1. Getting Ready for the PSAT/NMSQT

2. Agenda What is the PSAT? Skills Tested on the PSAT
Scores and Reporting
Getting Ready for the PSAT & Resources to Support Students

3. The PSAT/NMSQT is Coming!
Wednesday, October 11
Austin ISD pays for all 10th and 11th grade students to take the PSAT every October. Many districts don’t and students pay for the exam individually. It will be during the first half of the school day. Only juniors take it for National Merit qualification.

4. The PSAT/NMSQT is Coming!
Anderson High students have been given a student preparation guide & practice test plus there were updates about testing day details early in October.

5. What Is the PSAT/NMSQT?

6. Some Key Facts
Scores for the SAT® Suite of Assessments (SAT, PSAT/NMSQT®, PSAT™ 10, and PSAT™ 8/9) are reported on a common vertical scale, allowing educators to measure students progress
Propels students toward college and career readiness
Is cosponsored by the College Board and National Merit Scholarship Corporation
Serves as an entry point to nearly $160 million in scholarship dollars
3.8+ million students take the PSAT/NMSQT each year to get feedback on their skills and practice for the SAT.

7. What to know about the PSAT/NMSQT
Test length: 2 hours 45 minutes No penalty for guessing or blank responses, also known as “rights-only scoring” Personalized SAT practice through Khan Academy® with students' own PSAT/NMSQT scores Scale ranges for the scores are 320 – 1520 for the total score

8. Benefits of the PSAT/NMSQT
Personalized SAT practice on Khan Academy based on students' PSAT/NMSQT answers Aligned to the SAT Increased access to additional scholarship providers Online college and career planning tools Admission and financial aid information from colleges Majors and career exploration with College Board and Roadtrip Nation

9. Skills Tested on the PSAT/NMSQT

10. Skills Tested Reading Test Writing and Language Test Math Test
Each test assesses the academic skills that students have developed over the years, primarily through their coursework.
These skills are considered essential for success in high school, college, and career.

11. Reading Test 5 Passages 47 Passage-Based Questions; 60 minutes
Quick Facts
All questions are multiple choice and based on passages.
Some passages are paired with other passages or informational graphics such as charts, graphs, and tables.
No mathematical computation is required.
Prior topic-specific knowledge is never tested.

12. Reading Test 
What to Expect In the Reading Test, students will encounter questions like those asked in a lively, thoughtful, evidence-based discussion.

13. Writing and Language Test
4 Passages
44 Passage-Based Questions; 35 minutes
Quick Facts
All questions are multiple choice and based on passages.
Some passages are paired with informational graphics such as charts, graphs, and tables.
No mathematical computation is required.
Prior topic-specific knowledge is never tested.

14. Writing and Language Test
What to Expect The Writing and Language Test puts students in the active role of an editor who is improving a written passage. Most questions ask students to decide which, if any, of the three alternatives to an underlined part of a passage most improves it.

15. Math Test 2 Test Sections; 70 minutes
48 Questions (40 multiple choice, 8 grid-ins)
Quick Facts
Most math questions will be multiple choice, but some will be student-produced responses (grid-ins).
The Math Test is divided into two portions: Math Test – Calculator and Math Test – No Calculator.
Some parts of the test will present students with a scenario and then ask several questions about it.

16. Math Test 
What to Expect The Math Test focuses on the math that matters most for college and career readiness. To succeed on the Math Test, students will need to demonstrate mathematical practices, such as problem solving and using appropriate tools strategically.

17. SCORES
AND
REPORTS

18. Know How the PSAT/NMSQT Is Scored
Rights-Only Scoring
1 point for each correct answer
0 points deducted for each incorrect or blank question
Math Grid-ins
You can enter answers as (reduced) fractions or decimals.
If rounding a decimal, make sure to use every box.
Scale
160–760 for each test section
320–1520 for the total score

19. Personalized Skills Information
The PSAT/NMSQT Score Report
Contains information to help students improve academic skills.
Lists skills that students have the best chance of improving with additional work.
Connects to personalized practice recommendations on Khan Academy.

20. PSAT/NMSQT Score Report
Each student will receive one paper score report.
Students can access this information and more online with a College Board account and the access code found on the paper score report.
**Note to Educators**
You can view the student scores and access codes in the new Assessment Online Reporting Portal

21. Student Reports – Additional Features
Popular Tools
Personality profile (MyRoad)
Career and college major exploration
College search
Scholarship search
Financial aid information and application
SAT registration
All of these will be linked to the student online report – no more My College QuickStart or separate login. (Separate login required for SAT Practice on khanacademy.org, but students can log in using FaceBook or other social media accounts for that. 21

22. GETTING READY

23. The PSAT/NMSQT Student Guide
Math teachers handed out a student guide to every sophomore & junior student; in December or early January students will have access to their scores online and copies of their score reports

24. What to Bring on Test Day
Two No. 2 pencils
An approved calculator
Know which address you want to use to get information and updates from the College Board.
**NO ELECTRONIC DEVICES ARE ALLOWED IN THE ROOM DURING TESTING OR BREAKS**

25. What NOT to Bring on Test Day
Any devices, including smartwatches, that can be used to record, transmit, receive or play back audio, photographic, text, or video content
Protractors, compasses, rulers, highlighters, colored pens, colored pencils
Pamphlets or papers of any kind; Dictionaries or other books — there are no exceptions, even if English is not your first language
Food and drinks

26. Really, Really Important
You will be dismissed immediately and your scores will be canceled if you use your phone or if it makes a noise — even during breaks.
Your phone may also be confiscated and inspected.

27. How Does the PSAT/NMSQT Compare to the SAT?
2 hours 45 minutes X
160—760
SAT
3 hours 50 minutes
Optional
200—800
Time
Essay
Section Score Range

28. How Does the PSAT/NMSQT Connect to the SAT?
That means the score students get on the PSAT/NMSQT is the same score they would have gotten on the SAT if they’d taken it on the same day.

29. How Does the PSAT/NMSQT Connect to the SAT?
Content and Domain Alignment All tests in the SAT Suite of Assessments (SAT, PSAT/NMSQT, PSAT 10, and PSAT 8/9) are aligned to the same research backbone and focus on the same domain of knowledge and skills.
Scoring All tests in the SAT Suite of Assessments are on a common score scale that provides consistent feedback, enabling teachers to adjust instruction to better support students who are ahead or behind.

30. Resources

31. Presenter Note: Webinar addressing this slide – “Helping Counselors Get the Most from Official SAT Practice on Khanacademy.org” on 12/3/15

32. Official SAT® Practice Through Khan Academy® www.khanacademy.org/sat
In 2014, Khan Academy and the College Board announced a landmark partnership to provide free, world-class test practice for all students. Beginning in early June 2015, all students have the opportunity to practice for the redesigned SAT using Khan Academy’s online tools, including diagnostic quizzes, full-length practice tests, interactive problems, and personalized practice recommendations. Students will also receive instant feedback on their answers so they can see their progress and make the most of their study time.
Official SAT Practice will continue to be enhanced after its launch. For example, students will be able to upload their PSAT/NMSQT, PSAT 10, and PSAT 8/9 scores to Khan Academy to get an even more personalized SAT practice experience.
Khan Academy is a nonprofit that provides free online materials and resources to support personalized education for learners of all ages. The 501(c)(3) organization was founded by Salman Khan in 2008 and now has a team of around 60 full-time staff.
Since the June 2nd launch and the website going “live” it has received more than 5 million hits so far!
70,000 visits on the very first day.
Over 3.1 million SAT-like problems completed by 273,000 unique users.

33. Currently Available on Khan
Feature
Description
Practice questions
Thousands of practice questions for math, reading, and writing co-developed with the College Board
Practice tests
Four full-length practice redesigned SATs written by the College Board with answer explanations
Diagnostic quizzes
Brief diagnostic quizzes for math, reading, and writing to gauge starting skill levels
Recommendations
Customized skills and tutorial recommendations based on your skill level and the proportion that topics are tested
Skills analysis
Summary of skills for math, reading, and writing and current performance and level on each skill
Tutorials
Customizable exercises and videos that allow you to review concepts and focus your practice

34. Expanded Scholarship Opportunities
Building on our longstanding close relationship with National Merit, we have recently announced additional scholarship partnerships representing $178 million available to students based on P/N results.
United Negro College Fund
Hispanic Scholarship Fund
Asian American & Pacific Island Scholarship Fund
American Indian Graduate Center
PN is the nation’s largest precollege assessment – we test more students than any other assessment. In October 2014, a record 3.8 million students took the assessment. Because of this reach, we can offer more students opportunities for accessing college than ever before.
By expanding access to scholarship opportunities earlier in high school we can inform students’ decisions about pursuing college and change their trajectories to focus on college. Students who may not otherwise have been aware they were eligible for scholarship opportunities now have these doors opened for them. We are continuing to look for ways to expand these and other scholarship opportunities for PSAT/NMSQT takers.
Increased access to over
$180 million in scholarships!

35. collegeboard.org/psat
For personalized resources aligned to the SAT Suite of Assessments (including the PSAT/NMSQT), please visit:
satpractice.org
For general information about the PSAT/NMSQT, please visit:
collegeboard.org/psat

36. nationalmerit.org collegeboard.org/psatpractice
Take the practice test in the PSAT/NMSQT Student Guide, available through your counselor or at:
collegeboard.org/psatpractice
To find out more about National Merit Scholarship Corporation and its scholarships, visit:
nationalmerit.org