Penncrest High School
Junior Parent Night
2012
Junior Year Calendar
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PSAT / NMSQT October 17, 2012
Initiate college search: College fairs, Career
Center, College Reps
Financial Aid Night: January 9, 2013
Junior Interviews begin in the first
semester
Plan Spring Testing Schedule: SAT, ACT , AP
Prepare for the SAT, ACT , AP
PSAT
PSAT/NMSQT stands for Preliminary
SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying
Test.
 Approximately 3.3 million students took
the PSAT/NMSQT: 46% were eleventh
graders, 53% were tenth graders or younger
students.
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Benefits of taking the PSAT
The test provides:
 The best preparation for the
SAT
 The entry point to
compete for National
Merit Scholarships
 The option to receive
information from colleges
and scholarship services.
 Personalized feedback on
critical reading, mathematics
and writing skills.
PSAT/NMSQT
 Approximately 16,000 high school seniors qualify for
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Semifinalist status based on their performance on the PSAT
Semifinalist status is selected from the top 1% of Selection
Index Scores.
The Selection Index is the cumulative total of the three sub
tests.
This year Penncrest is proud to have a National Merit
Semifinalist who will now compete for Finalist recognition.
2012 Penncrest – 3, Strath Haven – 8 , Conestoga -26,
Radnor - 7
What does the PSAT test?
Like the SAT, the test assesses the
academic skills that students develop over
the years, primarily through course work.
 It measures critical reading, math
reasoning, and writing skills that are
critical for success in college.
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What does the PSAT test?
Critical reading skills – using content from:
humanities, social studies, natural sciences
and literature.
 Math reasoning skills-using content from:
number and operations; algebra and
functions; geometry and measurement;
data analysis, statistics and probability.
 Writing skills – focus on editing, grammar,
usage and organization.
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How does the PSAT compare to the
SAT?
Same question types, except the SAT
includes an essay assignment that does not
appear on the PSAT
 The PSAT is 2 hours, 10 minutes; the SAT is
3 hours, 45 minutes.
 The SAT may have some math questions
from third year math (Algebra II); the PSAT
will not.
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How is the PSAT scored?
Scores are reported on a scale of 20-80 for
each section: critical reading, mathematics
and writing skills.
 For eleventh graders, 47-50 is the average
range ; for tenth graders, 43-46 is the
average range; for ninth graders, average
range about 38-42.
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How does the PSAT score compare to
an SAT?
Some students add a “O” to the two-digit
PSAT score to give a rough estimate of a
three-digit SAT score.
 High school students receive a more
reliable SAT projected score range in their
online SAT study plan.
 Students who have taken the PSAT average
higher scores on the SAT than those who
have not.
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PSAT / Recap
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Taking the test can provide these benefits:
Scholarship opportunities. If you’re a junior, your score might qualify you for
scholarships and recognition through the National Merit Scholarship Corporation
and the National Hispanic Recognition Program.
SAT practice. The PSAT/NMSQT is great practice for the SAT. Both tests have
the same types of questions, and taking the PSAT/NMSQT can help you get
comfortable testing under timed conditions.
Information from colleges. You can get free information from colleges and
scholarship programs by opting in to Student Search Service® when you take the
test.
College and career planning help. By taking the test, you get free access to My
College QuickStart™, an online tool that helps you plan for college and a career. It
also gives you a free, personalized SAT study guide based on your PSAT/NMSQT
results.
PSAT Review Sessions
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PSAT Math Sessions:
Joe Peleckis, PHS Math Teacher
Lauren Newman, RTM teacher/SAT Tutor
Tuesdays, 10/2 and 10/9
2:30-4:00
Room B207
PSAT Combination Critical Reading/Writing Review Sessions:
Chrissa Kuntz, PHS English Teacher
Mondays, 10/1 and 10/8
2:30-4:00
Room D105
PSAT Critical Reading Only Review Session:
Lauren Newman, RTM teacher/SAT Tutor
Wednesday, 10/3
2:30-4:00
Room A109
PSAT Writing Only Review Session:
Lauren Newman, RTM teacher/SAT Tutor
Wednesday, 10/10
2:30-4:00
Room A109
PSAT Scores / December 2012
 Student
scores are returned directly to
students in December.
 In addition to scores students also receive
an access code to My College Quickstart
 Personalized feedback, practice and
planning based on PSAT/NMSQT scores
Standardized Tests
Colleges use standardized testing in the form
of the SAT and ACT to evaluate students
 Not all colleges use SAT or ACT:
www.fairtest.org
 Colleges utilize grade point average and class
rank.
 Activities, letters of recommendation are
important to most schools.
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SAT / ACT
Juniors are
recommended to take
the ACT and /or SAT
Reasoning and/or Subject
Tests during the year.
 www.collegeboard.org
 www.actstudent.org
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Penncrest SAT Scores
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The average SAT scores for college bound seniors
at Penncrest for the class of 2012
Critical Reading – 526
Math - 548
Writing – 532
Pennsylvania average SAT scores
Critical Reading – 492
Math – 501
Writing - 480
ACT
Five times per year :
 October
 December
 February
 April
 June
www.actstudent.org
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SAT/ACT Comparison
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SAT – ten sections: three Critical Reading,
three Math, three writing, and one
Experimental; the Experimental section is
masked to look like a regular section.
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ACT – five sections: English, Math,
Reading, Science and Writing (optional)
SAT/ACT Comparison
SAT
Writing: an essay and
questions testing
grammar, usage, and
word choice
ACT
Writing: essay
English: stresses
grammar
Science: charts,
experiments
SAT/ACT Comparison
SAT
Math: up to 9th grade
Geometry and Alg II
ACT
Math: up to
trigonometry
Critical Reading:
sentence completions,
short & long passages,
reading
comprehension
Reading: four passages,
one each Prose
Fiction, Social Science,
Humanities, and
Natural Science
SAT/ACT Comparison
SAT
Scoring: 200-800 per
section, added
together for a
combined score- a
2400 is the highest
possible combined
score
ACT
Scoring: 1-36 for each
subject, averaged
together for a
composite score- a 36
is the highest possible
composite score
SAT Subject Tests
Subject Tests are designed to measure your
knowledge and skills in particular subject areas,
as well as your ability to apply that knowledge.
 Colleges use the Subject Tests for admission,
course placement, and to advise students about
course selection.
 Some colleges specify the Subject Tests that they
require for admission; others allow applicants to
choose which tests they take.
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Subject Tests: Five Areas
English: Literature
 History: U.S., World History
 Mathematics: Level 1, Level 2
 Science: Bio, Chem, Physics
 Languages: Chinese, French, German,
Spanish, Hebrew, Italian, Latin, Japanese,
Korean
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Which Subject Tests Do I Take?
Before deciding to take the tests, make a
list of the colleges that you are considering.
Then find out if the school requires the
Subject Tests.
 Many colleges that don’t require Subject
Test scores review them to gain a better
picture of the student.
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When should you take the tests?
Most students take the Subject Tests
toward the end of their junior year or at the
beginning of the senior year.
 Take tests such as World History, Biology,
Chemistry or Physics as soon as possible
after completing the course while the
material is still fresh in your mind.
 Questions? See your guidance counselor.
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AP Placement Program
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College-level courses taught in high school
by high school teachers
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AP teachers use college-level materials and
course descriptions developed by a
committee of college faculty and AP
teachers.
AP Examinations
Administered in May
 Approximately three hours long
 Composed of multiple-choice and freeresponse questions
 Free-response questions are graded by
college professors and AP teachers in June
 AP exam grades range from 1 to 5
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Important Dates
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Financial Aid Night:
January 9, 2013, 7:00
p.m.
FAFSA completion
night January 9, 2013,
7:00 p.m.
College Night:
February 20, 2013, 7:00
p.m.
AP Tests: May SAT
March 10, June 2