAKE REMEDIATION CLASSES.

3. Why PSAT? What Colleges Want:
According to a 2014 study of college admissions criteria, colleges rated college admissions tests such as SAT and ACT in their top four.
SAT and ACT play a big role for students getting into college. Start looking into where you want to go and what it takes to get there!

4. GISD’s College Ready Suite of Assessments
GISD is committed to college readiness for all students! ALL students are provided the PSAT for free starting their 8th grade year through 11th grade. Research indicates that student performance on college readiness assessments typically improves with each attempt.

5. College Readiness Assessments in GISD
PSAT 8
Practice for the PSAT/NMSQT
Identifies students for AP classes
(Oct. 9-12)
PSAT 9
Practice for the PSAT/NMSQT
Identifies students for AP classes
(Oct. 11)
8th grade
9th grade
PSAT/NMSQT
10th grade = Superintendent’s Scholars
11th grade = National Merit Scholarships and recognitions
Identifies students for AP classes
(Oct. 11)
SAT
Scholarships
College admission
Avoid taking developmental classes
(March 7)
11th grade
8th grade PSAT identifies students for (AP) advanced placement classes for AP Human Geography.
9th grade PSAT identifies students for AP World History.
PSAT/NMSQT identifies students for all AP classes except foreign language.
The top 100 scoring 10th graders are recognized as Garland ISD Superintendent Scholars and are invited to one of two PSAT preparation programs during the summer.
Top scoring 11th graders can be recognized nationally. Your 11th grade year is the year of the money and recognitions through the National Merit Scholarship Foundation.
Current 8th graders have four opportunities to practice for the SAT and practice makes progress. You will improve with each attempt.
Also, PSAT scores help determine magnet eligibility!!! Each high school magnet program uses PSAT results to determine admissions.

6. College Admissions Connect to Colleges
Benefits
Of doing well on the PSAT
Scoring well on the PSAT can result in scholarships, interest by colleges, and it allows students to connect to colleges so that they can start getting notifications from interested campuses.
Show me the $$$$$
College Admissions
Connect to Colleges

7. Benefits of PSAT Inspires productive practice
Helps students build skills over time
Opens doors to college
Equips students with free practice on KHAN Academy (online PSAT/SAT resource…..more info on this later)
Connects students to scholarship opportunities
Increases access to AP and college credit
Student reports give details about how you performed. Think about what you want to be (career), where you want to go (college), what you need to get in, and then plan using your scores on the PSAT. You can create a roadmap to keep you on track.
Use your AP Potential Report to communicate with your campus counselor about taking AP classes. Remember, college look at what courses you take in high school. They prefer more challenging courses to straight As!

8. National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test
$180 million in increased scholarships connections
United Negro College Fund
Hispanic Scholarship Fund
Jack Kent Cooke Foundation
Asian & Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund
American Indian Graduate Center
11th graders
National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test
(NMSQT)
Another benefit of the PSAT is an increase in scholarship funding! The National Merit Scholarship Foundation already provided millions of dollars in scholarships, but now you have even more reasons to work towards increasing your PSAT/NMSQT scores…$180 million more reasons!!! Remember, the 11th grade year is the year of the money, so 8th, 9th, and 10th graders, start practicing now so you are one of the few who are recognized nationally.

9. PSAT Format: Know the test before you take it!
PSAT/NMSQT
PSAT 8/9
2 sections
Math
Evidence-based reading and writing
Reading test
Writing and Language Test
Total score =
2 section scores
Each section worth
2 hours, 45 minutes
No penalty for incorrect answers
same
Total score =
2 section score
Each section worth
2 hours, 25 minutes
The PSAT/NMSQT is grade appropriate for 10th and 11th graders while the PSAT 8/9 is grade appropriate for 8th and 9th graders.
There are two sections and a score for each section. A student can earn between on the math section and on the evidence-based reading and writing section for PSAT/NMSQT. The PSAT 8/9 is similar in format; however, it is shorter by 20 minutes and the point range is slightly less than the PSAT/NMSQT. The chart shows the differences between the two tests.
No penalty for incorrect answers! So, be sure to answer all questions!

10. PSAT/NMSQT PSAT Time Allotted Number of Questions Math 70 (60) 48 (38)
Reading
60 (55)
47 (42)
Writing & Language
35 (30)
44 (40)
TOTAL
165 (145)
139 (120)
The math test has two sections. The first math section does not allow the use of calculators and is 25 minutes long and has 17 questions. The second math section which allows calculators is 45 minutes long and has 31 questions. (GISD will provide calculators for each student.) You can see the difference in time allotted and number of questions between the PSAT/NMSQT and the PSAT 8/9. The PSAT 8/9 information is in parentheses.
We show reading and writing separately, but both are reported together as a comprehensive score for evidence-based reading and writing.

11. Quiz Time! What is the difference between PSAT and STAAR/EOC?
STAAR is a state exam that measures mastery of content
PSAT is a national reasoning exam that measures critical thinking skills and compares all testers against one another (national percentile rank)
How long do students have per question on PSAT?
139 questions and only 165 minutes
approximately 1 minute per question
What do you do if you are running out of time and have 10 questions left to answer?
Start bubbling like a fiend!!!
The PSAT is a norm referenced test in which each student’s performance is compared to others that took the same exam. If your percentile rank is 85th percentile, that means you scored as well as or better than 85% of the students in the norming sample across the USA.

12. Test Taking Strategies
When you sit down to take the test:
Read all of the directions
Read all answer choices
Do scratch work in the test book
Monitor your time!!!
Work at a steady pace-
If you can’t narrow the answer choices to two, come back to the question later.
Focus on easy and medium level questions
Your score is calculated based on the number of correct answers not on the level of difficulty of the question
Don’t get bogged down by hard questions. The hard questions don’t give more points. Hard, medium and easy questions are scattered throughout the test….so keep moving. Answer what you can and come back for the hard ones.

13. Answer all questions!!!!! No penalty for wrong answers
Go back and make sure all questions are answered before time runs out
Leave no blanks!!!

14. 24/7! FREE Resources College Board Account
PSAT Score Report
Khan Academy
Account
SAT Daily Practice
FREE Resources
24/7!
If you want to improve, use the following resources:
Create a College Board account
Review your PSAT score reports (available in December)
Connect your College Board account with your Khan Academy account (you already have a Khan Academy account in Clever)
You can also use the SAT Daily Practice app on your phone
These are free and available 24/7!

15. Personalized Study Plan
Personalized Resources Just for You!
CollegeBoard
Create a CollegeBoard account to access:
PSAT score report
AP Potential report
Khan Academy
Create a Khan Academy account to access:
Full length practice tests
Videos & reminders
Personalized Study Plan
Benefits of Khan Academy:
Personalized based on your PSAT results
Allows you to monitor performance
Provides feedback

16. Why Practice? Why Practice? Can result in scholarships
Opens doors for opportunity
Why Practice?
Remember, higher scores can result in scholarships and/or college acceptances!
Can result in scholarships

17. Practice Makes Progress…
According to the PrepScholar, practice makes progress
10 hours = point gain
20 hours = point gain
The more you practice, the better chance for an increased score
The more you practice, the more you can improve! According to PrepScholar in 2015, students could expect approximately a 50 point gain for spending 10 hours and approximately 100 point gain for spending 20 hours on SAT practice. This was based on information from 2015 and before Khan Academy partnered with College Board to offer improved SAT practice online.

18. Results Using Khan Academy Official SAT Practice
New data show studying for the SAT for 20 hours on Official SAT Practice on Khan Academy is associated with an average score gain of 115 points, nearly double the average score gain compared to students who don’t use Khan Academy.
Of nearly 250,000 test takers studied, more than 16,000 gained 200 points or more between the PSAT/NMSQT and SAT.
In addition, shorter practice periods also correlate with meaningful score gains. For example, 6 -8 hours of practice on Official SAT Practice is associated with an average 90-point increase.

19. Official SAT Practice https://www.khanacademy.org/sat
College Board and KHAN Academy formed a college readiness partnership that is free for you 24 hours a day/7 days a week! Who better to prepare you for the SAT that those who write the test!

20. KHAN Academy (https://www.khanacademy.org/sat)
Get to know the SAT and PSAT
Use student access code on PSAT report for personalized practice!
Stay on top of important SAT dates and news
Practice anytime, anywhere, at no cost!
Students will receive their PSAT reports in January which will provide access information for personalized practice.
Parents can also sign-up for the KHAN Academy. Please use the link above to get started.

21. KHAN Academy (https://www.khanacademy.org/sat)
Practice tests and more
4 official full-length practice tests
Plus study and test-taking tips
Short quizzes
8 diagnostic practices
Pinpoint your areas for practice
Interactive practice
Thousands of practice questions
Video lessons
Hints
Instant feedback
Get constant feedback and progress
Know where you stand
KHAN Academy resources are available now! Invest in yourself by practicing using Khan Academy. You already have a Khan Academy account in Clever. Go to your campus website and click on the Academics tab. Look for the Clever app on the right hand side.

22. Khan Academy Practice
Remember, practice makes progress. If you want to achieve your dreams, you have to work for it. Practice using Official SAT Practice on Khan Academy to get you closer to achieving your dreams.

23. AP Updates

24. Advanced Placement Students who complete AP courses are:
Better prepared academically
More likely to specialize in stringent majors
More likely to complete more college work in 4 years
Found to perform better than peers who did not take AP courses
More likely to exercise leadership
Twice as likely to go into advanced studies (Ph.D., medicine, law)
Advanced Placement
Bottom line, college look at what courses you take during high school. They want students who tried more challenging classes. AP and Dual Credit classes help prepare students for college. Research indicates that students who take AP classes are more likely to complete college in four years.

25. Attend AP Study Sessions =
Get your test paid for by GISD!
Students may qualify for an AP exam fee waiver if they attend 12 hours of district approved AP Study Sessions for that content area. The student must attend the study sessions in their entirety.
NMSI Saturday Study Sessions
Gladiator Saturday Study Sessions
Campus Approved Study Sessions
Garland will invest even more in you by offering AP test fee waivers worth up to $94 per AP test. Attend 12 hours of AP test prep sessions and you will qualify for a district AP test fee waiver.
You can earn the 12 hours by attending the following:
1. NMSI Saturday study sessions (up to 12 hours offered for math, science, English, and computer science)
2. Gladiator Saturday study sessions (up to 6 hours offered for social studies)
3. Campus approved study sessions
Students should start working towards completing these hours as soon as November when the first study sessions will be offered. Students who attend Saturday study sessions must stay for the entire program to get credit for the hours.

26. Free & Reduced Lunch Forms
Why turn in your forms?
Reduced/free breakfast and lunch
Test fee waivers for SAT & ACT
Fee waivers for college applications
Fee waivers for NCAA registration
Reduced pricing on AP exams
Free & Reduced Lunch Forms
Don’t forget to turn these in!!!