your PSAT Scores Ryan DeGuzman Pre-College Programs Manager - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Interpreting your PSAT Scores

Ryan DeGuzman Pre-College Programs Manager

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Welcome! SAT Test Changes PSAT Score Return PSAT Overview

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Why the PSAT/NMSQT Matters

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Why the PSAT/NMSQT Matters

National Merit Scholarships and more Connect students to schools & scholarships Excellent practice for the New SAT

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The Essentials

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True or False?

The PSAT highest score possible on the PSAT is 240 Colleges use PSAT scores to make admissions decisions There is a wrong answer penalty on the PSAT to discourage guessing The PSAT is not like any other test you take in school You can prepare for the PSAT The PSAT is exactly like the SAT Myth! Myth! Fact Myth! Myth! Fact

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Category Features

PSAT/NMSQT Overview

2 hours, 45 minutes

Timing Structure

No guessing penalty Now scored on a scale of 1520

Scoring

Evidence-Based Reading – 60 min Writing & Language – 35 min Math No Calculator – 25 min Math With Calculator – 45 min

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Scoring Details

Test & Cross-Test Scores

• 3 Test Scores: Math, Reading, and Writing & Language
• 2 Cross-Test Scores: Science, History/Social Studies
• Range of 8 - 38

Area Score

• Math
• Range of 160-760

Area Score

• Evidence-Based

Reading + Writing

• Range of 160-760

Composite Score

• Sum of the two Area Scores
• Range of 320 - 1520

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Scores Delivered Electronically to Schools Families Receive Electronic Access to Schools Hard Copies of Scores Mailed to Schools

(Expected Delivery Late December/Early January)

PSAT Score Return Timeline

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PSAT Score Report Highlights

Old PSAT New PSAT

Length Your Scores Your Skills Your Answers Next Steps and Additional Features 1 Page 4 Pages  Includes Cross-Test and Subscores      With Additional Detail My College QuickStart Recommendations My Road + Big Future AP Potential

Scores to be received within the next few weeks – FHS guidance team will share details

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New PSAT Score Report

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Your Scores Your Scores

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Your Scores (cont.)

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National Merit

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Next Steps

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Kaplan PSAT Student Survey Results

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PSAT & New SAT Scoring SAT: 400-1600 PSAT/NMSQT: 320-1520

300 600 900 1200 1500 Composite Score Range

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New SAT Overview

Category Features

• Now scored on a scale of 1600

 Evidence-Based Reading & Writing  Math

• New optional Essay scored separately
• No guessing penalty
• 4 answer choices

Scoring

3 hours, 50 minutes

Timing

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New SAT Overview

Category Features

• Reading and Writing combined
• Reading details:

 No sentence completions  Passage topics include US and World Literature, History/Social Studies, and Sciences (500 - 750 words)  65 minutes

• Writing and Language details:

 Focus on extended prose (400 - 500 words)  35 minutes

Evidence- based Reading & Writing Section

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New SAT Overview

Category Features

Math Section

• Three areas of concentrated focus:

 Problem solving and data analysis  “The Heart of Algebra”  “Passport to Advanced Math”

• Math fluency emphasized

 25 minutes without a Calculator  55 minutes with a Calculator

• Item Sets (multi-part questions)

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New SAT Overview

Category Features

Essay

• Essay is optional
• 50 minutes
• Requires students to analyze a 650-750

word document and explain how the author builds an argument

• 3 Scores (2-8)

 Reading  Analysis  Writing

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Sciences SS/History Literature Sciences Humanities SS/History Sciences Humanities Current SAT New SAT ACT Literature Careers Humanities SS/History Literature

Reading Passage Topics

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Reading Skills Tested

Words in Context Reading Comprehension Words in Context Reading Comprehension Evidence-based Reading Comprehension Current SAT New SAT ACT SAT Words Words in Context Evidence-based

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Math Skills Tested

Data Analysis/Problem Solving Algebra Data Analysis/Problem Solving Geometry Number & Operations Algebra Geometry Algebra Data Analysis/Problem Solving Geometry Trig Current SAT New SAT ACT Trig

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Your Next Steps

Sophomore Year

• Take AP and Subject Tests
• Plan Prep for the PSAT, SAT, or ACT

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• PSAT in October for National

Merit

• Focus on Academics – this is

a critical year!

• Research admissions

requirements for target schools

• Prepare for the SAT/ACT
• Take AP and Subject Tests

Junior Year Senior Year

• Take the SAT and/or ACT for

the last time

• Take AP and Subject Tests
• Request letters of

recommendation

• Complete and send out

college applications

• Fill out FAFSA and research

scholarships

Your Next Steps

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New SAT and ACT: Top 5 Key Differences

1. The New SAT has a greater focus on History & Social Studies passages, while the ACT requires more Science reading. 2. Both focus on Algebra, but the New SAT has a greater emphasis on Data Analysis & Problem Solving. 3. Both essays are optional, but the New SAT essay requires additional text analysis. 4. The New SAT has a No Calculator Math section. 5. The New SAT Math section has grid-in questions and Item Sets / multi-part questions. What’s the Difference? New SAT? ACT?

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PSAT, SAT, and ACT Timeline

Dec2015 Jan2016 Feb2016 Mar2016 Apr2016 May2016

PSAT Digital Scores Back PSAT Scores Hard Copies in Schools SAT: Last Current Test ACT Test Date SAT: New Test Launches ACT Test Date 1st New SAT Scores Back

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Your Next Steps What can you do now?

• Keep up to date:

www.kaptest.com/satchange

• Resources:

www.kaplanatschool.com/franklinhs New! Practice Questions for the New SAT