PSAT/NMSQT®
September 18, 2013
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Agenda
 Coordinating the
PSAT/NMSQT program:
• Before the test
• On test day
• After the test
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Resources
 A copy of the Educator’s Guide, which is located here:
http://professionals.collegeboard.com/profdownload/officialeducator-guide-to-the-psat-nmsqt.pdf
 A copy of the Supervisor’s Manual, which is located here:
http://professionals.collegeboard.com/profdownload/psatnmsqt-supervisors-manual.pdf
 Ordering instructions, which they can use every year:
http://www.collegeboard.com/prod_downloads/psat/orderinstructions-for-new-coordinators.pdf
 Access to the PSAT/NMSQT downloads page, located here:
http://professionals.collegeboard.com/testing/psat/download
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PSAT/NMSQT® Assessment Basics
 Content:

–
Critical reading, including sentence completion and passage-based multiple-choice questions
–
Mathematics, including multiple-choice and student-produced response questions
–
Writing, covering improving sentences, identifying sentence errors, and improving paragraph questions
Administration:
–
Paper-and-pencil test
–
Given in school on Wednesday, October 16 or Saturday, October 19
Section
Timing
Number of Questions
Critical Reading
Two sections at 25 minutes each
48 Questions
Mathematics
Two sections at 25 minutes each
38 Questions
(28 Multiple choice,
10 Student-produced response)
Writing Skills
30 Minutes
39 Questions
Total
130 Minutes
125 Questions
Testing time is 2 hours and 10 minutes -- plus 45 to 50 minutes for
administrative activities. Must be done prior to taking lunch.
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2013-14 Dates and Deadlines
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Activity
Date
Order Deadline
Sept. 27
Anticipated Test Material Delivery Date
Oct. 9
Test Dates
Oct. 16
Oct. 19
Oct. 30 (with special approval)
Deadline to Return Materials
School day following test
Score Reports Arrive
Mid-December
AP Potential™ Available
December
Summary of Answers and Skills (SOAS) Reports
January
Before the Test
 Know your school’s six-digit High School Code
– School Code is required to order and administer tests.
 Schedule the test
– Wednesday, Oct. 16.
– All students must test at the same time in the morning. You will not
be able to take a lunch break and resume testing.
– Allow three hours for testing and related activities.
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Before the Test
Order test materials online:
 Visit www.collegeboard.org/school
for the PSAT/NMSQT® Ordering Site.
 Enter the access code printed on
your school’s Registration Announcement,
received in April.
 Update Coordinator contact information.
 Order Test Books (with answer sheets),
Student Guides, Supervisor’s Manuals,
Optional Reports, Fee Waivers (for juniors)
and nonstandard formats for students
approved for accommodations.
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Before the Test
Plan for Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD)
 The College Board must approve all accommodations prior to testing with
the PSAT/NMSQT®, SAT® or AP®.
 All students requesting accommodations must submit a request to SSD.
 Visit www.collegeboard.org/ssd for detailed information about the eligibility
process.
 Submit requests for accommodations in the spring, as requests for
accommodations must be received by August 28 to ensure a decision prior
to the test date.
 Only students approved in prior years can have an accommodation on this
administration of PSAT
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Before the Test
Select and Train Staff
 Select Proctors to read instructions to students and monitor test rooms on
test day.
 Adult-to-student ration in any test room may not exceed 34:1.
 All staff in these roles may not be a member of the household or immediate
family of a student testing that day, even in another school.
 Ensure that staff review the Supervisor’s Manual prior to test day.
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Before the Test
Distribute materials:
To Students:
 The Student Guide with full
practice test and test-taking tips
To Staff:
 Copies of
The Supervisor’s Manual
 The Associate Supervisor/Proctor
Checklist found in the Educator Guide
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Before the Test
 Visit collegeboard.org/testright.
– Obtain helpful advice, forms and information to help you
manage test day.
 Check your materials.
– Make sure you’ve received the correct number of tests and
verify that all answer sheets are for the correct test date.
 Store the tests securely.
– Prevent any student from gaining an unfair advantage.
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Before the Test
 Choose test rooms.
– Administer tests in areas with
adequate lighting, good writing
surfaces, a visible clock, and
away from noise and
distraction
– Maintain distance of 4 feet
between students (center of
desk to center of desk).
– All students must face the
same direction.
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Before the Test
 Define student ID.
 Define optional codes, if desired.
 Complete the pre-administration
option, if desired.
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On Test Day
 Know what students should bring.
 Know testing protocol.
 Turn off classroom bells, and remove visual
aids from testing rooms.
 Actively monitor test rooms, halls and restrooms
to ensure policies are being followed.
 Keep control of test materials before and after
student use.
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After the Test
Collect and count answer sheets.
 Collect answer sheets from each student individually. Do not have them
passed to you.
 Make sure students do not put their answer sheets inside the test books.
 Count answer sheets, and verify that you have one for each student.
 Check student gridding.
Collect and count test books.
 After accounting for the answer sheets, collect the test books from students
individually in the same order in which you distributed them.
 Count used test books and verify that you have one for each student.
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After the Test
Complete the Supervisor’s Irregularity Report, if applicable.
(See guidelines and report in Supervisor’s Manual.)
Protect test materials after the test.
 When all test materials have been accounted for, place them where they will
not be accessible to the students.
 Keep test books in secure storage until score reports arrive in December for
each student.
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After the Test
Return Materials for Scoring.
 Complete the Supervisor’s Report Form.
 Return materials no later than the day after the administration.
 Follow return instructions in the Supervisor’s Manual.
 Use the original white shipping box provided.
 Arrange for package pickup with courier (usually UPS).
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After the Test
 Complete the Online Remittance Report.
– Log on to collegeboard.org/school to generate your school’s
remittance report.
– Even if your district or state is paying for a grade, you should
still fill this out and return it with your answer sheets.
 Complete the Fee-Waiver Roster, if Applicable.
– If your school is using fee waivers, you must submit a
Fee-Waiver Roster.
– The Fee-Waiver Roster may be completed at
www.collegeboard.org/school.
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For More Information, Contact Us
Phone:
888-477-PSAT(7728)
8:00 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET, Monday – Friday
(extended hours Sept.–Oct. and during score reporting)
Fax:
Email:
Web:
19
610-290-8979
psat@info.collegeboard.org
www.collegeboard.org/testright
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