PSAT Powerpoint Presentation, 2015
Planning for College
College Admissions Testing:
PSAT/NMSQT, SAT, SAT II, ACT
Information Session
What To Expect this year
Now through October 9 th – Sign up for the PSAT. Bring slip and $15 to Guidance.
Checks payable to CHS.
October 14 th – Drop off at Middle School, meet in Auditorium, walk/bus back to CHS at end of PSAT/Permission Slip Required.
December – PSAT score reports received. Meet in small groups with counselors.
January 8 th - Career Day at CGCC
March 23rd – College Puzzle/College Admissions Workshop at Ichabod Crane HS.
February - April – Junior Conferences with your counselor
Winter/Spring – College searches and visitations (ongoing throughout junior year)
March/April – Evening SAT prep class offered at CHS
June 4 th – SAT’s at Chatham High School
June 11 th – ACT’s at Chatham High School
Fall of senior year – Testing retakes
Category
Total Testing Time
Components
SAT: Old vs. New
Old SAT
3 hours 45 minutes
1.
Critical Reading
2.
Writing
3.
Mathematics
4.
Essay
Redesigned SAT
3 hours plus 50 minutes for optional Essay
1.
Evidence-Based
Reading & Writing
*Reading Test
*Writing & Language
Test
2.
Mathematics
3.
Essay (optional)
Features *Emphasis on general reasoning skills
*Emphasis on vocabulary, often in limited contexts
*Complex scoring (a point for a correct answer and a deduction for an incorrect answer; blank responses have no impact on scores)
*Focus on knowledge & skills identified as important for college & career success
*Emphasis on word meanings and how word choices shape meaning, tone & impact
*Simplified scoring – 1 point for correct answers
SAT: Old vs. New Cont’d
Category Old SAT Redesigned SAT
Essay *Required/given at beginning
*25 minutes for essay
*Tested writing skills; students take a position on a presented issue
*Optional/given at end essay
*50 minutes for
*Tests reading, analysis & writing skills; students produce a written analysis of a provided source text
What is the PSAT and Why should you take it???
Preliminary SAT (prepare for the SAT)
SAT is one of the college admissions tests required for acceptance at 4-year colleges.
Receive feedback on your strengths and weaknesses
National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (NMSQT)
Some students score high enough to qualify for a scholarship.
When should you take the PSAT?
Since most students take the SAT during the spring of their junior year, the PSAT is given in the fall of 11 th grade
Wednesday, October 14 th
At the Middle School!
How do you sign up?
Stop in Guidance to get your name on the list.
Bring the following items to Guidance by October 9th (the earlier the better!):
1. Permission Slip
2. A check for $15 made payable to Chatham High School. We cannot accept cash.
What should you bring to the test?
Sharpened #2 Pencils
A calculator – You MUST bring one with you! Calculators will NOT be available at CMS!
Your social security number (optional)
What if you have testing accommodations?
You must be pre-approved to use testing accommodations.
Please see Mr. Lombardi or Mrs. Carroll as soon as possible.
What is on the PSAT?
The test is broken up into the following sections:
Section 1: 60 minute Reading (47 questions)
Section 2: 35 minute Writing and Language (44
questions)
Section 3: 25 minute Math section (17 questions-
without calculator)
Section 4: 45 minutes Math section (31 questions
–with calculator)
Sample Reading Question
Read a passage, answer multiple questions https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sample-questions/reading/1
Sample Writing& Language Question
https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sample-questions/writing/1
Sample Math Question
With Calculator: https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sample-questions/math/calculator-permitted/6
Without Calculator: https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sample-questions/math/calculator-notpermitted/2
PSAT Scoring
Total Score: Scale ranges from 320-1520
Section Scores: Scale ranges from 160-760
A correct answer = 1 point
Omitted questions have no impact on scores – Make a guess!
New! No penalty for a wrong answer
https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/pdf/sample-psat-nmsqt-score-report.pdf
When do you get your scores?
Score reports are typically received in December.
Your counselor will meet with you in small groups to go over the reports.
Preparing for the PSAT
www.collegeboard.org
Kahn Academy – Free PSAT/SAT Prep online! https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/
Practice Test Handout (models redesigned SAT)
The Redesigned SAT
Taken in Spring of junior year
Has 3 parts – Reading/Writing&Language and Math
Each section scored out of 800
Total score out of 1600 (previously 2400)
Plus an optional Essay:
50 minutes to write an essay.
Tests reading, analysis, and writing skills
Produce a written analysis of a provided source text
Essay score reported separately:
Reading, Analysis, Writing each reported out of 8
The test takes approximately 3 hours plus an additional 50 minutes for the
Optional Essay section.
SAT II/Subject Tests
Subject tests are typically only required by very competitive colleges or particular high level programs (RPI accelerated engineering program)
U.S. History
World History
Literature
Chemistry
Physics
French
Spanish
Mathematics Level 2
Mathematics Level 1
Biology E/
ACT’s
Many schools will accept either SAT’s or ACT’s
Has four parts plus optional writing:
English, Math, Reading, and Science
Scored out of 36 composite (an average of the sections)
Also takes about 4 hours
Boston College Admissions
REQUIRED CREDENTIALS
1. Common Application
2 . $70 Application Fee
3. Common Application Required Essay
4. Official Secondary School Transcript
5. Secondary School Report/Counselor Recommendation
6. Midyear Grades
7. Two Teacher Recommendations
8. SAT I and two SAT Subject Tests
or ACT with writing
9. Common App. Supplement (additional essay(s))
Harvard University Admissions
REQUIRED CREDENTIALS
1. Harvard U. Supplemental Application
2. Common Application
3. $75 Application Fee
4. Common Application Required Essay
5. Official Secondary School Transcript
6. Secondary School Report
7. Two Teacher Recommendations
8. Counselor Recommendation
9. SAT I or ACT with writing AND two SAT Subject Tests
U Albany Admissions
REQUIRED CREDENTIALS
SUNY Application or Common Application
$40 Application Fee
Personal Essay
Secondary School Transcript
Secondary School Report
One Teacher or Counselor Recommendation
SAT I or ACT with writing
ACT Test Dates
Test Date
September 12, 2015
October 24, 2015
December 12, 2015
February 6, 2016*
April 9, 2016
June 11, 2016
Registration Deadline
August 7, 2015
September 18, 2015
November 6, 2015
January 8, 2016
March 4, 2016
May 6, 2016
SAT Test Dates
Test Date
October 3, 2015
November 7, 2015
December 5, 2015
January 23, 2016
March 5, 2016
May 7, 2016
June 4, 2016
Registration Deadline
September 3, 2015
October 9, 2015
November 5, 2015
December 28, 2015
February 5, 2016
April 8, 2016
May 5, 2016
Resources
www.collegeboard.org
Question of the day
Detailed content of Subject Tests
“Big Future” college search www.khanacademy.org/sat
www.actstudent.org www.careercruising.com
PSAT practice booklet www.chathamcentralschools.com
