1. Glendale High School
PSAT, SAT & ACT Review

2. Top Factors in College Admissions
Overall GPA
SAT and ACT Scores
Grades in college level courses/ strength of curriculum 2

3. There is $11 billion in merit-based aid to help pay for college.
The 2 greatest factors that determine merit-based aid are SAT® or ACT® scores and high school grades.
There is $11 billion in merit-based aid to help pay for college.
If you are already a junior or senior, most of your grades have already been earned. Your SAT or ACT exam score hasn’t yet been determined – and it could be the most valuable four hours you spend during your high school career.
Source: Calculated using the average institutional no-need and merit grant figure in National Postsecondary Student Aid Study by the National Center for Education Statistics and the number of students receiving that type of aid, which was approximately 2.1 million; 2008 NACAC Discussion Paper, Financial Aid and Admission: Tuition Discounting, Merit Aid and Need-aware Admission

4. Test Taking Timeline
Practice
PSAT
Official
PSAT
AP Tests
Practice
SAT or ACT
SAT and/or ACT
SAT or ACT
Last chance!
Fall Soph Spring Soph Fall Junior Spring Junior Fall Senior

5. PSAT Score Report

6. PSAT Score Report
The PSAT score report basically looks the same this year as it did last year. Students are still scored out of a somewhat confusing 760 points on each section, for a total out of Student scores correlate to SAT scores, so this student’s 960 would have been a 960 had he/she taken the SAT on that date.
Click one: One important thing to note about percentile ranking on the PSAT is that these aren’t your normal percentile rankings. Students are provided with a Nationally Representative Percentile. A Nationally Representative Percentile is a ranking showing student performance compared to a hypothetical group of “if all students had taken the PSAT.” It is not accurate or indicative of a student’s percentile ranking compared to other test takers.
This is why last year when we all saw the scores, we thought there would be so many more national merit scholars at a given school. A 98th or 99th percentile is still good, but it’s not a guarantor of national merit scholar status. We can encourage students while still giving them accurate feedback about this ranking.
Click two: This is the college readiness benchmark. The benchmark is meant to indicate college readiness, with students in the green viewed as being on track for “college readiness.” The benchmark indicates that students achieving “green” have a 75% likelihood of getting a C or higher a basic, college level course in the topic. So, a student in the green for ELA has a 75% likelihood of passing English 101 and not needing a remedial course.
This is not a high bar.
We need to encourage students to aim higher, especially if they plan to apply to competitive schools. And students scoring below the green might want to be aware that they may need remedial courses before enrolling in college level programs.
Per College Board:
Green: A student who meets or exceeds the benchmark score for their grade level will be in the green range and could be considered on track for college and career readiness for their grade. For example, an 11th-grader who meets the 11th-grade benchmark for the section will be in this range.
Red: A student who does not meet the benchmark section scores for the prior grade level will be in the red range, meaning they are more than one year behind on college and career readiness for their grade. For example, an 11th-grader who does not meet the 10th-grade benchmark for the section score will be in this range.

7. PSAT Score Report
Next let’s take a look at some of the other scores provided on the PSAT.
Click one: Students receive a test score for their performance in math, reading, and writing. Keep in mind that writing is English grammar and doesn’t involve any actual writing. The test scores are out of 40 on the SAT and 38 on the PSAT.
Per CB: To determine the red, yellow, and green values at the test and subscore levels, we first compute the average test score or subscore of all test-takers who met or exceeded the corresponding section benchmark — the green range — for their grade level. Next, we compute the average test score or subscore of all testtakers who did not meet the corresponding section benchmark for their previous grade level. This average test score and subscore is the highest score in the red range. Students who score above this average, but below the green range, will fall in the yellow range.
How can my section score fall in the green range, but my test score falls in the yellow range? To score in the green range on a section score, a student must meet the corresponding section benchmark. To score in the green range on a test score (or subscore), a student must score above the average test score (or subscore) of all people meeting the benchmark. This means that a student who scores in the green range on all test scores and subscores associated with a section (Math or Evidence-Based Reading and Writing) has scored well 8 The College and Career Readiness Benchmarks for the SAT Suite of Assessments above the section benchmark score. Conversely, a student who scored just above a section benchmark scored in the yellow range on at least one associated test score or subscore. The student should continue to work on skills in that particular test content area.
Click two: The test scores are also important because they are how we calculate the National Merit Selection Index. To calculate a student’s index, you add the three test scores together and multiply by two. You may notice that the student’s overall score favors math – 50% of it is math – whereas the Selection Index favors ELA; only 33% of a student’s selection index is made up of their math score. In short, the index favors ELA while overall SAT score favors math.

8. Out of the many students who take the PSAT, only some are eligible to participate in the National Merit Scholarship competition. Students have to be juniors in high school, but it’s worth noting that they also have to be citizens or lawful permanent residents, as well.
[To enter the competition, a student must
Be enrolled full-time as a high school student progressing normally toward completion of high school and planning to enroll full-time in college in the fall following the completion of high school;
Be a citizen of the United States or be a U.S. lawful permanent resident who intends to become a U.S. citizen at the earliest opportunity allowed by law, or have applied for permanent residency with the intention of becoming a U.S. citizen at the earliest possible opportunity and have not been denied; and
Take the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) in the specified year of the high school program, usually the junior (11th grade) year and usually at one's own school. Students completing high school in three (3) years or less must be in the last or next-to-last year of high school when they take the test. Students unable to take the exam because of an extenuating circumstance, such as severe illness or natural disaster, may be permitted to substitute subsequent SAT results by making arrangements with NMSC no later than March 1 following the exam that was missed.]

9. Similarities Between the Tests
SAT
&
ACT
Used for college admissions
Used for scholarships + merit-based grants
Can retake several times
Colleges accept both
Usually taken Spring of junior year + Fall of senior year
Approx three to four hours long
Optional essay
No wrong answer penalty
PSAT
Used for scholarships
Can only officially be taken once
Taken in Oct of junior year
Helps prepare for SAT & ACT

10. (Without essay: 2hrs 55 min)
ACT at a glance
Structure
Sections:
English
Math
Reading
Science
Essay (optional)
Scoring
Total Score: 36 (each section worth 36,
averaged for total)
Additional info
No guessing penalty
Optional essay scored separately
English
45 minutes
75 items
Math
60 minutes
60 items
Reading
35 minutes
40 items
Science
35 minutes
40 items
Essay
40 minutes
(Optional)
Total Time: 3hrs 35min
(Without essay: 2hrs 55 min)

11. SAT at a glance Reading 65 minutes 52 items Writing 35 minutes
Structure
Sections:
Evidence-based Reading
Evidence-based Writing
Math (without calculator)
Math (with calculator)
Essay (optional)
Scoring
Total Score: 1600 (Reading + Writing = 800, Math + Math = 800)
Additional info
No guessing penalty
Optional essay scored separately
Reading
65 minutes
52 items
Writing
35 minutes
44 items
Math
25 minutes
20 items
Math
55 minutes
38 items
Essay
50 minutes
(Optional)
Total Time: 3hrs 50min
(With optional essay)

12. Optional Essays Essay Category Features Essay is “optional”
50 min on SAT, 40 min on ACT
Asks students to write a timed essay on a given topic, integrating text content
Essay
Why would you do an essay if it’s optional?

13. Inside the ACT English 1-36 1-36 Math 1-36 1-36 Reading Science
Questions: 75 questions
Time: 45 minutes
Question types: Standard English conventions, English grammar, Style
1-36
1-36
Math
Questions: 60 questions
Time: 60 minutes
Question types: Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry
1-36
1-36
Reading
Questions: 40 questions
Time: 35 minutes
Question types: Passage-based Reading Comprehension
Science
Questions: 40 questions
Time: 35minutes
Question types: Passage-based Reading Comprehension and Figure Interpretation

14. Inside the SAT READING WRITING & LANGUAGE MATH Reading & Writing
Questions: 52 questions
Time: 65 minutes
Question types: Passage Based Reading Comprehension
Reading & Writing
WRITING & LANGUAGE
Questions: 44 questions
Time: 35 minutes
Question types: Standard English Conventions, Expression of Ideas
Math
Total Score
MATH
Questions: 58 questions
Time: 1 hour, 20 minutes
Question types: Multiple choice, grid-ins
Content: Algebra, Geometry, Data Analysis

15. Setting yourself up for success: SAT & ACT
DO…
Why
Read, read, read!
Reading comprehension is heavily tested – reading for fun will help
Pay attention in class
The SAT and ACT reflect skills learned in the classroom
Get an SAT or ACT book and do practice problems
The types of questions repeat a lot
Get to know the format
The instructions are always the same
Take practice tests
You’ll know what to expect on test day

16. How can I prepare for the exams? 3 – 4 Months Before Test Day
Study
Plan ahead
- Get a book, take a class
- Register early
- Do practice problems
- Know your location
- Know the format
- Get your waiver
- Have a strategy
- Arrange accommodations
As Test Day Approaches
Pack
24 hrs
- #2 pencils
- Do something relaxing the night before – no cramming!
- Calculator + batteries
- Get a good night’s sleep
- Sweater, water + snack
- Eat a healthy breakfast
- Ticket/registration, photo ID
- Deep breath – you’ve got this!

17. Got Internet? Get Test Prep! Kaplan is offering free online PSAT prep!
Starting Sept 23rd, running through the PSAT
All students welcome
Visit kaptest.com/psatpreplive to sign up today!

18. Thank You! Questions? Susan.Levenson@kaplan.com
For FREE, PSAT Prep, visit
To receive a practice question each day, visit
Kaptest.com/satquestion
Kaptest.com/actquestion