2013-14
Official Educator Guide to the
Preliminary SAT/
Inside:
• Calendar of important dates and deadlines
• Tools for getting the most from PSAT/NMSQT® results
• Handouts for students, parents and staff
• Information about National Merit
Scholarship Corporation Programs
Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test
cosponsored by
/
NATIONAL MERIT
SCHOLARSHIP CORPORATION
Know the Dates:
The 2013 PSAT/NMSQT is on
Wednesday, Oct. 16, or
Saturday, Oct. 19.
Schools that cannot test on either date should submit a written request
for other arrangements. For 2013, score reports and tools for the Form A
test date will be the same as those for the other test dates.
PSAT/NMSQT®
The Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®) is a comprehensive
assessment program that helps create a college-going culture in your school by providing practice for
the SAT® and offering a valuable array of free services for students and educators. Students who take
the PSAT/NMSQT can enter scholarship competitions and use My College QuickStart™ to tap into
personalized college and career planning resources. Schools that administer the PSAT/NMSQT have
access to powerful skills assessment solutions, as well as AP Potential™, a tool that helps schools grow
their AP® programs, placing more students on the path to success in college.
www.collegeboard.org/psateducator
Contents
COLLEGE and Career READINESS PATHWAY............................................................ 4
About the PSAT/NMSQT®
Quick Facts and Contact Information................................................................................... 5
PSAT/NMSQT Benefits......................................................................................................... 6
Preparing Students and Families
Tips for Preparing Students and Families............................................................................. 7
Student Search Service®...................................................................................................... 8
Critical Reading Questions................................................................................................... 9
Mathematics Questions......................................................................................................10
Writing Skills Questions......................................................................................................11
Coordinating the Program
Tips for Coordinating the PSAT/NMSQT Program...............................................................12
Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD).....................................................................14
Fee Waivers/Remittance Report..........................................................................................15
Getting the Most from PSAT/NMSQT Results
Tips for Getting the Most from the PSAT/NMSQT.............................................................16
Tools for Understanding PSAT/NMSQT Results..................................................................17
Score Report Plus Case Study............................................................................................18
Preparing for the SAT®........................................................................................................ 20
National Merit Scholarship Corporation Competitions....................................................... 22
National Merit Scholarship Corporation 2013-14 Important Dates..................................... 23
My College QuickStart™: A College Planning Tool for Students......................................... 24
My College QuickStart Resources for Educators............................................................... 25
AP Potential™...................................................................................................................... 26
Summary of Answers and Skills (SOAS)............................................................................ 27
PSAT/NMSQT Skills Insight™.............................................................................................. 28
Standard Reports................................................................................................................ 29
Optional Reports................................................................................................................ 30
List of Academic Skills....................................................................................................... 31
College and Career Readiness Benchmarks...................................................................... 32
PSAT/NMSQT Score Trend Data......................................................................................... 33
Handouts to Copy and Distribute
2013–2014 SAT and SAT Subject Tests™ Dates.................................................................. 34
Associate Supervisor/Proctor Checklist.............................................................................. 35
Test-Day Information Flyer.................................................................................................. 36
Parent Perspective (English)............................................................................................... 37
Parent Perspective (Spanish).............................................................................................. 39
Parent Tutorial for Understanding Results (English)........................................................... 41
Parent Tutorial for Understanding Results (Spanish).......................................................... 43
Score Report Tutorial for 9th- and 10th-Grade Students..................................................... 45
Score Report Tutorial for Middle School Students.............................................................. 46
PSAT/NMSQT Calendar.........................................................................................Back Cover
About the College Board
The College Board is a mission-driven not-for-profit organization that
connects students to college success and opportunity. Founded in 1900,
the College Board was created to expand access to higher education. Today,
the membership association is made up of over 6,000 of the world’s leading
educational institutions and is dedicated to promoting excellence and equity in
education. Each year, the College Board helps more than seven million students
prepare for a successful transition to college through programs and services in
college readiness and college success — including the SAT® and the Advanced
Placement Program®. The organization also serves the education community
through research and advocacy on behalf of students, educators and schools.
For further information, visit www.collegeboard.org.
The publication Guidelines on the Uses of College Board Test Scores and
Related Data, available at www.collegeboard.org/research, highlights proper and
beneficial uses of test scores and cautions against uses that are inappropriate.
© 2013 The College Board. College Board, Advanced Placement, Advanced
Placement Program, AP, SAT, Student Search Service and the acorn logo
are registered trademarks of the College Board. AP Potential, My College
QuickStart, My SAT Study Plan, MyRoad, ReadiStep, SAT Subject Tests,
ScoreWrite, Skills Insight, The Official SAT Online Course, The Official SAT
Question of the Day and The Official SAT Study Guide are trademarks owned by
the College Board. PSAT/NMSQT is a registered trademark of the College Board
and National Merit Scholarship Corporation. The names National Merit, National
Achievement, Merit Scholarship and Achievement Scholarship are federally
registered service marks of National Merit Scholarship Corporation (www.
nationalmerit.org). All other products and services may be trademarks of their
respective owners. Visit the College Board on the Web: www.collegeboard.org.
Any educator (or nonprofit institution) is encouraged to reproduce any page in
its entirety from this booklet, in a quantity sufficient for educational purposes
and not for sale, provided that the copyright notice be retained exactly as it
appears here.
3
PSAT/NMSQT® and
the College and Career
Readiness Pathway
You may already be familiar with the many benefits that the PSAT/NMSQT® provides on its own as
an important step on the road to college, but the PSAT/NMSQT is also part of an integrated series of
assessments that work together to help your school improve college readiness.
What is the College and
Career Readiness Pathway?
College and Career
Readiness Benchmarks
The College Board’s College and Career Readiness
Pathway is a series of integrated assessments
that measure a student’s college and career
readiness from the eighth through 12th grades.
When these assessments — ReadiStep™ (middle
grades), PSAT/NMSQT (grades 10 and 11) and SAT®
(grades 11 and 12) — are used as a comprehensive
solution, they systematically and progressively
measure the reading, writing, and mathematical
knowledge and skills that are critical for success in
college and careers.
The College Board College and Career Readiness
Benchmarks provide a reliable aggregate measure
of college and career readiness. Based on rigorous
research, the College and Career Readiness
Benchmarks for ReadiStep, PSAT/NMSQT and SAT
help secondary school educators and administrators
measure the college and career readiness of groups
of students. Schools and districts can use these
benchmarks to determine what proportion of their
student body is on track for college, beginning in
the eighth grade. Schools can also identify students
who may need extra support while there is still
time for improvement, as well as find students who
may be ready for more rigorous course work. The
Benchmarks for ReadiStep, PSAT/NMSQT and SAT
give secondary school educators and administrators
a cohesive way to measure, monitor and help direct
student progress toward college success.
How it can help
These assessments provide research-based
College and Career Readiness Benchmarks, giving
administrators and educators actionable feedback.
The three assessments measure the same
constructs, use similar question formats and have
similar score scales. The feedback and tools help
students improve their skills and enable immediate
academic intervention by teachers to enhance
learning — all important in the drive to support
college and career readiness. For more information,
visit pathway.collegeboard.org.
4
It is important to note that college readiness is a
continuum, and students who score below the
PSAT/NMSQT benchmark may still be successful in
college, especially with additional preparation and
perseverance. Benchmark results are presented by
grade on several different PSAT/NMSQT reports
for educators, but not on reports for students (see
page 32 for more details).
Quick Facts and
Contact Information
Test Dates:
• Wrong answers to math student-produced response
questions = no points lost
• Wednesday, Oct. 16, or
• Saturday, Oct. 19
Note: This year’s PSAT/NMSQT administration takes
place during the shortened Columbus Day holiday week.
Content:
Test Fees:
• $14 per student tested.
• $3 charge for each unused test exceeding 20 percent
of the total number ordered. Unused tests cannot be
returned for a refund.
• Fee waivers are available for eligible 11th-graders.
• Schools outside the United States (except in U.S.
territories and Canada) will be charged a $3 shipping
surcharge for each test book ordered.
Testing Time:
• 2 hours and 10 minutes (plus approximately 45–50
minutes for administrative activities)
The PSAT/NMSQT Measures:
• Critical reading, mathematical reasoning, and writing
skills that are important for success in college.
• Knowledge and skills developed through years of
study in a wide range of courses.
• Ability to reason with facts and concepts rather than
the ability to recall them.
Scoring:
• Scores on a 20- to 80-point scale for critical reading,
mathematics and writing skills
• Correct answer = 1 point
• Omitted question = no points
• Wrong answers to multiple-choice questions = minus
1/4 of a point
Two 25-minute critical reading sections contain a total
of 48 questions:
• 13 sentence completions
• 35 passage-based reading questions
Two 25-minute mathematics sections contain a total of
38 questions:
• 28 multiple choice
• 10 student-produced responses, or grid-ins
One 30-minute writing skills section contains 39
questions:
• 20 improving sentences
• 14 identifying sentence errors
• 5 improving paragraphs
Testing with Services for
Students with Disabilities (SSD):
• The College Board must approve all
accommodations prior to testing.
• Submit requests for accommodations by Aug. 28.
The review process takes approximately seven weeks
when document review is required. Although in some
cases requests may be processed in less than seven
weeks when document review is not required, this
cannot be guaranteed.
• Work with your school’s SSD coordinator to ensure
that the appropriate materials are ordered for your
approved students.
• See page 14 for more information.
Looking Ahead: Test Dates for 2014
Wednesday, Oct. 15, or Saturday, Oct. 18
Contact Information
Educator Hotline for Schools
By Mail:
Within the United States and Canada:
888-477-PSAT (7728)
Outside the United States and Canada:
609-771-7070
PSAT/NMSQT Office
P.O. Box 6720
Princeton, NJ 08541-6720
Parents and Students
Services for Students
with Disabilities (SSD)
609-771-7070
TTY: 609-882-4118
Email: psat@info.collegeboard.org
609-771-7137
TTY: 609-882-4118
Email: ssd@info.collegeboard.org
National Merit Scholarship National Hispanic
Corporation (NMSC)
Recognition Program
1560 Sherman Avenue, Suite 200
Evanston, IL 60201-4897
847-866-5100
www.nationalmerit.org
The College Board
11955 Democracy Drive
Reston, VA 20190-5662
877-358-6777
Email: nhrp@collegeboard.org
5
PSAT/NMSQT
Benefits
The PSAT/NMSQT Helps Students:
• Prepare for the SAT® . On average, students who
take the PSAT/NMSQT score 136 points higher on
the SAT than those who do not. The PSAT/NMSQT
and SAT measure the same skills and have the same
format, directions and question types.
• Enter Scholarship and Recognition Programs.
The PSAT/NMSQT provides entry into National Merit
Scholarship Corporation competitions as well as other
scholarship and recognition programs, such as the
National Hispanic Recognition Program.
• Plan for College and Careers. Taking the
PSAT/NMSQT gives students free access to
My College QuickStart™, a personalized online
college- and career-planning tool where they can
search for colleges, explore majors and careers, and
get a personalized SAT study plan. Learn more at
www.collegeboard.org/quickstart.
• Explore AP®. In the My AP Potential section of
My College QuickStart, students can see which AP
courses they may be ready for, as well as which are
related to college majors that interest them. Students
also receive information about their AP potential on
their paper score report.
• Receive Information from Colleges. Through the
Student Search Service®, PSAT/NMSQT participants
can receive free information about admission
and financial aid from colleges, universities and
scholarship programs. The materials students receive
help them start thinking about and exploring higher
education opportunities.
• Identify Skills for Improvement. The PSAT/NMSQT
Score Report Plus gives students comprehensive,
personalized feedback on their test performance, allowing
them to see which questions they answered incorrectly
and which academic skills they should work to improve.
The PSAT/NMSQT Helps
Educators:
• Build a College-Going Culture. Offering the
PSAT/NMSQT to all students helps create a collegegoing culture. The online college- and careerplanning tools provided with the PSAT/NMSQT spark
college-going aspirations and introduce students to
opportunities available after high school.
• Increase Access to AP Courses. The easy-to-use
online AP Potential™ tool identifies students likely to
succeed in AP, helping educators expand access to
rigorous courses. Learn more at
appotential.collegeboard.org.
• Identify Strengths and Weaknesses. The
Summary of Answers and Skills (SOAS) report
provides an analysis of aggregate test question
performance and skills feedback, helping educators
identify specific areas where their students are
struggling. Learn more at scores.collegeboard.org.
• Collect and Utilize Valuable Data. Summary
reports provide an at-a-glance look at participation and
performance, while the Roster of Student Scores
and Plans provides specific information about each
participating student. The electronic Student Data File
(an optional report available for $50) allows educators to
manage PSAT/NMSQT data to fit their needs.
• Prepare Students for the SAT Essay. ScoreWrite™:
A Guide to Preparing for the SAT Essay complements
the PSAT/NMSQT Writing Skills section by providing
everything schools need to administer a practice essay
session.
Other Special Opportunities for PSAT/NMSQT Students
•National Hispanic Recognition Program (NHRP) identifies
outstanding 11th-grade Hispanic/Latino students and shares
information about them with interested colleges and universities.
To qualify, students must be at least one-quarter Hispanic/Latino,
as defined by the NHRP, and meet a minimum PSAT/NMSQT
score and grade point average.
•National Scholarship Service offers a free college advisory and
referral service for students who plan to attend two-year or four-
6
year colleges. Scores will be sent for juniors who indicate that
they are African American or black students.
•Telluride Association offers scholarships to gifted juniors for
summer seminars in the humanities and social sciences.
Students who do not want their scores released to these
recognition programs should write to the PSAT/NMSQT office by
Nov. 1.
Tips for Preparing
Students and Families
The best preparation for the PSAT/NMSQT is long term, but students can use free resources to
become familiar with the format, question types and directions they will encounter on test day.
Distribute copies of the Student Guide:
The 2013 Official Student Guide to the PSAT/NMSQT
includes test-taking tips, information about National
Merit Scholarship Corporation programs and a
full-length practice test. To give students specific
information about your school’s PSAT/NMSQT
administration, complete the flyer on page 36 and
distribute copies with Student Guides.
Display the PSAT/NMSQT poster:
Enter the date, time, location and other information
for your school’s PSAT/NMSQT administration on the
space provided and display the poster in a
high-traffic area.
Direct students to the PSAT/NMSQT website:
Students can find additional sample questions and
test-taking tips, as well as complete explanations to
practice test questions, at
www.collegeboard.org/psat.
O ffer advice about guessing:
Help students understand the difference
between random and educated guessing.
Emphasize long-term preparation:
It takes time to develop reasoning skills, and the best
preparation for the PSAT/NMSQT and college is long
term. Students should read widely, write frequently
and take challenging academic courses.
Take advantage of other free resources:
Copy and distribute the parent materials on pages
37–40 of this guide and download other materials at
www.collegeboard.org/psatdownloads.
The following free publications help you prepare your students and their families for the PSAT/NMSQT.
Title
➊ Official Student
Guide to the
PSAT/NMSQT
Type
Booklet
Audience Description
Students
Contains sample test questions with explanations and
tips about guessing, pacing and calculator use. Also
contains descriptions and entry requirements for the
programs administered by National Merit Scholarship
Corporation.
Booklet
Students
A full-length practice test that students should take
➋ PSAT/NMSQT
and score.
Practice Test
Flyer
Students
Provides space for you to enter specific information
➌ Test-Day
about your school’s PSAT/NMSQT administration.
Information Flyer
Copy and distribute to students or post in common
areas in your school.
PowerPoint Students
Prepares students for the test by familiarizing them
➍ Prepare for the
with key benefits and information. It is available as a
PSAT/NMSQT: A Step Presentation
PDF or PowerPoint presentation.
to the Future
Website
Students
Provides additional practice on critical reading,
➎ www.
mathematics and writing skills, plus strategies, hints
collegeboard.org/
and other information.
psat
Flyer
Parents/
Helps parents and guardians understand the role of
➏ The Parent
Families
the PSAT/NMSQT in helping their student transition
Perspective
to college. Space is available to indicate your school’s
test date, time and fee information. Available in
English and Spanish.
Where to Find It
Order online at
www.collegeboard.org/school.
Separate booklet inside the
Official Student Guide
Page 36 of this publication
or download from
www.collegeboard.org/
psatdownloads.
Download from
www.collegeboard.org/
psatdownloads.
Visit www.collegeboard.org/psat.
Pages 37–40 of this publication
or download from
www.collegeboard.org/
psatdownloads.
7
Student Search Service®:
Connecting Students
to College
What is Student Search Service?
Through Student Search Service, PSAT/NMSQT
participants can receive free information on admission,
financial aid and postsecondary education opportunities
from colleges, universities, scholarship programs and
educational opportunity programs. The materials students
receive help them start thinking about and exploring higher
education opportunities.
When students take the PSAT/NMSQT, they are asked if
they would like certain information they supply on their
answer sheets sent to colleges, universities, educational
opportunity organizations and some scholarship programs
that request it from the College Board. Encourage your
students to answer “Yes” on test day to ensure that they
can receive information from these entities.
Benefits of the Search Program
• Students enjoy the advantage of having a diverse
group of colleges provide information about educational
opportunities, specific programs a college offers and
financial assistance at an early, but appropriate, stage
in their college planning process.
• Colleges and universities can expand their outreach
efforts to be more inclusive geographically and reach
out to students who otherwise would not have much
contact with the broader array of postsecondary
opportunities.
Things to Consider
• Students’ participation is completely voluntary,
and they pay no fees for participating in Student
Search Service.
• Course grades, telephone numbers and Social
Security numbers are not released.
• Institutions may select students within a specified
range of scores; however, individual student scores
are not shared with these institutions.
8
• Students may request that their name, email
address or both be removed from the service
at any time by calling 866-825-8051 or emailing
SearchCustomerService@collegeboard.org.
• Student Search Service does not release names
from its pools to commercial marketing list vendors
or retailers of goods (such as computers) or services
(such as test prep). and prohibits its collegiate users
from doing so.
• Only colleges, universities and consortia of colleges
and universities; scholarship agencies; governmental
agencies; and eligible educational opportunity
organizations may participate in the service.
• The College Board monitors compliance with its
eligibility rules for each and every participant and
monitors messages sent to students.
• Student Search Service is a way for colleges to
reach prospective students and inform them of their
opportunities. Colleges must certify that they will not
use the information to discriminate against certain
students or to conduct market research.
• Absolutely no commercial advertising of any sort
is permitted in information sent to students by
participating institutions.
Student Search Service Works for
Students
• More than 1,100 colleges, universities, scholarship
organizations and eligible organizations whose
missions and offerings supplement the path to higher
education employ Student Search Service to reach
out to students.
• Colleges and universities report that the service
helps them find the right students for their programs,
scholarships and special activities.
• Millions of students have opted in over the years,
making Student Search Service an important part of
how colleges connect with students and their interest
in higher education.
• Students consistently report that they enjoy receiving
information about colleges and universities they know,
but that they especially enjoy hearing from colleges
and universities with which they were previously
unfamiliar. This is particularly the case for students
currently underrepresented in higher education and
students from first-generation college families.
PSAT/NMSQT
Critical Reading Questions
Reading skills are fundamental for college success. critical reading questions focus on a student’s ability to
read critically, think logically and evaluate ideas presented in text.
Sentence Completions
Sentence completion questions require students to
follow the logic of an idea expressed in a fairly complex
sentence. Sentences are given with one or two words
omitted. The correct answer is the word or set of words
that, when placed in the blank, best fits the meaning
of the sentence as a whole. Although these questions
are meant to test a student’s ability to recognize logical
relationships among elements of a sentence, some
questions measure vocabulary in the context
of the sentence.
Example:
She is a skeptic, ---- to believe that the accepted opinion of
the majority is generally ----.
(A) prone..infallible
(B) afraid..misleading
(C) inclined..justifiable
(D) quick..significant
(E) disposed..erroneous
Passage-Based Reading
Passage-based reading questions measure students’
ability to read, understand and interpret reading
passages. These passages are drawn from a variety
of fields, including the humanities, social studies and
natural sciences. Passages may also be excerpted from
works of fiction. The selections will vary in style and
may include narrative, argumentative and expository
elements. Passages are usually drawn from actual
published works, though this material is often adapted
for testing purposes.
•
•
•
•
Relate one part of a passage to another part
Determine an author’s purpose or perspective
Distinguish conflicting viewpoints
Make connections between different parts of a
passage
• Compare or contrast ideas in a passage or in a pair of
related passages
Example:
For all American Indians, an integrated way of life
was irrevocably upset by the arrival of Europeans
and their expropriation of the land. The trauma
of culture conflict had its origins in the very first
Line 5 contacts between the Europeans, who could
not comprehend the American Indians' attitude
toward land as an everlasting resource for common
use, and the American Indians, who could not
comprehend the notion of land as private property
10 that could be sold and lost forever.
In line 7, “common” most nearly means
(A) coarse
(B) familiar
(C) mediocre
(D) plain
(E) shared
Passages will range in length from about 100 to 850
words and will often include an introduction and/or
footnotes. Some questions will be based on a pair of
passages on a shared theme or issue. Questions may
ask students to do the following:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Understand significant information in the passage
Figure out the meaning of a word from its context
Analyze and evaluate ideas, opinions and arguments
Make inferences and recognize implications
Understand the tone of what is being said
Understand the use of examples
Recognize the purpose of various writing strategies
9
PSAT/NMSQT
Mathematics Questions
The primary aim of the mathematics section is to assess how well students understand math: Can they
apply what they already know to new situations and use what they know to solve nonroutine problems?
Content Overview
Calculator Use
The following math concepts are covered in the
PSAT/NMSQT.
Although no question requires calculator use, students
are strongly encouraged to bring a calculator. A scientific
or graphing calculator is recommended.
Number and Operations
• Arithmetic word problems (including percent, ratio
and proportion)
• Properties of integers (even, odd, prime numbers,
divisibility, etc.)
• Rational numbers
• Sets (union, intersection and elements)
• Counting techniques
• Sequences and series
• Elementary number theory
Algebra and Functions
• Substitution and simplifying algebraic expressions
• Properties of exponents (including rational exponents)
• Algebraic word problems
• Solutions of linear equations and inequalities
• Systems of equations and inequalities
• Rational and radical equations
• Equations of lines
• Absolute value
• Direct and inverse variation
• Quadratic equations
• Concepts of algebraic functions
• Newly defined symbols based on commonly used
operations
Geometry and Measurement
• Area and perimeter of a polygon
• Area and circumference of a circle
• Volume of a box, cube and cylinder
• Pythagorean Theorem and special properties of
isosceles, equilateral and right triangles
• Properties of parallel and perpendicular lines
• Coordinate geometry
• Geometric visualization
• Slope
• Similarity
• Transformations
Data Analysis, Statistics and Probability
• Data interpretation (tables and graphs)
• Statistics (mean, median and mode)
• Probability
10
Multiple-Choice Questions
For these questions, students must solve each problem
and decide which of the five choices given is the best.
Basic geometric formulas are included in the test booklet
for reference because the PSAT/NMSQT emphasizes
application, rather than memorization, of this material.
Example:
Which of the following can be the average (arithmetic mean)
of four consecutive even integers?
(A) 212 (B) 216
(C) 220
(D) 225 (E) 228
Student-Produced Response
Questions (Grid-Ins)
This group of math questions does not include answer
choices. This kind of question may have more than one
correct answer. Because guessing is almost impossible
on grid-ins, there is no deduction for incorrect answers
to grid-in questions. It doesn’t matter in which column
students begin entering their answers: As long as the
correct answer is gridded, students will receive credit.
Only answers entered in the circles in each grid area will
be scored. Students will not receive credit for anything
written in the boxes above the circles.
Example:
If operation # is defined by the equation a # b = 3a + b,
what is the value of x in the equation 2 # x = x # 3 ?
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PSAT/NMSQT
Writing Skills Questions
Writing skills questions present sentences and paragraphs that contain the kinds of errors students must
look for and learn to correct in their own writing.
Improving Sentences
Improving Paragraphs
These questions require students to select the most
effective form of a sentence. Part or all of the sentence
is underlined, and five ways of wording the underlined
part are presented as choices (A) through (E). Choice
(A) is always the same as the underlined part in the
original sentence. If the original sentence seems to be
the best one, students should choose (A).
Five questions relate to a flawed draft of an essay.
These questions require students to consider
revisions in the context of the essay and to think
about the interrelationships of sentences and
paragraphs.
Example:
As one travels inland, the details of the landscape
become harsh, brutal, and it can frighten people.
(A) become harsh, brutal, and it can frighten people
(B) become harsh, brutal, and frightening
(C) when they become harsh, brutal, and frightening
(D) becoming harsh and brutal, and frightening to people
(E) become harsh, brutal, and it can frighten one
Identifying Sentence Errors
This type of question asks students to find errors
such as inappropriate usage, grammar, sentence
construction or punctuation in s­ entences. Four parts
of the sentence are underlined and lettered (A)
through (D). (E) is always “No error.” Students should
read each sentence carefully to determine which
part, if any, must be changed to make the sentence
correct. If all the underlined words or phrases seem
correct, then students should select choice (E).
Example:
(1) Recently a group of workers from a clothing factory
in my hometown picketed peacefully in front of a
department store. (2) They carried signs, and passing
shoppers were urged by them to buy products that
were made in the United States. (3) A newspaper
article suggested that they were wrong. (4) It pointed
out that nearly all stores now sell goods that are not
made in this country. (5) I would argue, however, that
the demonstrators are right, consumers should think
about the effect they can have on industries here in the
United States.
In context, which is the best version of the underlined
portion of sentence 2 (reproduced below)?
They carried signs, and passing shoppers were urged
by them to buy products that were made in the United
States.
(A) (As it is now)
(B) They carry signs and urge passing shoppers
(C) Carrying signs and urging passing shoppers, the
workers asked them
(D) The workers carried signs that urged the passing
shoppers
(E) These signs urged passing shoppers
Example:
The leading roles in the widely acclaimed
play, a modern
A
B
version of an Irish folktale, were performed
by Jessica and
C
he.
No error.
DE
Correct answer is D.
11
Tips for Coordinating the
PSAT/NMSQT Program
See the 2013 Supervisor’s Manual for the PSAT/NMSQT for complete and approved test management
procedures. The manual is included with your test book shipment and available online at
www.collegeboard.org/testright. Selected test management tips appear below.
Before Test Day
Check Your Materials:
Make sure you have received all cartons in your order. Then, without opening the bags, make sure that test books
and answer sheets are for the correct test date. Count the tests to make sure you have received the right amount.
Distribute Copies of the Supervisor’s Manual:
All test proctors should read this manual prior to test day to become familiar with testing procedures. The manual
includes detailed administration information and the script that proctors will use on test day.
Copy and Distribute the Associate Supervisor/Proctor Checklist:
Distribute copies of this checklist (page 35) to staff who will be serving as test proctors on test day.
Visit www.collegeboard.org/testright:
Obtain helpful advice, information on administering the PSAT/NMSQT, and downloadable forms to help you
manage test day.
Secure the Tests:
Prevent any student from gaining an unfair advantage by storing the test books securely. See required test
security measures on page 5 of the Supervisor’s Manual.
Define Student ID:
Students will be asked to enter either their Social Security number or a school-assigned numeric-only student
ID number (up to 15 digits) on their answer sheets. This number will be communicated back to schools via the
Student Data File (see page 30). Decide which number your students should enter in advance of test day, and
notify students and associate supervisors. Including this number is optional.
Define Optional Codes, if Desired:
Use these codes to establish the order in which you want your school’s score reports, rosters and labels to be sorted.
For example, you might assign optional codes to have materials sorted by homeroom teacher when you receive them.
Complete the Preadministration Option, if Desired:
Students may fill in pages 1 and 4 of the PSAT/NMSQT answer sheet in school, under supervision, during the week
prior to the test. See page 19 of the Supervisor’s Manual for details.
During the Test
Allow Enough Uninterrupted Time:
You will need 3 hours for testing and related activities. All students must test at the same time in the morning.
Begin testing early enough to allow enough time to complete testing before noon. You cannot break for lunch and then
resume testing.
Certification Statement:
As part of pretesting activities, students will copy and sign a short statement acknowledging that they agree to
the PSAT/NMSQT test regulations. This is to ensure fairness of the test and validity of the scores for everyone.
Students should write in cursive (not print) and sign their statement in pencil. Students who aren’t sure how to
write in script should do the best they can. Allow 5–10 minutes for this activity.
Know Your Role:
Test proctors should read aloud all directions exactly as they appear in the Supervisor’s Manual and walk about
the room to make sure each student is working alone and on the proper section. (Remember that testing requires
your full attention. Don’t read, grade papers or do other activities unrelated to testing.)
Know What Students Should Bring:
During the test, students should have nothing on their desks but a test book, an answer sheet, No. 2 pencils
with erasers and a calculator (for math sections only). All other materials, including cell phones and other portable
electronic devices, are prohibited in the testing room.
12
Turn Off Classroom Bells:
Eliminate interruptions, such as bells and announcements, on test day.
Tips for Coordinating the
PSAT/NMSQT Program (cont.)
See the 2013 Supervisor’s Manual for the PSAT/NMSQT for complete and approved test management
procedures. The manual is included with your test book shipment and available online at
www.collegeboard.org/testright. Selected test management tips appear below.
After the Test
Check Student Gridding:
Room supervisors should flip through answer sheets to make sure students gridded their names, grade levels
and school codes properly. Correct gridding is critical for accurate reporting and billing of test fees.
Complete the Supervisor’s Report:
Be sure to complete and sign the Supervisor’s Report in pencil. Ensure that the number of students entered on
the report matches the number of answer sheets you are returning. Your school’s score reports cannot be sent
unless we receive a signed report.
Complete the Supervisor’s Irregularity Report, if Applicable:
Use this form to report any testing irregularities. (Page 37 of the Supervisor’s Manual and online in the
“After the Test” section at www.collegeboard.org/testright.)
Return Answer Sheets Promptly:
Submit completed answer sheets and accompanying forms immediately, no later than the next school day after
the test administration. PSAT/NMSQT Coordinators will receive an email after answer sheets have been received.
Double check to ensure that all answer sheets are returned and not inadvertently left or stored at your school.
Store Test Books Securely:
After the test, place all used and unused test books (including those of students from other schools) in locked
storage. Organize test books for return to students with their score reports.
Complete the Online Remittance Report:
Log on to the PSAT/NMSQT Coordinator site at www.collegeboard.org/school to generate your school’s
remittance report. It will compute your test fees so you can print the results and return the printout with your
payment. (See page 15.)
Complete the Fee-Waiver Roster, if Applicable:
If your school is using fee waivers, you must complete and submit a Fee-Waiver Roster with the name of each
junior using a fee waiver. The roster form prints automatically with your remittance report. (See page 15.)
13
Services for Students
with Disabilities (SSD)
Complete information about the College Board Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) can be found
at www.collegeboard.org/ssd.
Accommodations
Extended-Time Administration
The College Board provides appropriate
accommodations to allow students with disabilities
an equal opportunity to take College Board tests.
Some examples of accommodations include extended
time, alternate test formats, and extra breaks. The
College Board must approve all accommodations
prior to testing. Once approved by the College
Board’s Services for Students with Disabilities,
accommodations are approved for all of the major
College Board tests — the PSAT/NMSQT, the SAT and
the Advanced Placement Program ® — and students do
not need to submit a new request for accommodations
when they take additional tests.
Each section of the PSAT/NMSQT is timed separately for
extended-time tests.
Eligibility Process
The SSD eligibility process is a critical first step
that must be taken well before the PSAT/NMSQT
administration. All students requesting accommodations
must submit a request for accommodations to SSD and,
in many cases, additional documentation. Please note
that it takes approximately seven weeks from the receipt
of all necessary documentation for the College Board
to determine a student’s eligibility for accommodations,
and that the deadline for submission of accommodation
requests for the PSAT/NMSQT is in August. Although,
when documentation is not required, requests for
accommodations submitted after the above date may be
decided prior to date to test date, there is no guarantee
that accommodations will be approved and test materials
shipped in time for the test.
To ensure that accommodations are in place by test
time, requests should be submitted in the school year
prior to the year that the student plans to take the
PSAT/NMSQT, before school ends for the summer.
Visit www.collegeboard.org/ssd for detailed
information about the eligibility process.
SSD Online
14
Most students work with their schools to request
accommodations. SSD Coordinators can use SSD
Online, the College Board’s online system, for submitting
and managing accommodation requests for students
with disabilities. SSD Coordinators can submit requests
for accommodations, view a list of all students in their
school who are approved for accommodations, and print
Nonstandard Administration Reports (NARs) through
SSD Online. To learn more or view a demo, visit
www.collegeboard.org/ssdonline.
Students approved for extended time are section timed
as follows:
Section
Standard Time
50% Extended
Time
100% Extended
Time
Critical Reading
(2 sections)
25 minutes per
section
38 minutes per
section
50 minutes per
section
Math
(2 sections)
25 minutes per
section
38 minutes per
section
50 minutes per
section
Writing Skills
(1 section)
30 minutes
45 minutes
60 minutes
Important Dates and Contact Information
Aug. 28
Deadline to submit requests for accommodations.
Sept. 27
Deadline for ordering nonstandard test formats at
www.collegeboard.org/school.
SSD Contact Information
•Voice: 609-771-7137
•TTY: 609-882-4118
•Fax: 609-771-7944
•Email: ssd@info.collegeboard.org
•Website: www.collegeboard.org/ssd
PSAT/NMSQT Fee Waivers
and Remittance Report
Requesting Fee Waivers
(by June 28)
The College Board offers PSAT/NMSQT fee waivers
for juniors who are unable to pay test fees themselves.
Schools must identify eligible juniors from low-income
families and request fee waivers on their behalf by June 28.
Fee-waiver requests must be made through the
PSAT/NMSQT Coordinator site at
www.collegeboard.org/school. There is a limited
quantity of fee waivers available for each test
administration, so schools should request fee waivers
early and estimate their needs carefully to ensure
an equitable distribution of waivers. Fee waivers are
allocated on a first-come, first-served basis and may not
be available after June 28.
Primary College Board Fee-Waiver
Eligibility Criteria
Juniors who are either enrolled in or eligible to participate
in the Federal Free or Reduced-Price Lunch program
(FRPL) qualify to receive a fee waiver.
Alternative Fee-Waiver Eligibility
Indicators
• Fee waivers may be used by nationals of countries
other than the United States who live and test in the
United States or U.S. territories and who meet the
eligibility requirements.
Redeeming Fee Waivers
After the test, you MUST complete the Fee-Waiver
Roster, listing the name of each student using a fee
waiver. Go online to the PSAT/NMSQT Coordinator
site (www.collegeboard.org/school) and complete
your school’s Remittance Report. When you print the
Remittance Report, the Fee-Waiver Roster form will
print out automatically.
The number of fee waivers used must match the
number of names provided on the roster and may not
exceed the number of fee waivers allocated for your
school. The Fee-Waiver Roster must be returned with
your remittance and must be postmarked by Nov. 15,
2013. Fee-Waiver Rosters submitted after this deadline
will not be accepted, and your school will be responsible
for paying test fees for all students.
Please consult the Supervisor’s Manual included with
your test material shipment for instructions on how to
complete the Remittance Report and submit your
Fee-Waiver Roster.
Complete Your Report Online
If a junior is not enrolled in the FRPL program, or his
or her enrollment status cannot be easily determined,
counselors can use the following list of additional
indicators to determine student eligibility to receive a
College Board fee waiver.
Go online to the PSAT/NMSQT Coordinator site at
www.collegeboard.org/school to complete your
Remittance Report and Fee-Waiver Roster (if applicable).
• The junior’s annual family income falls within the
Income Eligibility Guidelines set by the United States
Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition
Service. These guidelines are available in the Income
Eligibility section of the USDA website at:
www.fns.usda.gov/slp.
1. The number of completed answer sheets you’re
returning, by grade.
• The junior is enrolled in a federal, state or local
program that aids students from low-income families
(e.g., TRIO programs such as Upward Bound).
PSAT/NMSQT Coordinators responsible for requesting
fee waivers should work with the individuals
coordinating these programs, to ensure that sufficient
quantities of fee waivers are requested by June 28.
• The junior’s family receives public assistance.
• The junior lives in federally subsidized public housing,
a foster home or is homeless
• The junior is a ward of the state or an orphan.
Note: The PSAT/NMSQT program uses the same
guidelines as the SAT Program in determining fee-waiver
eligibility.
International Students
The same income guidelines apply to students living
abroad who are United States citizens and will be testing
outside the United States.
Before you go online, make sure you have:
2. The number of tests you loaned/borrowed from other
schools (if applicable).
3. The number of junior fee waivers used (if applicable).
4. The number of students tested at your school whose
fees are being billed to the district, state or other
educational entity.
5. If you’re paying by purchase order, the PO number.
The Remittance Report tool will prompt you to enter
information that will be used to calculate your bill.
When you are finished, print the report. If fee waivers
have been allocated for your school, a Fee-Waiver Roster
will print automatically.
Sign the Remittance Report, attach your check or
purchase order and Fee-Waiver Roster with student
names (if applicable), and mail it in the remittance
envelope provided in your test materials shipment to:
PSAT/NMSQT
12192 Collection Center Drive
Chicago, IL 60693
(Use this address for initial payment only.)
For more information, please refer to the Supervisor’s
Manual or visit www.collegeboard.org/testright.
15
Tips for Getting the Most
from the PSAT/NMSQT
The PSAT/NMSQT is much more than a test. To help your students and your school maximize the benefits
of the PSAT/NMSQT experience, use the free tools, reports and resources that are available after the test.
For more information, visit www.collegeboard.org/psattools.
Distribute Student Test Books with Score
Reports:
When you distribute score reports in December,
return each test book to the student who used it, so
it can be used with the Your Answers section of the
score report.
Help Students and Parents Understand Results:
Copy and distribute the parent handouts on pages
41–44. Download additional materials online at
www.collegeboard.org/psatdownloads to help
students and parents understand PSAT/NMSQT
results.
Help Students Improve Their Skills:
Help students use the PSAT/NMSQT Skills Insight™
tool to gain a better understanding of their current
academic skill levels and the strategies they can use
to reach the next level. Visit
www.collegeboard.org/psatskills. (See page 28.)
Plan a My College QuickStart Session:
Schedule a computer lab session to walk students
through their personalized online college- and
career-planning tool. Students who take the
PSAT/NMSQT can access My College QuickStart
starting in mid-December, and we recommend
scheduling a session for January. My College
QuickStart includes an enhanced score report, a
customized SAT study plan, a personality test, and
extensive resources for exploring colleges, majors
and careers. Students can also see which AP courses
they may be ready for now and which are related to
college majors that interest them. By presenting this
information to students, it may help them find AP
courses that are a fit for them that they hadn’t yet
considered. Access My College QuickStart at
www.collegeboard.org/quickstart. (See page 24.)
Use My College QuickStart Lesson Plans:
Guide students through structured college and career
planning activities. Download My College QuickStart
lesson plans for free at
www.collegeboard.org/resources.
Expand Access to Advanced Placement® Courses:
Use the online AP Potential tool to generate rosters of
students at your school who are likely to succeed on
specific AP Exams. Access AP Potential at
www.collegeboard.org/reports. Available in
December. (See page 26.)
NEW! Students will be able to view information about
their AP potential on their paper score report in
addition to on My College QuickStart.
16
Identify Students’ Skill Strengths and
Weaknesses:
Share the online Summary of Answers and Skills
(SOAS) report with teachers to help them evaluate the
details behind their students’ performance. Access
SOAS at scores.collegeboard.org. Available in
January. (See page 27.)
Compare Your School’s Performance:
Download 2013 College-Bound Junior and Sophomore
reports to see how your students compare with
students across your state and the nation. Access
College-Bound Junior and Sophomore reports at
www.collegeboard.org/reports. Available in
February.
Help Students Get Ready for the SAT:
Encourage your students to sign up for the SAT and
use the free SAT study plan and practice resources in
My College QuickStart. (See page 20.)
Administer an SAT Practice Essay:
Remind your English department to download
ScoreWrite: A Guide to Preparing for the SAT Essay
at www.collegeboard.org/scorewrite. ScoreWrite
helps schools administer and score an SAT practice
essay, so students will have an essay score to use in
conjunction with their PSAT/NMSQT Score Reports.
Available online now. (See page 20.)
Find More Online
To learn more about the tools provided by the
PSAT/NMSQT Program, visit us online at
www.collegeboard.org/psattools.
Tools for Understanding
PSAT/NMSQT Results
The following free tools and publications will help you, your students and their families understand PSAT/NMSQT
results. To learn about all the PSAT/NMSQT reports that schools receive after the test, please see page 30.
Title
My College
QuickStart
Type
Website
Score Report
Flyer
Tutorials for Younger
Students
Understanding
Results from the
PSAT/NMSQT
Audience Description
Students
Students receive free online access to:
• explanations for the answers to all the PSAT/NMSQT test
questions
• personalized SAT study plan (for high school students)
• a robust personality profiler
• college, major and career exploration resources
(see page 24)
• AP potential feedback
Students
Copy this flyer and distribute to younger students. It helps middle
school students and ninth- and 10th-graders put their score report
results into proper perspective.
PowerPoint Students/
Presentation Parents
Flyer
A Parent Tutorial
for Understanding
2013 PSAT/NMSQT
Results
Understanding
Booklet
2013 PSAT/NMSQT
Scores
Parents
Educators
This presentation can help counselors advise students on using
the personalized feedback provided on the score report to plan
for college.
By taking the PSAT/NMSQT®
in ninth or 10th grade, you took
your first step on the path to
college. The test shows you
firsthand the kinds of reading,
mathematics and writing skills
you’ll need to succeed in college.
It also prepares you for college
admission tests like the SAT®.
If the test seemed
hard, remember — it’s
aimed at students in the
11th grade.
If you took the PSAT/NMSQT
before 11th grade, don’t feel
discouraged if your scores seem
low. Look at your percentiles to
see how well you did compared to
10th-graders who have taken the
test. Your PSAT/NMSQT results
will improve the longer you’re in
school, the more courses you take
and the harder you work.
How developed are your
academic skills?
Use your score report to identify
skills you need to develop.
First take a close look at the
“Your Answers” section. Find the
questions you got wrong. Then
look at your test book.
• Didthequestionscover
material you still need to learn?
• Didyougettheeasyquestions
right and leave the harder ones
blank?
• Didyouguesswhenyoudidn’t
know the answer?
• Didyougetstuckonacouple
of hard questions and run out
of time?
The best way to review your
test results is to go online at
www.collegeboard.org/
quickstart and use your
interactive score report. When
you choose a question to review,
How Did I Do?
Are you in ninth or 10th grade? Yes? Then relax.
The PSAT/NMSQT shows skills you’ve learned and
skills you may still need to work on before you go
to college. It does not expect you to perform as well
as students in 11th grade, and you still have time to
learn and improve.
the score report will display the
question plus a thorough answer
explanation so you can improve
your skills.
Learn how to guess
wisely.
Because you lose ¼ point for each
wrong answer, how you guess
on multiple-choice questions
can affect your score. When you
don’t know the answer, do you
make wild guesses or educated
guesses? Guessing wildly
means that you pick any answer.
Educated guessing means that
you eliminate answer choices
you know are wrong and guess
from those remaining. With
educated guessing, you improve
your chances of picking the right
answer with each choice you can
eliminate. Try it.
Prepare for the next
time you take the
PSAT/NMSQT.
Onceyou’vezeroedinonyour
own strengths and weaknesses,
the best way to get ready for
the test is to work hard in your
regular classes and read as much
as possible. Before taking the test
again, read the PSAT/NMSQT
Official Student Guide. Review
all the directions and sample
questions, study the test-taking
tips and strategies, and take the
practice test.
Use My College
QuickStart™ to get ready
for college.
By taking the PSAT/NwMSQT, you
receive free access to My College
QuickStart™, an easy-to-use,
online,personalizedcollegeand
career planning tool that includes:
• MyOnlineScoreReport—an
enhanced score report that
lets you review each test
question, your answers and the
correct answers with answer
explanations
• MySATStudyPlan™ — a
customizedSATstudyplan
based on your PSAT/NMSQT
test performance, highlighting
skills for review and practice
• MyPersonality—adetailed
personality test that helps
you learn about yourself and
discover majors and careers
that fit your strengths and
interests
• MyMajor&CareerMatches
— extensive information about
majors and careers, including
insights about what to expect
and what courses to take now
• MyCollegeMatches—a
starter list of colleges based on
your home state and indicated
choice of major
• MyAPPotential–areportthat
shows you which AP courses
you may be ready for now as
well as which AP Exams were
offered at your school last year.
The Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test is cosponsored by the College Board and National Merit Scholarship Corporation.
© 2013 The College Board. College Board, AP, SAT and the acorn logo are registered trademarks of the College Board. My College QuickStart
and My SAT Study Plan are trademarks owned by the College Board. PSAT/NMSQT is a registered trademark of the College Board and
National Merit Scholarship Corporation. Visit the College Board on the Web: www.collegeboard.org.
AP potential feedback for ninth-grade students is only provided for AP European History and AP World History.
Pages 45–46 of this publication or
download from
www.collegeboard.org/
psatdownloads.
Download from
www.collegeboard.org/
psatdownloads.
Copy this flyer for parents to help them understand the
Pages 41–44 of this publication or
PSAT/NMSQT Score Report Plus. Available in English and Spanish. download from
www.collegeboard.org/
psatdownloads.
This brochure will give you everything you need to know to
Included in the December score
understand PSAT/NMSQT scores, including percentiles and mean report shipment or download
scores, answer keys, and score conversions.
from www.collegeboard.org/
psatdownloads.
2013
2013 PSAT/NMSQT®
Score Report Tutorial
for 9th- and 10th-Grade
Students
You’ve already
taken the first step
toward college!
Where to Find It
Visit www.collegeboard.org/
quickstart.
A Parent Tutorial for Understanding 2013
PSAT/NMSQT ® Results
Visit www.collegeboard.
org/quickstart to get your My
College QuickStart planning tool.
PSAT/NMSQT Score Report Plus
Use the access code provided on
Take a look at your student’s PSAT/NMSQT® Score
your score report.
Report. Notice that each section of the test — critical
reading, mathematics and writing skills — has its own
What happens
now?
column.
Within each section is a great deal of information
Use the information
provided a thorough review of performance.
that provides
3 Your Answers: This section shows the correct answer, the
student’s response and the difficulty level of the question. Students
should have received their test book along with their score report.
Encourage your child to go over questions she or he got wrong.
Did she or he really not know the answer? Make a careless error?
Guess instead of leaving the question blank? My College QuickStart
provides complete answer explanations to help students learn from
their mistakes.
4 National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC)
Programs: NMSC cosponsors the PSAT/NMSQT, which stands
for Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying
Test. High school students enter NMSC programs, usually as
11th-graders, by taking the PSAT/NMSQT and meeting other
Important
published entry requirements. NMSC uses the Selection Index
score — the sum of the critical reading, mathematics and writing
Reminder:
skills
scores — as an initial screen of students who enter its
To qualify for
scholarship
programs
andtake
to designate groups of students to be honored. If
consideration,
you must
theinSelection
Index has an asterisk, refer to the NMSC section
the test again
grade 11.
on the back of the score report. NMSC will notify principals
of students whose Selection Index scores qualify them for
recognition. For more information about NMSC scholarship
www.collegeboard.org
programs, visit www.nationalmerit.org.
5
Next Steps: On
45test day, each student provided the
college major she or he is considering pursuing. In My College
QuickStart, the College Board provides important information
about the indicated major, including recommended high school
courses that will help prepare students for college-level work.
More than 3.5 million students take the test each year.
Approximately 1.5 million of those students are high school
juniors (11th graders), and the remainder are students in the
tenth grade (sophomores) or younger. Nearly all students who
take the test indicate they plan to attend college.
greatly in size, curricula, standards, grading systems, populations
served and sources of support. For students who take the PSAT/
NMSQT®, the score report provides a standardized view of their
scholastic skills, regardless of the school attended, and helps them
compare their performance to other college-bound students
nationwide.
1
on your score report and in My
1 Your
Scores:
College QuickStart
to improve
your academic• skills and
to plan
PSAT/NMSQT
Each
score — critical reading, mathematics and
for college and beyond. Here are
writing skills — is based on a scale of 20 to 80.
some suggestions:
•
score
The ranges show how much scores might vary if students
• Meetwithyourcounselorto
review your PSAT/NMSQT
were to take the PSAT/NMSQT repeatedly without learning
performance and
course
additional skills. In other words, the scores within this range are
selections relevant
to your“equal” statistically.
considered
future plans.
• Percentiles compare your student’s performance with
• Considertakinghonorsand/or
AP® courses. that of other students. Eleventh-graders are compared to
all 11th-graders who took the test last year; 10th-graders and
• Reviewyouronlinescorereport
younger
are compared to all 10th-graders who took
and SAT study plan in students
My
the test last year.
College QuickStart.
• RetakethePSAT/NMSQT.
2 Your Skills: Students can see how they performed on each
• Getinvolvedinextracurricular
of theactivities.
skills measured by the PSAT/NMSQT. After reviewing this
and community
section, students can then go online and log in to My College
• Researchmajors,colleges
™ to access suggestions for improving each of these
and careersQuickStart
using My College
QuickStart.skills and also sample questions to use for additional practice.
• Visitwww.collegeboard.org
Share this information with teachers, as these skills affect
often to getclassroom
more information
to
performance
and are important for success in college.
help you plan for college.
Who takes the PSAT/NMSQT?
4
2
3
How does the PSAT/NMSQT report on skills?
skills as SAT® and ReadiStep™ (the College Board’s assessment for
eighth graders). Aligned to both state standards and the College
important for success in college.
◾ Critical reading questions assess students’ abilities to draw
inferences, synthesize information, distinguish between main
and supporting ideas, and understand vocabulary as it is used
in context.
◾ Mathematics problem-solving questions deal with number
and operations; algebra and functions; geometry and
measurement; and data analysis, statistics, and probability.
◾ Writing skills questions measure the ability to identify
appropriate expressions in standard English, detect faults
in u
and paragraphs, and recognize appropriate writing strategies.
What is PSAT/NMSQT Skills Insight™?
multiple-choice questions, a quarter (1/4) of a point is deducted.
Nothing is deducted for unanswered questions or for incorrect
answers to student-produced response (grid-in) questions.
Next, the raw score is converted to a score on the PSAT/
eq
forms, or editions, of the test. Equating makes it possible to
editions
6 Information About Your Student’s My College
of the test; it also makes the scores from last year’s test comparable
QuickStart. See the reverse side to learn about this free onlineto those from this year’s PSAT/NMSQT.
resource.
Student score reports show a numerical score for each area
measured, as well as a range that extends from a few points
7 Helpful tips about when to take the SAT. The best time
for students to take the SAT is during the spring of junior year.
To register and practice, visit sat.collegeboard.org.
assuming that the student’s skill level remains constant.
8
factors, long-term educational preparation is the primary cause.
essential knowledge and skills students need for success in college.
To learn more, visit www.collegeboard.org/psatreports.
First, a raw score is computed. Students receive one point for each
6
Concern for fairness is an integral part of the development of
the PSAT/NMSQT. Comprehensive reviews and analyses ensure
What does the PSAT/NMSQT measure?
How is the PSAT/NMSQT scored?
5
Do PSAT/NMSQT scores fairly reflect
students’ skills?
Your Student’s AP potential. Based on his or her
PSAT/NMSQT scores, your student may have some potential
to succeed in at least one AP course. Full details can be found
in My College QuickStart.
Using hundreds of skill descriptions and practice questions, the
PSAT/NMSQT Skills Insight tool demonstrates the link between
student PSAT/NMSQT scores and college readiness skills —
the same skills measured on the SAT — as well as provides
actionable suggestions for improvement. Visit Skills Insight at
www.collegeboard.org/psatskills.
What are the PSAT/NMSQT College and
Career Readiness Benchmarks?
are the scores that students should meet or exceed to be
are included in several PSAT/NMSQT reports for educators,
including the Summary of Answers and Skills (SOAS) Report
Readiness Benchmarks are not included on reports for students
and should never be used to discourage students from pursuing
college or for preventing enrollment in rigorous coursework.
Why have the benchmark values changed?
changed so that it now mirrors the calculation of the SAT
PSAT/NMSQT scores that predict, with a 65 percent probability, a
To learn more, visit www.collegeboard.org/psatreports.
PSAT/NMSQT COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS BENCHMARKS
Critical
Reading
Mathematics
Writing
11th grade
PSAT/NMSQT
45
47
45
142
10th grade
PSAT/NMSQT
PSAT/NMSQT
Composite*
42
44
42
133
*Composite score benchmark was computed independently of
individual section score benchmarks.
continued on back cover
Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test
cosponsored by
/
Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test
cosponsored by
/
NATIONAL MERIT
SCHOLARSHIP CORPORATION
NATIONAL MERIT
SCHOLARSHIP CORPORATION
41
17
Ima B. Student’s
Score Report Plus
Case Study
➊ What Are Ima’s Scores?
Ima’s critical reading score is 50, mathematics is 52,
and writing skills is 44. The average 11th-grader’s
scores are between 47 and 49. Unless students earn
scores that are much lower than average, they’re
probably developing the kinds of critical reading, math
reasoning and writing skills needed for academic
success in college.
➏ How Can Ima Improve Her Academic
Skills?
No test measures precisely what someone knows, and
many factors can affect results. That is why test makers
think of each score as a range that extends from a few
points below to a few points above the score earned.
Her critical reading and mathematics scores have similar
ranges; her writing skills range is lower.
The Your Skills section provides critical reading,
mathematics and writing skills feedback based on Ima’s
pattern of responses across test questions. Ima can
see which skills she performed well on and which she
needs to improve. When she goes online and logs in to
My College QuickStart, she can access suggestions for
improving each of these skills and sample questions that
give her additional practice in each skill area.
➌ What Are Her Score Percentiles?
➐ What Can We Learn from Ima’s Answers?
Since Ima is in the 11th grade, the percentiles compare
her scores with those of all 11th-graders who took the
test last year. (If she were in the 10th grade or younger,
she would be compared to all 10th-graders.) Ima earned
a critical reading score higher than 55 out of every 100
juniors tested. In math, she scored higher than 57 percent
of juniors. Compared with peers who are college bound,
Ima’s critical reading and math percentiles are somewhat
higher than average. She did not do as well on writing
skills; she scored higher than 33 percent of juniors on that
portion of the test.
The score report is designed to be used with the
student’s PSAT/NMSQT test booklet. It lists all of Ima’s
answers and allows her to see the correct answer and
difficulty level for each question. Ima can use My Online
Score Report in My College QuickStart to review the
questions she answered incorrectly or omitted, and
complete practice questions of the same type to learn
from her results.
➋ What Are Her Score Ranges?
➍ How Will Ima Do on the SAT?
Ima is able to go online at www.collegeboard.org/
quickstart to access her personalized SAT study plan,
which includes her projected SAT score ranges, state
percentiles, a complete SAT practice test and resources
to help her prepare for the essay that appears on the
SAT. Using these free resources and taking rigorous
courses will help Ima do her best on the SAT.
➎ Will Ima Be Able to Enter NMSC
Competitions?
Add Ima’s critical reading (50), mathematics (52) and
writing skills (44) scores; the total of 146 is her Selection
Index. This index is used by National Merit Scholarship
Corporation to designate groups to be recognized in
its scholarship programs. If an asterisk had appeared
next to Ima’s score, it would mean she does not meet
entry requirements for the programs. In this case, Ima
18
meets entry requirements, but her score is not likely to
take her further in the competition for awards. For entry
requirements and information on how the competitions
work, see the Official Student Guide to the PSAT/NMSQT
or visit www.nationalmerit.org.
➑ What Are Ima’s Next Steps?
Under Next Steps on Score Report Plus, we see that Ima
is interested in Sport/Fitness Administration as a college
major. Ima can use the access code provided to log in to
My College QuickStart and learn more about this major,
other majors, and colleges and careers that interest her.
❾ When Should Ima Take the SAT?
As a junior, the spring is the best time for Ima to take the
SAT. By visiting sat.collegeboard.org, she can register
for the test and take advantage of practice resources.
❿ What Is Ima’s AP Potential?
Based on her PSAT/NMSQT scores, Ima has potential
for success in at least one AP course. By logging into
My College QuickStart, she can see her full report with
her potential for each subject, and determine which
courses are related to her chosen college major. After
reviewing this information, Ima should discuss AP with
her counselor. If Ima is not currently enrolled in AP, she
may want to consider taking at least one course next fall.
AP feedback is not available for eighth-graders and younger students.
Feedback for 9th grade students is only provided for AP European History and AP World History.
➊ ➍
➋
➌
❺
❻
❼
❽
❾
❿
19
Preparing for the SAT® with
the PSAT/NMSQT Program
How Does the PSAT/NMSQT Get
Students Ready for the SAT®?
Practice with Official SAT
Resources
The PSAT/NMSQT covers the same topics under the
same test conditions as the SAT. Therefore, students
who take the PSAT/NMSQT are already familiar with
the test content and format and will likely be more
comfortable when they take the SAT. Additionally,
PSAT/NMSQT Program resources help schools get
their students ready.
Students can:
• Answer a different SAT practice question every day for
free with The Official SAT Question of the Day™.
• Take an Official SAT Practice Test for free, see how
they score and get detailed answer explanations to
help them understand where they need to improve.
• Subscribe to The Official SAT Online Course™,
with 18 interactive lessons, 10 official practice tests,
sample essays, auto essay scoring, personalized
score reports and more.
My SAT Study Plan™ in My
College QuickStart
High school students get a free, personalized SAT study
plan that includes:
• Order The Official SAT Study Guide™: Second
Edition featuring 10 official practice tests, hundreds
of practice questions and test-taking approaches.
• Information about the SAT: An overview of SAT
content and a comparison of the SAT and PSAT/NMSQT
help students learn what to expect.
To access these free and affordable resources, build a
tailored study plan and much more, students should visit
sat.collegeboard.org/practice.
• Skill improvement advice: Students receive a
guided review of their PSAT/NMSQT results and get
advice on how to improve specific academic skills.
Prepare Students
for the SAT Essay
• Sample questions: Sample questions provide
students with additional practice, helping them focus
specifically on the skills they want to improve.
ScoreWrite: A Guide to Preparing for the SAT Essay
is now available online for free at
www.collegeboard.org/scorewrite. The ScoreWrite
guide complements the PSAT/NMSQT by providing
everything your school needs to administer a practice
SAT essay-writing session, including an SAT practice
essay prompt, sample papers at each score level, and
instructions for training staff and running a schoolwide
scoring session.
• Testing tips: The Test-Taking Approaches section
provides advice on managing time, reading carefully
and tackling various types of questions.
• Official SAT Practice Test: After learning from their
PSAT/NMSQT results, students can take an SAT
practice test to see which skills to focus on.
• SAT essay preparation: Students can learn how
the SAT essay is scored and see samples of studentwritten essays.
Setting up a timed practice writing session using
ScoreWrite will give students a chance to practice
writing an essay
• Express SAT sign-up: Students can register quickly
in a standardized
for the SAT using pre-populated information that they
setting and
2013-14 ScoreWrite™
supplied for the PSAT/NMSQT.
become familiar
A Guide to Preparing for the SAT Essay
with the type
Students can access their personalized study plans at
of writing task
Complements the
Writing Skills Section
www.collegeboard.org/quickstart.
that appears on
the SAT. Also,
™
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how scores relate to specific academic skills. It offers
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measured at each PSAT/NMSQT score band.
sat.org/practice
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to
Official Educator Guide
It also provides actionable suggestions for improving
share ScoreWrite
skills and sample questions that help students gain
with your English
additional practice.
department.
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Do your best on test
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(also available with DVD!)
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• Help your students practice for the SAT® essay
772081
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© 2013 The
The College
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Board.
20
• Provide faculty with a valuable professional
development experience
Using PSAT/NMSQT Scores to
Estimate SAT Scores
Critical reading and mathematics questions in the
PSAT/NMSQT are the same kind as those in the SAT.
The writing skills multiple-choice questions in the
PSAT/NMSQT are the same kind as those in the SAT
writing section, although the PSAT/NMSQT writing skills
section does not have an essay component like the
SAT writing section. These similarities are intentional,
as the PSAT/NMSQT is designed to get students ready
for the SAT.
The PSAT/NMSQT scale of 20 to 80 is comparable to the
SAT scale of 200 to 800. It is possible to estimate from a
student’s PSAT/NMSQT score an SAT score range within
which a student may expect to fall. However, scores
actually earned may be higher (or lower) than these
estimates. Students can use this estimated score as a
baseline and work with SAT Skills Insight and other tools
to aim for a higher score band.
Students who wish to improve their estimated
performance on the SAT should:
• develop academic skills through rigorous course work;
• read extensively and develop strong writing skills; and
• take a practice test and continue to become more
comfortable with the format of the SAT
Before taking the SAT, students should also become
familiar with the test format and question types. You can
find many free and affordable resources to help students
get ready for test day at sat.org.
For more information about how you can help your
students prepare and how to access free resources,
visit the SAT Counselor Resource Center at sat.org/crc.
Estimated 11th-Grade SAT Scores from 11th-Grade PSAT/NMSQT Scores
PSAT/NMSQT
Score
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
SAT Critical
Reading Range
240–310
240–320
250–320
250–330
260–340
270–350
270–350
280–360
290–370
300–380
310–390
310–390
320–400
330–410
340–420
350–430
360–440
370–440
380–450
380–460
390–470
400–480
410–480
420–490
430–500
440–510
450–520
460–530
460–540
470–540
480–550
SAT Math
Range
230–290
230–300
240–310
250–320
250–320
260–330
270–340
270–350
280–360
290–370
300–380
310–390
320–390
330–400
340–410
350–420
360–430
360–440
370–450
380–460
390–470
400–470
410–480
420–490
430–500
440–510
450–520
460–530
460–540
470–550
480–550
SAT Writing
Range
240–310
250–320
250–320
260–330
270–340
270–350
280–360
290–370
300–370
310–380
310–390
320–400
330–410
340–420
350–430
360–430
370–440
370–450
380–460
390–470
400–480
410–490
420–500
430–500
430–510
440–520
450–530
460–540
470–550
480–560
480–560
PSAT/NMSQT
Score
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
SAT Critical
Reading Range
490–560
500–570
510–580
520–590
530–600
540–600
550–610
560–620
560–630
570–640
580–650
590–660
600–670
610–680
620–690
630–700
640–710
650–720
660–720
670–730
680–740
690–750
700–760
710–770
720–770
730–780
740–780
740–790
750–790
750–790
SAT Math
Range
490–560
500–570
510–580
520–590
530–600
540–610
550–620
560–630
570–630
570–640
580–650
590–660
600–670
610–680
620–690
630–700
640–710
650–720
660–730
670–730
680–740
690–750
700–760
700–760
710–770
720–770
730–780
730–780
740–790
750–790
SAT Writing
Range
490–570
500–580
510–590
520–600
530–610
530–610
540–620
550–630
560–640
570–650
580–650
580–660
590–670
600–680
610–690
620–690
620–700
630–710
640–720
650–720
650–730
660–740
670–740
670–750
680–750
690–760
690–760
700–770
710–770
710–770
The above table shows how scores change for students who take the PSAT/NMSQT in October and the SAT the
following spring.
21
National Merit Scholarship Corporation
Academic Competitions for
Recognition and College Scholarships
National Merit Scholarship
Corporation (NMSC)
National Merit Scholarship
Program
NMSC is an independent, not-for-profit organization
that operates without government assistance. NMSC
conducts two annual competitions for recognition and
scholarships — the National Merit ® Scholarship Program
and the National Achievement ® Scholarship Program.
As cosponsor of the Preliminary SAT/National Merit
Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT), NMSC
receives the scores of all students who take the test as
well as information they provide on their answer sheets.
The National Merit Program is open to all students who
meet entry requirements. Each year, some 1.5 million
high school students enter the competition, 50,000 are
recognized for their academic potential, and 9,200 win
Merit Scholarship ® awards or Special Scholarships for
college undergraduate study. (Special Scholarships are
provided by corporate sponsors for students who meet
their criteria and are high performers in the competition,
but not Finalists.) Students who qualify for recognition
in the National Merit Program are notified through their
schools in September.
The 2013 PSAT/NMSQT is the
entry vehicle for NMSC’s 2015
programs. Who should take it?
National Achievement Scholarship
Program
NMSC uses the PSAT/NMSQT Selection Index (the sum
of the critical reading, mathematics and writing skills
scores) as an initial screen of program entrants and to
designate groups of students to receive recognition. To
enter NMSC competitions, students must take the test
in the specified year of their high school program and
meet other published entry requirements. Almost all
entrants are in their third year (grade 11, junior year) of
high school. Students completing high school a year or
more early who are in their last or next-to-last year also
may enter. For other situations, contact National Merit
Scholarship Corporation: 1560 Sherman Avenue, Suite
200, Evanston, IL 60201-4897; phone: 847-866-5100.
The National Achievement Program is an academic
competition in which only Black American high school
students participate. Black students who wish to enter
the National Achievement Program as well as the
National Merit Program request consideration in the
National Achievement Program by marking Section
14 of the PSAT/NMSQT answer sheet. More than
160,000 students enter each annual competition, 4,700
participants receive recognition, and some 800 win
Achievement Scholarship ® awards. Students who qualify
for recognition in the National Achievement Program are
notified through their schools in September.
2013
Need more information?
Detailed information about
entry requirements, program
recognition, and scholarships may
be found in ➊ the NMSC section
of the Official Student Guide
to the PSAT/NMSQT (sent to
PSAT/NMSQT Coordinators);
➋ NMSC program publications
sent to high school principals in
September; and
➌ on NMSC’s website,
www.nationalmerit.org.
22
Official Student Guide to the
Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test
Scholarship Competitions
• National Merit® Scholarship Program,page2
• National Achievement® Scholarship Program,page20
conductedbyNational Merit Scholarship Corporation
www.nationalmerit.org
97146-01442 • unlweb0713
772051
Flip this book over for
Test-Taking Help
Types of Test Questions
Practice Test
(Separate Pull-Out Booklet)
➊
➋
➋
National Merit Scholarship Corporation
2013–14 Important Dates for Schools
2013
2014
Aug. 27
Notification of 16,000 Semifinalists in the 2014
National Merit Program and National Merit
Scholarship application materials are mailed to
principals.
Jan. 17
Principals are mailed notification of their 2014
National Achievement Program Semifinalists
who have advanced to Finalist standing and
certificates for presentation to them.
Aug. 30
Notification of 1,600 Semifinalists in the 2014
National Achievement Program and National
Achievement Scholarship application materials
are mailed to principals.
Jan. 30
Principals are mailed notification of their 2014
National Merit Program Semifinalists who have
advanced to Finalist standing and certificates for
presentation to them.
Sept. 11
Release to media names of 2014 National Merit
Scholarship Program Semifinalists.
Feb. 28
Sept. 17
Notification to principals of Commended Students
in the 2014 National Merit Program.
2014 Achievement Scholarship offers are mailed
to recipients’ home addresses, and notification is
sent to their principals.
March 1
Sept. 23
Notification to principals of Outstanding
Participants in the 2014 National Achievement
Program who are being referred to U.S. colleges
and universities.
Postmark deadline for students who missed
taking the 2013 PSAT/NMSQT to request
consideration for another route of entry to 2015
competitions conducted by NMSC.
March 12
NMSC begins mailing award offers to 2014
corporate-sponsored Merit Scholarship winners
and Special Scholarship winners at their home
addresses and notification to their principals.
Sept. 25
Release to media names of 2014 National
Achievement Scholarship Program Semifinalists.
Oct. 16 or 19
Schools administer the 2013 PSAT/NMSQT on
one of these dates for entry to NMSC’s 2015
programs.
March 21
Oct. 5,
Nov. 2, Dec. 7
Authorized SAT administrations for Semifinalists
in NMSC’s 2014 programs.
NMSC asks school officials to confirm their
students’ requests to participate in the 2015
National Achievement Scholarship Program.
March 27
Late
November
Principals are mailed scholarship application
materials for 2014 National Merit Program
Special Scholarship candidates.
NMSC begins mailing award offers to 2014
National Merit $2,500 Scholarship recipients at
their home addresses and notification to their
principals.
April 9
Media release date for 2014 winners of
Achievement Scholarship awards.
Mid-April
Notification to principals of their 2015 National
Merit Program entrants who are among the
50,000 highest-scoring students on the 2013
PSAT/NMSQT. Principals are asked to confirm the
reported eligibility of these students.
May 1
NMSC begins mailing 2014 college-sponsored
Merit Scholarship offers to winners at their home
addresses and notification to their principals.
April 23,
May 7,
May 28
and July 14
Media release dates for 2014 winners of Merit
Scholarship awards.
23
My College QuickStart :
A College Planning Tool
for Students
™
Accessing My College QuickStart
Starting in mid-December, students can access My
College QuickStart using the access code printed
on their paper score reports. The tool can be utilized
throughout high school.
Log in or take a tour of My College QuickStart at
www.collegeboard.org/quickstart.
MyRoad™
MyRoad™ is the College Board’s comprehensive online
major, college and career exploration program and is
included in My College QuickStart. MyRoad features:
My College QuickStart is an online college- and careerplanning tool available free of charge to all students who
take the PSAT/NMSQT. It is powered by their responses
to the test and provides personalized information that
helps students take their next steps toward college:
• My Online Score Report — an enhanced score
report that allows students to review each test
question, their answers and the correct answers with
answer explanations
• My SAT Study Plan — a customized study plan
based on students’ PSAT/NMSQT test performance,
with hundreds of practice questions to help students
improve their skills
™
• My Personality — a detailed personality test that
helps students learn about themselves and discover
majors and careers that fit their strengths and interests
• ORA Personality Profiler: An assessment tool that
students can take to learn about their personality types
and receive additional major and career suggestions
• 69 profiles of academic fields — from aeronautics to
zoology, representing 175 instructional programs
• The latest information on more than 3,500 four-year
and two-year colleges and universities
MyRoad Option for PSAT/NMSQT Schools
Students who take the 2013 PSAT/NMSQT receive free
access to MyRoad through My College QuickStart until
they graduate from high school.
For schools that administer the PSAT/NMSQT and
would like to offer MyRoad to all their students,
pricing begins at only $250 per year. For more
information and to obtain an order form, please visit
www.collegeboard.org/myroadeducator.
• My Major & Career Matches — extensive information
about majors and careers, including insights about what
to expect and what courses to take now
• My College Matches — a starter list of colleges based
on students’ home state and indicated choice of major
• NEW! My AP Potential — a report that shows students’
level of potential for different AP courses as well as which
AP courses were offered at their school the previous
year (based on AP Exams offered). This information can
prompt students to explore AP and find courses that
they have potential in but hadn’t yet considered. It can
also give insight into what sorts of courses fit with their
interests and future college plans.
24
Note: AP feedback is not available for eighth graders and younger students. Feedback for ninth-grade students is only provided
for AP European History and AP World History.
My College QuickStart
Resources for Educators
• My Plan: Students can record their interests, track their activities on the site and build a résumé
Help your students get started with My College QuickStart and ensure that they benefit from the many tools
available in this college and career planning tool personalized for each student.
Access an online demo and free downloadable resources, including lesson plans, at
www.collegeboard.org/resources.
Title
Type
Audience
Description
1. My College QuickStart demo
Online demo
Educators
The online demo allows educators to see firsthand all the features their
students have access to in My College QuickStart.
2. Your Next Steps: Using
PSAT/NMSQT Results Student
Video
Video
Students
A video that shows students how to use and interpret their paper score
report and My College QuickStart.
3. My College QuickStart
Implementation Guide
Booklet
Educators
A general overview of My College QuickStart, information on how
to access the tool and best practices that have been successfully
implemented by educators to encourage student use of the tool.
4. My College QuickStart Lesson
Plans
Lesson Plans
Educators
Lesson plans with worksheets that can be used as homework
assignments.
5. MyRoad Lesson Plans
Lesson Plans
Educators
Lesson plans that can be used to guide students through different
college and career planning activities in MyRoad.
6. My College QuickStart Parent
Letter Template
Letter
Parents
Template letter that can be used to inform parents about My College
QuickStart.
My
Online Score
Report
My College QuickStart™ Lesson Plan:
Name:
(High School)
____________________________________
Grade Level(s)
Goal(s)
Grades 9–12
• Review and understand missed and omitted Critical Reading, Writing Skills,
and/or Mathematics questions on the PSAT/NMSQT®.
• Fully explore the features and content in My Online Score Report.
Time Required
Materials Needed
Before You Begin
30–45 minutes
• My College QuickStart™—My Online Score Report
• “Reviewing Missed Questions” worksheet (attached)
• Set up your My College QuickStart account. (Refer to the “Get Connected”
reference sheets for assistance.)
• Revisit missed/omitted questions in each content area, at each difficulty
level, or by content type.
Student Objectives
• Identify possible patterns in incorrect problem solving.
• Review correct answers with explanations, and identify skill areas that are
still not clear.
1. Go to www.collegeboard.com/quickstart and sign in.
2. Click on
3. Use the tabs at the top of the page, choose Critical Reading, Mathematics,
or Writing Skills.
Student
Assignment
4. Take a moment to review your score, score range, national and state
percentiles, and projected SAT® score range.
Note: If you’re in ninth grade, you will instead see an estimated national
percentile range.
© 2010 The College Board. College Board, SAT and the acorn logo are registered trademarks of the College Board. inspiring minds
and My College QuickStart are trademarks owned by the College Board. PSAT/NMSQT is a registered trademark of
the College Board and National Merit Scholarship Corporation.
➌
➍
page 1
25
AP Potential™
Access the AP Potential tool online at
www.collegeboard.org/reports.
What is AP Potential?
AP Potential is a Web-based tool that helps school
administrators find potential AP students from among
their school’s PSAT/NMSQT test-takers. AP Potential
analyzes PSAT/NMSQT student score data and
generates a roster of students at your school who are
likely to score a 3 or higher on a given AP Exam. Use
this tool to open the doors of your AP classrooms to
students who can and will succeed, gaining the skills
that will enable them to succeed in college.
How does it work?
You select a performance criterion for each AP class
your school offers or is considering, and then click one
button to generate a roster of potential students at your
school for that course. Each roster includes students’
names, ethnicity, gender and PSAT/NMSQT scores.
The Student Data File available to schools (see page 30)
also includes an AP Potential indicator for each student
with at least a 40 percent likelihood of scoring a 3 or
higher on a given AP Exam. Principals and counselors
attest that AP Potential has enabled them to find and
encourage students who otherwise would not have been
considered for AP course participation.
NEW! Students also have access to AP potential
feedback in My College QuickStart and on their Score
Report Plus. This information can help to get students
who are not currently enrolled in AP to consider taking
an AP course. For those students who are already
participating in AP, it can identify courses they have the
potential to succeed in that they hadn’t yet considered.
26
How accurate is AP Potential?
AP Potential is based on research that establishes
meaningful correlations between PSAT/NMSQT
scores and AP Exam scores. This study shows that
PSAT/NMSQT scores are significant predictors of
students’ AP Exam scores and could supplement
more obvious and traditional signposts like high school
grades, grades in previous same-discipline course
work and the number of same-discipline courses a
student has taken. Plus, the data indicate that the
relationship of PSAT/NMSQT scores to AP Exam
scores is substantially the same for all ethnic and
racial groups. For more information, view the research
report, The Relationship Between PSAT/NMSQT Scores
and AP Examination Grades: A Follow-up Study, at
www.collegeboard.org/research.
How should it be used?
Researchers are quick to note that even such a strong
indicator only accounts for a portion of the factors
that ultimately determine a student’s AP Exam score.
Individual student motivation and preparation, parental
support, and teacher efficacy all play a powerful and
significant role in a student’s academic success.
Accordingly, a student should never be barred from
participation in AP courses simply because his or her
name doesn’t appear on the roster of AP Potential
students. On the contrary, AP Potential has been
designed to assist schools by providing rosters that help
you make sure that no student who has a chance of
succeeding is overlooked. AP Potential should never be
used to exclude students from AP courses.
Summary of
Answers and Skills (SOAS)
Access your school’s Summary of Answers and Skills™
(SOAS) report at scores.collegeboard.org.
What is the Summary of Answers
and Skills?
How can the SOAS be used?
• Compare how your students performed against
comparable, national and state groups on identical
test questions, identifying those skill areas in need of
attention.
The Summary of Answers and Skills (SOAS) report
allows you to take a closer, detailed look at your
students’ scores and skill performance at each grade
level by providing a snapshot of their performance on
each PSAT/NMSQT test question and skill. It’s a tool that
can help you make adjustments to your curricula and
instructional practices and identify remediation efforts
to improve learning. SOAS is available to schools that
tested at least 10 students at the same grade level.
• Link classroom activities with the skills the
PSAT/NMSQT measures: critical reading, mathematics
and writing skills (and focus on the weak skills that
need improvement).
What is included in the SOAS?
Resources to Support SOAS Use
• Performance Overview: Displays the number of
students tested per grade, their mean scores, and
the percentage of students that met the College and
Career Readiness Benchmark.
The following resources, available at
scores.collegeboard.org, can help you analyze
student performance with the SOAS:
• Skills Analysis: Shows your students’ performance
on each College Readiness Skill and alignment of
skills to test questions.
• Tutorials in video, PowerPoint, and PDF formats
• Foster discussion among your school’s faculty to
implement additional means to develop students’
skills and improve their performance before they
retake the PSAT/NMSQT or take the SAT.
• Test Questions and Answer Explanations
• State standards alignment reports
• Question Analysis: Shows answer patterns
on individual test questions, which can reveal
strengths and learning gaps. Online resources like
Test Questions and Answer Explanations and State
Standards Alignments will help you analyze trends in
greater detail.
• Comparable Group Analysis: Allows you to quickly
“eyeball” where your students’ performance diverges
from what might be expected based on their overall
performance.
27
PSAT/NMSQT
Skills Insight™
Access PSAT/NMSQT Skills™ Insight at
www.collegeboard.org/psatskills.
What is Skills Insight?
PSAT/NMSQT Skills Insight is a free online tool
designed to help students and teachers gain a better
understanding of how students’ scores relate to specific
academic skills.
Using hundreds of skill descriptions and practice questions,
the PSAT/NMSQT Skills Insight tool demonstrates the link
between student PSAT/NMSQT scores in Reading, Writing,
and Math and college readiness skills — the same skills
measured on the SAT.
It includes:
• Academic skills tested on the PSAT/NMSQT
• Academic skills typical of students who score within
each score band
• Suggestions for improvement
• Real PSAT/NMSQT questions and answers
Integration with other reporting
tools
The skills described in the Skills Insight tool are the
same skills reflected in other PSAT/NMSQT reporting
tools — Score Report Plus, My College QuickStart,
the Summary of Answers and Skills (SOAS), and the
Student Data File CD. By providing feedback to both
students and educators, these integrated reports
work together to improve learning outcomes and help
develop students’ skills. For an overview of skills tested
by the PSAT/NMSQT, see page 31.
Recommended uses
The information in PSAT/NMSQT Skills Insight is
provided for you, your students, their parents and your
colleagues. Encourage students to use Skills Insight
to review the skills typically mastered at their score
level and also learn what additional skills they’ll need to
progress to the next level of college preparedness. Skills
Insight provides actionable suggestions for improving
skills and sample questions that give students additional
practice on each skill they’d like to develop.
Also, share Skills Insight with your English
and math departments to help staff better
understand how the skills tested on the
PSAT/NMSQT relate to the skills they teach
in the classroom. The more your teachers
know, the more value your school can
derive from PSAT/NMSQT reports such as
the Summary of Answers and Skills (SOAS).
28
Standard
Reports
Hard-Copy Reports
School-Specific Reports Online
Score Reports (two per student)
School access codes for the following reports will be
printed on the Roster of Student Scores and Plans:
The Score Report Plus for an individual student provides
scores, ranges, percentiles, Selection Index, eligibility for
National Merit Scholarship Corporation programs, college
major of interest and an overview of answers. The score
report also provides feedback about performance on
individual skills so that students can improve these skills.
Schools can purchase an additional set of score reports
(two per student) for a fee.
Roster of Student Scores and Plans
A one-stop source of information about all students’
scores, percentiles, Selection Index, eligibility for National
Merit Scholarship Corporation programs, grade average
and college major. The roster also includes student
access codes for My College QuickStart, as well as your
educator access codes for AP Potential and Summary of
Answers and Skills (SOAS).
Score Labels (one per student)
Each label includes scores, percentiles and the Selection
Index of an individual student.
School Summary Report
When more than 50 juniors and/or 50 sophomores from
the same school take the PSAT/NMSQT, the school
automatically receives this report to let educators monitor
personal characteristics, scores and educational plans of
college-bound juniors and sophomores year after year.
Note: When fewer than 50 juniors and/or 50 sophomores
take the PSAT/NMSQT, the school can have the same
useful information compiled by purchasing the School
Summary Report.
• AP Potential Available online in December (see
page 26).
• Summary of Answers and Skills (SOAS) for schools
that tested at least 10 students at the same grade
level. Available online in January (see page 27).
Public Reports Online
The following free reports are available to schools online
at www.collegeboard.org/report:
2013 PSAT/NMSQT College-Bound Junior and
Sophomore State Reports
These free reports summarize the characteristics, scores
and educational plans of the class of 2015 and class of
2016 for each state. They include the number of testtakers, ethnic background, participation in Student Search
Service, self-reported GPA, year completing high school
and entering college, performance by score range, and
college major.
Refer to your School Summary Report to compare
your local school data with the state-level data in these
reports. State-level data are also compared to the data
for the region and the total test-taking population for each
grade. Available online in February.
Note:
PSAT/NMSQT scores should not become part of
any student’s transcript or permanent record that
is routinely shared with outside entities, such as
colleges, scholarship organizations or potential
employers. Sharing of scores should only be at a
student’s request.
29
Optional
Reports
Student Data File $50
This electronic file, available in either Excel-ready
or ASCII format, allows schools to use and organize
student data in spreadsheet or database formats. The
file includes each student’s PSAT/NMSQT scores,
percentiles, answers to every test question, grade level,
self-reported high school grade average, college major
and more.
Before ordering, check with your school’s data
administrator to confirm the best format in which to
receive the Student Data File.
Here are some suggested ways to use this data:
• Add fields relevant for your school. Consider
adding a column with the names of each student’s
math and English teachers. Other fields you might
consider: state test results, current English and
math grades (to look for inconsistencies between
performance on the PSAT/NMSQT and in the
classroom), and any other relevant data that could
assist in providing a comprehensive picture of the
student.
• Share information with teachers. Sort the data by
teacher. Copy data for each teacher’s students and
paste these data into new spreadsheets. Teachers can
add a field to sort students by class.
• Review responses to test questions. Teachers can
sort the spreadsheet by responses to PSAT/NMSQT
questions. How many students answered a particular
question correctly or incorrectly? Did they choose
one wrong answer more frequently? Using the test
booklets that schools return to students with their
score reports, teachers can review test questions with
the class. Teachers can also access complete answer
explanations online at scores.collegeboard.org.
A Note on Confidentiality:
Student information is confidential. Be sure to share
student data only with school administrators and
teaching staff. Mark them it confidential, passwordprotect electronic files and remove data fields (e.g.,
Social Security number) that are not necessary for
teachers.
30
• Identify potential AP students. Using the
AP Potential indicator, identify those students who
may be ready for the challenge and rigor of AP.
School Summary Report $30
This option is only for schools testing fewer than
50 juniors/50 sophomores. Schools that test at least
50 of their juniors/sophomores automatically
receive these data in the School Summary Report sent
with score reports.
The School Summary Report provides statistical and
background information for juniors and sophomores.
Seven tables display (1) the number of students tested;
(2) critical reading, mathematics and writing skills scores,
including distributions, means and standard deviations; (3)
the year completing high school and entering college; (4)
participation in Student Search Service; (5) self-reported
grade average; (6) ethnic background; and (7) college
major of choice. Use this report with the College-Bound
Junior and Sophomore State Reports (see page 29).
Additional Score Reports
$50 + $0.40/student
Schools may order an additional set of student score
reports (two reports per student) for all of their
PSAT/NMSQT test-takers for a flat fee of $50 plus $0.40
per student.
How to Order Optional Reports
Place your optional report order online at
www.collegeboard.org/school. The ordering
deadlines are Nov. 22, 2013, to receive these items
in January 2014, Jan. 3, 2014, to receive them by
February 2014, and March 30, 2014, to receive them
within 3–5 weeks of order.
PSAT/NMSQT
List of Academic Skills
Critical Reading Skills
Determining the Meaning of Words
Use vocabulary skills, context, roots, prefixes and
suffixes to determine the meaning of words.
Author’s Craft
Understand how authors use tone, style and writing
devices such as metaphor or symbolism.
Reasoning and Inference
Understand assumptions, suggestions and implications
in reading passages and draw informed conclusions.
Organization and Ideas
Understand the organization of a reading passage, and
identify the main and supporting ideas.
Understanding Literary Elements
Understand literary elements such as plot, setting and
characterization.
Mathematics
Number and Operations
Understand types of numbers (integers, fractions,
decimals), their properties and the correct order of
operations (addition, multiplication, division). Perform
computations correctly.
Algebra and Functions
Solve problems using algebraic expressions and symbols
to represent relationships, patterns and functions of
different types.
Geometry and Measurement
Solve problems based on understanding the properties
of shapes, such as triangles and circles, and the spatial
relationships between angles and lines.
Data, Statistics and Probability
Analyze data, understand descriptive statistics, make
inferences and determine the likelihood that certain
events will occur.
Problem Solving
Representation
Use and translate among representations including
verbal, numerical, symbolic and graphical to
communicate mathematical ideas and solve problems.
Reasoning
Develop and use mathematical arguments and proofs to
explore the truth of conjectures and justify conclusions.
Connections
Connect ideas from different areas of mathematics
(particularly geometry and algebra) to state or solve
abstract or applied problems.
Communication
Express mathematical ideas precisely and communicate
them coherently and clearly in the language and notation
of mathematics.
Writing Skills
Manage Word Choice and Grammatical
Relationships Between Words
Understand relationships between and among words,
including subject–verb agreement, pronoun reference,
and verb form and tense.
Manage Grammatical Structures Used to Modify or
Compare
Understand correct use of adjectives or adverbs,
comparative structures (such as neither and nor) and
phrases used to modify or compare.
Manage Phrases and Clauses in a Sentence
Use well-formed sentence structures (e.g., parallelism,
connectives, and relative clauses) to indicate
relationships between and among sentence elements.
Recognize Correctly Formed Sentences
Recognize correct sentence structure.
Manage Order and Relationships of Sentences and
Paragraphs
Identify how to order the elements of a sentence
or paragraph to improve clarity, meaning and the
progression of ideas.
Solve abstract and practical problems by applying and
adapting a variety of strategies. Monitor progress and
evaluate answers in terms of questions asked.
31
College and Career Readiness
Benchmarks
What are the College and Career
Readiness Benchmarks?
The PSAT/NMSQT College and Career Readiness
Benchmarks are part of a series of indicators that help
educators gauge college readiness at different points
in a student’s career. The PSAT/NMSQT College and
Career Readiness Benchmarks are aligned with the
Benchmarks for the ReadiStep and SAT assessments.
The PSAT/NMSQT College and Career Readiness
Benchmarks are the scores that students should
meet or exceed to be considered on track to be
college ready. Separate benchmarks are provided for
sophomores and juniors (see table below).
The College and Career Readiness Benchmarks are
included in PSAT/NMSQT reporting to help educators
better understand how many and also which students
are on track to have the skills necessary for success in
college. Equipped with this information, educators can
support students who need extra help while there is
still time for improvement.
How were the College and
Career Readiness Benchmarks
developed?
The methodology for calculating the PSAT/NMSQT
benchmarks mirrors the calculation of the SAT
benchmarks. The current benchmarks are the
10th-grade or 11th-grade PSAT/NMSQT scores that
predict, with a 65 percent probability, a first year
college grade point average (FYGPA) of 2.67 or higher.
Because the values directly relate PSAT/NMSQT
performance to college performance, we are providing
a prediction of students’ likelihoods of succeeding in
the first year of college based on their PSAT/NMSQT
scores. In this way, the PSAT/NMSQT benchmarks are
a direct measure of whether or not students are on
track to college readiness.
Where are they reported?
The College and Career Readiness Benchmarks are
reflected in several PSAT/NMSQT reports, including the
Summary of Answers and Skills (SOAS) Report, CollegeBound Junior and Sophomore State Summary Reports,
and the optional Student Data File CD. SOAS reports and
College-Bound Junior and Sophomore reports indicate
the percentage of students who meet the benchmark
while the Student Data File provides a yes/no composite
score indicator for each student, identifying those who
are on track for college readiness and those who are not.
The College and Career Readiness Benchmarks are not
included on any reports for students.
Recommended uses
Designed to help educators gauge progress toward
college readiness, the College and Career Readiness
Benchmarks can help educators:
• See how many students are on track for college.
• Identify students who may need extra support while
there is still time for improvement.
• Find students who may be ready for more rigorous
course work.
The College and Career Readiness Benchmarks should
not be used for tracking purposes, to discourage
students from pursuing college, or to keep students
from participating in rigorous courses.
PSAT/NMSQT College AND CAREER Readiness
Benchmarks for 10th- and 11th-Graders
Critical
PSAT/NMSQT
Reading Mathematics Writing Composite*
11th-grade
PSAT/NMSQT
45
47
45
142
10th-grade
PSAT/NMSQT
42
44
42
133
*Composite score was computed independently of individual
section scores.
32
PSAT/NMSQT
Score Trend Data
Understanding Score Trends
A graph of average PSAT/NMSQT scores for the past five years
reveals that national scores go up and down, just as local scores may
fluctuate when analyzed over time.
Schools should encourage as many students as possible to take the
PSAT/NMSQT. In general, we expect mean scores to be lower as
greater numbers of students take a test. This may be particularly
true for the PSAT/NMSQT because, for many students, it is their
introduction to a comprehensive standardized test of the types of
skills required for success in college.
The PSAT/NMSQT is not designed to be used as a barometer of
school performance but rather as an early indicator of students’
readiness for college-level work, providing an opportunity for
students and schools to identify and improve weak academic skills.
Sophomore-to-Junior Score Improvement
On average, juniors score higher on the PSAT/NMSQT than
sophomores and younger students. Additionally, research has shown
that many sophomores score higher when they retake the exam as
juniors. The table below provides results from a study that looked at
score changes for repeat test-takers.
mean scores for 11th-graders, 2008-12
Year
Critical
Reading
Math
Writing
Skills
2008
46.7
48.8
45.8
2009
46.9
48.2
45.8
2010
47.3
48.9
45.4
2011
47.6
48.3
45.6
2012
47.7
48.6
46.5
60
56
54
52
50
48
46
44
42
40
PSAT/NMSQT Sophomore-to-Junior
Score Improvement*
Percentage of juniors with a score
gain of two or more points
Sophomore-Year
PSAT/NMSQT
Critical
Writing
Scores
Reading % Math %
Skills %
28–32
66
70
68
Critical Reading
Math
Writing Skills
58
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
mean scores for 10th-graders, 2008-12
Year
Critical
Reading
Writing
Skills
Math
2008
41.6
44.0
41.0
2009
42.0
43.3
41.0
2010
42.5
44.0
40.4
33–37
65
71
63
2011
43.1
43.1
40.9
38–42
67
68
61
2012
43.1
43.6
41.8
43–47
62
71
63
48–52
59
67
62
53–57
57
64
57
58–62
60
64
58
63–67
56
55
45
68–72
54
49
34
Data are based on 710,595 students who took the
PSAT/NMSQT as sophomores in October 2007 and as juniors
in October 2008.
*For each sophomore score range, the table shows the percentage of
students who improved their scores by 2 points or more (the equivalent
of 20 SAT points) when they took the PSAT/NMSQT in their sophomore
year and then repeated the PSAT/NMSQT in their junior year.
60
Critical Reading
Math
Writing Skills
58
56
54
52
50
48
46
44
42
40
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
33
2013–2014 SAT and
SAT Subject Tests™ Dates
®
On average, students who have taken the PSAT/NMSQT tend to improve their score by 136 points on
the SAT.
Students can also demonstrate their knowledge and achievement in specific subjects by taking the
hour-long SAT Subject Tests.
2013
October
November
December
5
2
7
Aug. 28
Sept. 6
Sept. 20
Sept. 25
Oct. 3
Oct. 18
Oct. 30
Nov. 8
Nov. 22
Early Deadline
(international only)
Regular Deadline
Late Deadline
(domestic only)
2014
Early Deadline
(international only)
Regular Deadline
Late Deadline
January
March
May
June
25
8*
3
7
Dec. 18
Dec. 27
Jan. 10
Not Applicable
Feb. 7
Feb. 21
Mar. 26
Apr. 4
Apr. 18
Apr. 30
May 9
May 23
(domestic only)
Sunday tests are administered the next day. Deadlines expire at midnight ET (U.S.A.) and are subject
to change (please visit sat.collegeboard.org).
*SAT administered only in U.S. and U.S. Territories. SAT Subject Tests not offered in March.
Register at
sat.org/register
2013-14
Test Date:_____________________
PSAT/NMSQT
®
School Code:___________________
Associate Supervisor/
Proctor Checklist
You have been identified as the staff member responsible for
the PSAT/NMSQT® administration in your assigned room. The
following checklist is designed to help you prepare for
the PSAT/NMSQT test administration.
Before the Test
❑ Read the PSAT/NMSQT Supervisor’s Manual that
is included in your school’s test materials shipment (sent
to your school’s PSAT/NMSQT Coordinator) before test
day. Pay close attention to the information dealing with
testing irregularities and other unusual situations, and
review the script inside the manual that you will use on
test day.
Test Day
❑ Post the following information in the test room
in a place where all students can see it:
• Your Six-Digit School Code
• Your School Address
• Today’s Date
• “Start Time: ____” (to be entered for each test
section)
• “Stop Time: ____” (to be entered for each test section)
• “Break Stop Time: ____” (for the 5-minute break)
❑ Remove (or cover) any visible educational
materials in the test room that may be related to the
test content.
❑ Display at least one visible clock in the test room.
❑ Do not allow students to choose their own
seats. Assign students to seats randomly and ensure
that friends or relatives are not seated near or next
to each other. All students should be seated in the
same direction and spaced at least four feet apart from
neighboring students. It is recommended that you
create a seating chart in case issues arise later.
(Sample in Supervisor’s Manual.)
❑ Close the test room door when you are ready to begin
administering the test. Students who arrive a few minutes
late may be admitted at your discretion, provided the test
has not started. Send all students who arrive after the test
Assigned Room:________________
has begun to the main office or other designated area. Be
prompt in starting the test.
❑ Distribute test materials:
• Remove the test materials from the plastic bags and
give one test book and one answer sheet to each
student. (Hand each student a test book personally.
Do not allow students to pass them to one another.)
Keep one answer sheet and one test book for your use
while giving the instructions.
• Make sure no one opens a test book until you instruct
them to do so.
• Tell students to write their names on their test
books because they will be returned to the students
when score reports are distributed. (Home-schooled
students should also write their addresses.) Have
them include any other information that will aid in
returning test books later (e.g., counselor’s name,
homeroom number, etc.).
❑ Read aloud all test directions exactly as they are
printed in the Supervisor’s Manual. Do not answer
any questions from students about the test content.
❑ If copying or illegal communication occurs
in your test room, follow the irregularities
procedures as outlined in the Supervisor’s Manual.
After the Test
❑ When the test administration is over, collect all
answer sheets first and then collect all test
booklets. No one is to have the opportunity to examine
any test book until score reports arrive in schools.
❑ Confirm that students wrote their names on their
test books as you collect them.
❑ Count the materials to make sure you have one
answer sheet and one test book from every student.
Do not dismiss the students until this is verified.
❑ Confirm that all students gridded their grade
level correctly on their answer sheets to ensure
accurate billing and reporting for your school.
❑ Complete the Supervisor’s Irregularity Report, if
required, as outlined in the Supervisor’s Manual.
❑ Give all answer sheets and test books to the
PSAT/NMSQT supervisor at your school.
Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test
cosponsored by
/
NATIONAL MERIT
SCHOLARSHIP CORPORATION
© 2013 The College Board. College Board and the acorn logo are registered trademarks of the College
Board. PSAT/NMSQT is a registered trademark of the College Board and National Merit Scholarship
Corporation. Visit the College Board on the Web: www.collegeboard.org.
35
Take the 2013
PSAT/NMSQT
®
With the PSAT/NMSQT you can:
• get ready for the SAT®
• enter National Merit Scholarship Corporation competitions for
recognition and scholarships
• access personalized college and career planning resources and get AP®
potential feedback in My College QuickStart™
• request information from colleges and universities
• assess your critical reading, mathematical reasoning and writing skills
• get suggestions on how to improve your academic skills
Date/Time:
Cost:
Location:
Additional information:
Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test
cosponsored by
/
36
NATIONAL MERIT
SCHOLARSHIP CORPORATION
© 2013 The College Board. College Board, SAT and the acorn logo are registered trademarks of the College Board. My College QuickStart is a trademark owned by the College
Board. PSAT/NMSQT is a registered trademark of the College Board and National Merit
Scholarship Corporation. All other products and services may be trademarks of their
respective owners. Visit the College Board on the Web: www.collegeboard.org.
The Parent
­Perspective
PSAT/NMSQT
®
2013
Date: _________________________________________________
Location: ______________________________________________
Time: _________________________________________________
Cost: __________________________________________________
For more information, contact: ____________________________
______________________________________________________
1. Why should students take the PSAT/NMSQT®?
The PSAT/NMSQT is the best preparation for the SAT®. Students
who take the test in 11th grade and meet other program entry
requirements may enter National Merit Scholarship Corporation
programs.
All students who take the PSAT/NMSQT will receive an
official score report. They will receive scores in critical reading,
mathematics and writing skills and will see how their scores
compare to those of other students across the country. Students
will be able to see which answers they got right or wrong. They
will also receive information about how they performed on specific
academic skills.
Students who take the test will receive free access to My College
QuickStart™, an online college and career planning tool that
contains an online PSAT/NMSQT score report; a customized
My SAT Study Plan™; a personality test; personalized lists
of colleges, majors and careers; and a report detailing their
level of potential for AP courses. For more information, visit
www.collegeboard.org/quickstart.
Other special opportunities for students who take the PSAT/NMSQT
in 11th grade include the National Hispanic Recognition Program.
For more information, see your student’s counselor or visit
www.collegeboard.org.
2. Who should take the PSAT/NMSQT?
Typically, students take the PSAT/NMSQT in grade 11 of high school.
It is also beneficial for younger students to take the test to get a head
start on improving academic skills needed for success in college and
beyond. Last year, more than half of all test-takers were in grade 10 or
younger.
/
NATIONAL MERIT
SCHOLARSHIP CORPORATION
Classroom learning is the basis for test questions, so the best way
students can prepare is by taking rigorous courses and becoming
familiar with the test and its format. Students should review
the PSAT/NMSQT Official Student Guide, which is full of useful
information, including a full-length practice test. The Guide and
the practice test will help students understand all the directions
and be familiar with the types of questions that will be asked.
4. If students don’t do well on this test, will it hurt
their chances of getting into college?
Absolutely not. If anything, the PSAT/NMSQT will improve their
chances, since it provides personalized information on the types of
skills that the student needs to improve to prepare for the SAT and
college. PSAT/NMSQT scores are not sent to colleges.
5. How many times may a student take this test?
Frequently Asked Questions
Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test
cosponsored by
3. What should be done to prepare for this test?
Only once a year, but there is no limit to how many years a student
may participate. It is important that 11th-grade students take the
test to enter National Merit Scholarship Corporation com­peti­tions,
as well as to prepare for the SAT.
6. What is Student Search Service®, and should
students choose “Yes”?
When students take the PSAT/NMSQT, they are asked if they would
like to participate in the College Board’s Student Search Service, a
free service that provides names of students to certified educational
organizations. If students choose to participate, they allow colleges,
universities, scholarship programs and educational opportunity
organizations to send information about the educational and
financial aid opportunities they offer. Student information is strictly
monitored and secure, and individual PSAT/NMSQT test scores are
never shared with any outside entity.
7. When may we expect to see the results from the
PSAT/NMSQT?
Schools will receive score reports in December and will notify
­students regarding when, where and how to get their individual
reports. Schools also receive an extra copy for the student’s file.
8.What else should students be doing to have
college as an option after graduation?
Refer to the calendar on the back of this flyer.
At www.collegeboard.org, you’ll find more information about the
PSAT/NMSQT, My College QuickStart, and planning and paying
for college, as well as information on other College Board programs,
such as the SAT and the Advanced Placement Program®.
© 2013 The College Board. College Board, Advanced Placement Program, AP, SAT, Student Search
Service and the acorn logo are registered trademarks of the College Board. My College QuickStart,
MyRoad and My SAT Study Plan are trademarks owned by the College Board. PSAT/NMSQT is
a registered trademark of the College Board and National Merit ­Scho­lar­ship Corporation. Visit the
College Board on the Web: www.collegeboard.org.
The College Board gives permission to duplicate this page for educational use.
37
PSAT/NMSQT Score Report
The score report includes not only scores and itemized feedback on test
questions, but also a “Your Skills” section. For each section of the test — critical
reading, mathematics and writing skills — students will receive personalized
skills feedback based on their performance on the PSAT/NMSQT. The score
report also shows whether students meet entry requirements for National Merit
Scholarship Corporation competitions.
B
A
C
F
E
A PSAT/NMSQT Critical Reading, Mathematics and Writing Skills Scores
B PSAT/NMSQT Score Ranges
C Percentiles — How Students Performed Compared to Their Peer Group
D
D Information on Accessing My College QuickStart
E Personalized “Your Skills” S
­ ection
F National Merit Scholarship Corporation Information
G SAT and AP information
H Overview of PSAT/NMSQT Answers
H
D
G
Important Dates and Reminders
September 2013
October 2013
November 2013
Students should review the Official Student
Guide and take the practice test inside.
■ On www.collegeboard.org, s
­ tudents can
create My Organizer, a free tool that will
guide them through the PSAT/NMSQT process and other College Board programs.
■
PSAT/NMSQT test a
­ dministration:
Make sure your student eats breakfast and
brings No. 2 pencils, a calculator, a watch
(with alarms off), and his or her email
address to the test ­administration.
■On test day, encourage your student to
choose “Yes” for Student Search Service on
the PSAT/NMSQT answer sheet, so he or
she will receive information from colleges,
­universities and scholarship programs.
■Talk
December 2013
January 2014
■Score
reports are sent to schools
in December. Remind your
student to register online at
www.collegeboard.org/quickstart
for his or her free personalized
My College QuickStart account.
■Visit www.collegeboard.org to access
more information that will aid you in helping
your student use his or her score report.
■
March 2014
April 2014
■
■
38
Students should select four, preferably
five, solid academic courses for next year.
They should check with their counselor
about potential participation in AP courses.
Review your student’s AP potential feedback in My College QuickStart.
ncourage your student to use
E
the free online resources at
www.collegeboard.org/quickstart,
including complete answer explanations
for every test question, a personalized My
SAT Study Plan, and MyRoad™, an online
career, major and college exploration tool.
■
heck with counselors about college
C
summer programs designed to introduce
high school ­students to college courses.
with your student about programs of
study that interest him or her. Students
in grade 11 should research colleges and
­universities.
■ Visit www.collegeboard.org to help your
student search for ­­scholarships and learn
more about funding a college education.
February 2014
Students in grade 11 should consider
­registering for the SAT this spring.
■
May/June 2014
■
Have your student request a summer
reading list from his or her English
teacher.
Perspectiva
de los Padres
jóvenes tomen el examen, para empezar desde temprano a mejorar
las destrezas académicas necesarias para el éxito universitario y
profesional. El año pasado más de la mitad de los participantes eran
del 10mo. grado o menores.
PSAT/NMSQT
®
2013
Fecha: __________________________________________________
Lugar: __________________________________________________
3. ¿Qué hay que hacer para prepararse para este
examen?
Las preguntas del examen se basan en lo que se aprende en clase,
así que la mejor manera de prepararse es tomar cursos rigurosos y
familiarizarse con el examen y su formato. Los estudiantes deben
repasar la guía PSAT/NMSQT Official Student Guide, que está
repleta de información útil y tiene incluso un examen de práctica
completo. Esta guía y su examen de práctica ayudarán a los
estudiantes a entender las instrucciones del examen y familiarizarse
con los tipos de preguntas que se les va a hacer.
4. ¿Si el estudiante no sale bien en este examen,
le perjudicará en sus posibilidades de entrar
a la universidad?
Costo: __________________________________________________
No, en lo absoluto. En todo caso, el PSAT/NMSQT aumentará sus
posibilidades, pues provee información personalizada sobre los tipos
de destrezas que el estudiante necesita mejorar para prepararse
para el SAT y para la universidad. Los resultados del PSAT/NMSQT
no se envían a las universidades.
Para más información comuníquese con: ___________________
5. ¿Cuántas veces puede un estudiante tomar
este examen?
Hora: ___________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
Preguntas más frecuentes
1.
¿Por qué deben los estudiantes tomar el
PSAT/NMSQT®?
El PSAT/NMSQT es una excelente preparación para la prueba
de razonamiento del SAT®. Los estudiantes de 11mo. grado que
lo toman, y que llenan otros requisitos, podrían participar en los
programas de becas de National Merit Scholarship Corporation.
Todos los estudiantes que toman el PSAT/NMSQT recibirán un
informe de resultados oficial. Ellos recibirán sus resultados en
lectura crítica, matemáticas, y redacción y verán como comparan
con los de otros estudiantes en todo el país. Los estudiantes podrán
ver lo qué sacaron bien y en qué fallaron. Ellos recibirán también
un informe personalizado sobre las académicas especificas que
necesita atención junto.
Sólo una vez al año, pero no hay límite en cuanto al número de
años en que puede participar. Es sumamente importante que los
estudiantes de 11mo. grado tomen el examen para participar en el
certamen de becas de la National Merit Scholarship Corporation,
además de prepararse para el SAT.
6. ¿Qué es el Student Search Service®, y deben los
estudiantes elegir “Yes”?
Cuando los estudiantes toman el PSAT/NMSQT, se les pregunta
si quieren participar en el servicio de listado de estudiantes
Student Search Service del College Board, un servicio gratuito que
les suministra nombres de estudiantes a entidades educativas
certificadas. Al decidir participar, el estudiante autoriza a
las universidades, programas de becas, y organizaciones de
oportunidades educativas, a enviar información sobre las
oportunidades educativas y de ayuda económica que ofrecen. La
información del estudiante es estrictamente controlada y segura,
y los resultados individuales de la prueba PSAT/NMSQT nunca se
divulgan a entidades externas.
Los estudiantes que toman el examen recibirán acceso gratuito
a My College QuickStart™, una herramienta en Internet para
planificación de universidades y carreras, que contiene el informe
de resultados de la prueba PSAT/NMSQT; un plan de estudio
personalizado (My SAT Study Plan™); una prueba de personalidad;
listas personalizadas de universidades, carreras y especializaciones;
y un reporte detallado de su potencial para tomar los cursos AP.
7. ¿Cuándo podemos esperar ver los resultados
del PSAT/NMSQT?
Para más información, visite
www.collegeboard.org/quickstart.
8. ¿Qué más deben estar haciendo los estudiantes para
tener la opción de ir a la universidad luego de que
se gradúen?
Entre las oportunidades especiales para los estudiantes de 11mo.
grado que toman el PSAT/NMSQT, se halla el programo nacional
de reconocimiento a hispanos o National Hispanic Recognition
Program. Para más información vea al consejero académico del
estudiante o visite www.collegeboard.org.
2. ¿Quién debe tomar el PSAT/NMSQT?
Las escuelas recibirán el informe de resultados en diciembre, y
notificarán a los estudiantes sobre cuándo, cómo y dónde obtener
sus resultados individuales. La escuela recibe también una copia
adicional para el expediente del estudiante.
Mire el calendario que aparece al reverso de este folleto. En
www.collegeboard.org hallará más información sobre el
PSAT/NMSQT, My College QuickStart, la planificación para la
universidad y su financiación, así como información sobre otros
programas del College Board, tales como el SAT y el programa de
adelanto escolar Advanced Placement Program®.
Generalmente los estudiantes toman el PSAT/NMSQT en el 11mo.
grado de secundaria. También es beneficioso que estudiantes más
Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test
cosponsored by
/
NATIONAL MERIT
SCHOLARSHIP CORPORATION
39
PSAT/NMSQT Score Report
El informe de resultados contiene no solamente la puntuación y resultados detallados de
las preguntas del examen, sino también una sección de “Your Skills”. Cada estudiante
recibirá su informe personalizado de destrezas para cada una de las secciones del
examen, lectura crítica, matemáticas y redacción, según los resultados que obtuvo en
el PSAT/NMSQT. El informe de resultados también indica si los estudiantes cumplen
con los requisitos para participar en el certamen de becas de la National Merit
Scholarship Corporation.
B
A
C
F
E
A Puntuación de Lectura Crítica, Matemáticas y de
Redacción del PSAT/NMSQT
B
Escalafón de Puntajes del PSAT/NMSQT
C Percentil — Cómo se desempeñaron los estudiantes en
comparación con otros de su grupo
D
D Información para el acceso por Internet al My College QuickStart
E
Sección personalizada “Your Skills”
F
Información de becas de la National Merit Scholarship Corporation
G Información sobre el SAT y el programa AP.
H
H Perspectiva general de Respuestas del PSAT/NMSQT
D
G
Fechas y recordatorios importantes
Septiembre 2013
Octubre 2013
Noviembre 2013
■Los
alumnos deben estudiar la Guía Oficial
Estudiantil y hacer el Examen de Práctica
que se incluye.
■Los estudiantes pueden visitar
www.collegeboard.org y crear My
Organizer, una herramienta gratis que los
guiará a lo largo del proceso PSAT/NMSQT y
de otros programas del College Board.
■Se
ofrece el examen PSAT/NMSQT:
Asegúrese de que su estudiante desayune
bien y traiga consigo al examen lápices
No. 2, una calculadora, un reloj (con la
alarma apagada) y una dirección de correo
electrónico.
■Inste a su estudiante a que marque “Yes”
para Student Search Service el día del examen
en la hoja de respuestas del PSAT/NMSQT,
para que reciba correspondencia de las
universidades y programas de becas.
■Hable
Diciembre 2013
Enero 2014
Febrero 2014
■El
informe de resultados, Score Report,
se envía a las escuelas en diciembre.
Recuérdele a su estudiante que se inscriba
por Internet en www.collegeboard.org/
quickstart para conseguir My College
QuickStart gratis y personalizado.
■Visite www.collegeboard.org para conseguir
más información sobre cómo ayudarle a su
estudiante a usar su informe de resultados.
■Anime
■Los
Marzo 2014
Abril 2014
■Los
■Averigüe
estudiantes deben elegir cuatro, o
de preferencia cinco, cursos académicos
sólidos para el año entrante. Deben
averiguar con su consejero académico sobre
la posibilidad de participar en cursos AP®.
Revise los cometarios y sugerencias sobre
el potential de su estudiante para tomar los
cusos AP, en My College QuickStart.
a su estudiante a usar los recursos
en línea libres en www.collegeboard.
org/quickstart, incluso explicaciones
de respuesta completas de cada pregunta
de prueba, un My SAT Study Plan
personalizado, y MyRoad™, una herramienta
de la Internet que explora las carreras,
concentraciones y universidades.
con los consejeros sobre
programas universitarios de verano
dedicados a familiarizar a los estudiantes
de secundaria con los cursos de nivel
universitario.
con su estudiante sobre los programas
de estudio que le interesan. Los estudiantes
de 11mo. grado deben investigar sobre
universidades.
■Visite www.collegeboard.org para
ayudar a su estudiante a buscar becas e
información y sobre la financiación de la
carrera universitaria.
estudiantes de 11mo. grado deben
inscribirse para el SAT esta primavera.
Mayo/Junio 2014
■Haga
que su estudiante le pida una lista de
lecturas para el verano a su maestro de inglés.
© 2013 The College Board. College Board, Advanced Placement Program, AP, SAT, Student Search Service and the acorn logo are registered trademarks of the College Board. My College
QuickStart, MyRoad and My SAT Study Plan are trademarks owned by the College Board. PSAT/NMSQT is a registered trademark of the College Board and National Merit ­Scho­lar­ship
Corporation. Visit the College Board on the Web: www.collegeboard.org.
The College Board gives permission to duplicate this page for educational use.
40
A Parent Tutorial for Understanding 2013
PSAT/NMSQT ® Results
PSAT/NMSQT Score Report Plus
Take a look at your student’s PSAT/NMSQT® Score
Report. Notice that each section of the test — critical
reading, mathematics and writing skills — has its own
column. Within each section is a great deal of information
that provides a thorough review of performance.
1
1
Your Scores:
• Each PSAT/NMSQT score — critical reading, mathematics and
writing skills — is based on a scale of 20 to 80.
• The score ranges show how much scores might vary if students
were to take the PSAT/NMSQT repeatedly without learning
additional skills. In other words, the scores within this range are
considered “equal” statistically.
• Percentiles compare your student’s performance with
that of other students. Eleventh-graders are compared to
all 11th-graders who took the test last year; 10th-graders and
younger students are compared to all 10th-graders who took
the test last year.
4
2
2 Your Skills: Students can see how they performed on each
of the skills measured by the PSAT/NMSQT. After reviewing this
section, students can then go online and log in to My College
QuickStart™ to access suggestions for improving each of these
skills and also sample questions to use for additional practice.
Share this information with teachers, as these skills affect
classroom performance and are important for success in college.
3 Your Answers: This section shows the correct answer, the
student’s response and the difficulty level of the question. Students
should have received their test book along with their score report.
Encourage your child to go over questions she or he got wrong.
Did she or he really not know the answer? Make a careless error?
Guess instead of leaving the question blank? My College QuickStart
provides complete answer explanations to help students learn from
their mistakes.
4 National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC)
Programs: NMSC cosponsors the PSAT/NMSQT, which stands
for Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying
Test. High school students enter NMSC programs, usually as
11th-graders, by taking the PSAT/NMSQT and meeting other
published entry requirements. NMSC uses the Selection Index
score — the sum of the critical reading, mathematics and writing
skills scores — as an initial screen of students who enter its
programs and to designate groups of students to be honored. If
the Selection Index has an asterisk, refer to the NMSC section
on the back of the score report. NMSC will notify principals
of students whose Selection Index scores qualify them for
recognition. For more information about NMSC scholarship
programs, visit www.nationalmerit.org.
5
Next Steps: On test day, each student provided the
college major she or he is considering pursuing. In My College
QuickStart, the College Board provides important information
about the indicated major, including recommended high school
courses that will help prepare students for college-level work.
3
7
5
8
6
6 Information About My College QuickStart. See the
reverse side to learn about this free online resource.
7 Helpful tips about when to take the SAT. The best time
for students to take the SAT is during the spring of junior year.
To register and practice, visit sat.collegeboard.org.
8 Your Student’s AP potential. Based on his or her
PSAT/NMSQT scores, there may be AP courses that your student
is ready to take now. Full details can be found in My College
QuickStart.
Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test
cosponsored by
/
NATIONAL MERIT
SCHOLARSHIP CORPORATION
41
My College QuickStart™
What happens now?
My College QuickStart is an online college- and career-planning tool
available free of charge to all students who take the PSAT/NMSQT. It
is powered by their responses to the test and provides personalized
information that helps students take their next steps toward college:
• My Online Score Report — an enhanced score report that
allows students to review each test question, their answers and
the correct answers with answer explanations
• My SAT Study Plan™ — a customized SAT® study plan based
on students’ PSAT/NMSQT test performance, highlighting skills
for review and practice
• My Personality — a detailed personality test that helps
students learn about themselves and discover majors and careers
that fit their strengths and interests
• My Major & Career Matches — extensive information about
majors and careers, including insights about what to expect and
what courses to take now
• My College Matches — a starter list of colleges based on
students’ home state and indicated choice of major
• My AP Potential — a report that shows students’ level of
potential for different AP courses as well as which AP courses
were offered at their school the previous year (based on AP
Exams offered).
With the help of teachers and counselors, students
should use the information provided on the PSAT/
NMSQT Score Report Plus and in My College
QuickStart to improve their academic skills and
plan for their postsecondary goals. Here are
some other suggestions for students:
• Review high school transcripts and select
courses for upcoming semesters that will
prepare for ­education and career goals.
• Take challenging courses: Consider honors
and AP® courses.
• Tenth-graders and younger students
should take the PSAT/NMSQT
again in 11th grade to enter competitions
conducted by National Merit Scholarship
Corporation.
• Eleventh-graders should register for
the SAT, and possibly SAT Subject Tests™,
this spring. (Online at
www.collegeboard.org or “express
register” in My College QuickStart.)
• Get involved in extracurricular and
community activities. College admission
officials look for academic competence and
preparation (types/levels of academic
courses taken and grades received), and
they also look for how a student will
contribute to the college community. What
do students do outside of the school day?
Are they involved in music, art, athletics,
student government, volunteer work,
employment, etc.? The quality of students’
involvement is important. What is the depth
of their commitment? Are they assuming
leadership roles? Are they making a
­contribution to the school or community?
Students can sign in to My College QuickStart with the access code
printed on their paper score report. The tool is available in midDecember and can be used throughout high school.
Use www.collegeboard.org to help
your student reach his or her
education and career goals:
Visiting www.collegeboard.org makes it easier for you to help your
student have a successful e­ xperience preparing for and applying to
college. You’ll find expert advice to keep you informed throughout the
college planning process, including:
•
Ways to encourage your student to start thinking about
life after high school
•
Strategies for financing your student’s education
•
Help with curriculum planning to realize your student’s
specific career goals
•
Information and resources you need to help your student
prepare to perform his or her best on the SAT
Practical advice and online tools to find the right
college for your student’s needs and goals
•
© 2013 The College Board. College Board, AP, SAT and the acorn logo are registered trademarks of the College Board. My College QuickStart, My SAT Study Plan and SAT
Subject Tests are trademarks owned by the College Board. PSAT/NMSQT is a registered trademark of the College Board and National Merit Scholarship Corporation. Visit
the College Board on the Web: www.collegeboard.org.
42
Guía para los padres para interpretar los
resultados del PSAT/NMSQT ® del 2013
PSAT/NMSQT Score Report (Informe de resultados)
Déle un vistazo al informe de resultados del PSAT/NMSQT®
del estudiante. Note que cada sección del examen: Lectura
Crítica, Matemáticas y Redacción, está en una columna.
Dentro de cada columna hay gran cantidad de información
que proporciona un panorama completo del rendimiento.
1
1
Your Scores (Sus Puntajes):
• Cada puntaje del PSAT/NMSQT, el de Lectura Crítica,
Matemáticas y Redacción, está basado en una escala del 20 al 80.
• Los niveles de los puntajes (score ranges) muestran cuánto
podrían variar los puntajes, si los estudiantes tomaran el
PSAT/NMSQT varias veces sin aprender nuevas destrezas. En
otras palabras, los puntajes dentro de este nivel se consideran
“equivalentes”, estadísticamente hablando.
4
2
• Los porcentajes (percentiles) comparan el rendimiento del
estudiante con el de otros estudiantes. Los estudiantes de 11mo.
grado se comparan con todos los demás estudiantes de ese grado que
tomaron el examen el año pasado. Los estudiantes de 10mo. grado y
menores se comparan con todos los estudiantes de 10mo. grado que
tomaron el examen el año pasado.
3
2
Your Skills (Sección de sus destrezas): Estas destrezas
fueron identificadas según el patrón de respuestas en todas las
preguntas del examen. Proporcionamos comentarios personalizados
para cada estudiante en un máximo de tres destrezas de lectura
crítica y de matemáticas, y dos de redacción. Esto no significa
necesariamente que ésas sean las únicas destrezas que requieren
mejora. Sin embargo las destrezas indicadas son las que más se
pueden mejorar con atención y aprendizaje adicional. Comparta esta
información con sus maestros, ya que estas destrezas influyen en el
rendimiento en clase y son importantes para el éxito universitario.
3 Your Answers (Sección de repaso de respuestas): Esta
sección muestra la respuesta correcta, la respuesta del estudiante y
el nivel de dificultad de la pregunta. Los estudiantes deberán haber
recibido el librito de examen junto con el informe de resultados.
Anime a su hijo a repasar las preguntas que no contestó bien.
¿De hecho no sabía la respuesta? ¿O fue un error de descuido?
¿Prefirió adivinar que dejar la respuesta en blanco? En My College
QuickStart™, hay explicaciones completas de las respuestas para
ayudar estudiantes para aprender sobre sus errores.
4 Programas de la National Merit Scholarship Corporation:
La NMSC coauspicia el PSAT/NMSQT, que es la abreviación para
Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (SAT
Preliminar/Examen Nacional de Calificación para Becas por Mérito).
Los estudiantes de escuela secundaria participan en los programas de
la NMSC, generalmente en el 11mo. grado, al tomar el PSAT/NMSQT
y llenar ciertos requisitos de ingreso. La NMSC utiliza el puntaje
del Índice de Selección (Selection Index) — la suma de los puntajes
de Lectura Crítica, Matemáticas y Redacción — para hacer una
preselección de los estudiantes que participarán en sus programas
y para designar grupos de estudiantes que serán destacados. Si
el Índice de Selección tiene un asterisco, vea la sección NMSC en
la parte posterior del Informe de Resultados. La NMSC notificará
a los directores de escuela de aquellos estudiantes cuyos Índices
de Selección los califican para un reconocimiento. Para mas
información sobre el programma de becas del NMSC, visite
www.nationalmerit.org.
5
6
8
7
5 Next Steps: El día del examen, antes de iniciar la prueba, todos
los estudiantes proporcionan la concentración o major que quieren
estudiar en la universidad. En My College QuickStart el College Board
provee importante información sobre la concentración que eligió el
estudiante, incluyendo cursos de escuela secundaria que se recomienda
tomar a fin de prepararse para el trabajo de nivel universitario.
6 Información sobre My College QuickStart. Vea al dorso la
información sobre este recurso gratis de Internet.
7 Sugerencias útiles sobre cuándo tomar el SAT. El mejor
momento para tomar el SAT es durante la primavera del penúltimo
año de escuela secundaria. Para registrarse y practicar,
visite sat.collegeboard.org
8 El potencial de su estudiante para el programa AP.
En base a la puntuación obtenida en el PSAT/NMSQT, su estudiante
puede estar listo para tomar algunos cursos AP. Los detalles
completos se pueden encontrar en My College QuickStart.
Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test
cosponsored by
/
NATIONAL MERIT
SCHOLARSHIP CORPORATION
43
My College QuickStart™
My College QuickStart es una herramienta virtual de planeación universitaria y de
carrera profesional, disponible de manera gratuita para todos los estudiantes que
toman el PSAT/NMSQT. Por medio de un código individual de acceso que aparecerá
impreso en su informe de resultados Score Report, los estudiantes tendrán acceso a:
• Un informe de resultadas del PSAT/NMSQT incluyendo percentiles estatales y su
margen de puntuación pronosticado para el SAT® (por estudiantes de secundaria), y
la capacidad de clasificar preguntas según la dificultad y el tipo de cada pregunta y
ver explicaciones completas de las respuestas.
• Un plan de estudio personalizado para el SAT incluyendo un examen completa para
practicar (por estudiantes de secundaria).
• Planeación personalizada para la universidad y las carreras con el programa
MyRoad™. Los estudiantes podrán hallar las universidades, asignaturas y carreras
que le conviene a cada cual. Pueden enterarse de su tipo de personalidad y recibir
sugerencias de asignaturas y carreras usando el Personality Profiler.
• Un reporte que contiene una descripción del potencial del estudiante para los
diferentes cursos AP, y un listado de los cursos AP que fueron ofrecidos en su
escuela el año anterior (en base a los exámenes AP ofrecidos).
Estudiantes tienen acceso a My College QuickStart hasta ellos graduan de escuela
secundaria.
Utilice www.collegeboard.org para
ayudar a que su estudiante alcance sus
metas educativas y profesionales:
La información de www.collegeboard.org le facilita el ayudar a que su estudiante
tenga una fructífera experiencia preparándose y solicitando ingreso a la universidad.
Encontrará consejos de expertos para mantenerse informado durante todo el proceso
de planificación universitaria, incluyendo:
• Cómo animar a su estudiante a que comience a pensar en lo que viene después de
la escuela secundaria.
• Estrategias para financiar los estudios de su estudiante.
• Ayuda para la planificación de un currículo que hará realidad las metas profesionales
específicas de su estudiante.
• Información y recursos útiles que ayudarán a que su estudiante se prepare para salir
lo mejor posible en el examen.
• Consejos prácticos y herramientas de Internet para encontrar la universidad
adecuada a las necesidades y los objetivos de su estudiante.
¿Y ahora, qué
sucede?
Con la ayuda de los maestros y consejeros
académicos, los estudiantes deberán usar
la información proporcionada en el Informe
de Resultados del PSAT/NMSQT y en My
College QuickStart para mejorar sus destrezas
académicas y para fijar sus metas post
secundarias. A continuación hallará otras
sugerencias para los estudiantes:
• Repasa tu expediente académico y
selecciona cursos para los semestres
venideros, que te preparen para tus objetivos
educativos y profesionales.
• Toma cursos rigurosos: Considera cursos de
honor y cursos de AP®.
• Los estudiantes de 10mo. grado y
estudiantes más jóvenes deberán tomar el
PSAT/NMSQT otra vez en el 11mo. grado para
participar en el certamen de la National Merit
Scholarship Corporation.
• Los estudiantes del 11mo. grado deben
inscribirse para el SAT y quizás para el SAT
Subject Tests™ en la primavera.(La inscripción
por Internet es en
www.collegeboard.org, o registro
apresurado en My College QuickStart.)
• Participa en actividades extracurriculares
y cívicas. Los encargados de admisiones de
las universidades buscan no sólo capacidad
académica y preparación (tipos/niveles de
cursos académicos y notas recibidas), sino
también estudiantes que contribuyan a
la comunidad universitaria. ¿Qué hace el
estudiante después del horario escolar?
¿Participa en actividades de música, arte,
atletismo, gobierno estudiantil, trabajo
voluntario, empleo, etc.? La calidad de la
participación del estudiante es importante.
¿Qué tan seria es su dedicación? ¿Está
asumiendo liderazgo? ¿Contribuye con la
escuela o la comunidad?
© 2013 The College Board. College Board, AP, SAT, and the acorn logo are registered trademarks of the College Board. My College QuickStart, MyRoad and SAT
Subject Tests are trademarks owned by the College Board. PSAT/NMSQT is a registered trademark of the College Board and National Merit Scholarship Corporation.
Visit the College Board on the Web: www.collegeboard.org.
44
2013 PSAT/NMSQT®
Score Report Tutorial
for 9th- and 10th-Grade
Students
You’ve already
taken the first step
toward college!
How Did I Do?
By taking the PSAT/NMSQT
in ninth or 10th grade, you took
your first step on the path to
college. The test shows you
firsthand the kinds of reading,
mathematics and writing skills
you’ll need to succeed in college.
It also prepares you for c­ ollege
admission tests like the SAT®.
®
If the test seemed
hard, remember — it’s
aimed at students in the
11th grade.
If you took the PSAT/NMSQT
before 11th grade, don’t feel
discouraged if your scores seem
low. Look at your percentiles to
see how well you did compared to
10th-graders who have taken the
test. Your PSAT/NMSQT results
will improve the longer you’re in
school, the more courses you take
and the h
­ arder you work.
How developed are your
academic skills?
Use your score report to identify
skills you need to develop.
First take a close look at the
“Your Answers” section. Find the
questions you got wrong. Then
look at your test book.
• Did the questions cover
material you still need to learn?
• Did you get the easy ­questions
right and leave the harder ones
blank?
• Did you guess when you didn’t
know the answer?
• Did you get stuck on a couple
of hard questions and run out
of time?
The best way to review your
test results is to go online at
www.collegeboard.org/
quickstart and use your
interactive score report. When
you choose a question to review,
Are you in ninth or 10th grade? Yes? Then relax.
The PSAT/NMSQT shows skills you’ve learned and
skills you may still need to work on before you go
to college. It does not expect you to perform as well
as students in 11th grade, and you still have time to
learn and improve.
the score report will display the
question plus a thorough answer
explanation so you can improve
your skills.
Learn how to guess
wisely.
Because you lose ¼ point for each
wrong answer, how you guess
on multiple-choice questions
can affect your score. When you
don’t know the answer, do you
make wild guesses or educated
guesses? Guessing wildly
means that you pick any answer.
Educated guessing means that
you eliminate answer choices
you know are wrong and guess
from those remaining. With
educated guessing, you improve
your chances of picking the right
answer with each choice you can
eliminate. Try it.
Prepare for the next
time you take the
PSAT/NMSQT.
Once you’ve zeroed in on your
own strengths and weaknesses,
the best way to get ready for
the test is to work hard in your
regular classes and read as much
as possible. Before taking the test
again, read the PSAT/NMSQT
Official Student Guide. Review
all the directions and sample
questions, study the test-taking
tips and strategies, and take the
practice test.
Use My College
QuickStart™ to get ready
for college.
By taking the PSAT/N MSQT, you
receive free access to My College
QuickStart™, an easy-to-use,
online, personalized college and
career planning tool that includes:
• My Online Score Report — an
enhanced score report that
lets you review each test
question, your answers and the
correct answers with answer
explanations
• My SAT Study Plan™ — a
customized SAT study plan
based on your PSAT/NMSQT
test performance, highlighting
skills for review and practice
• My Personality — a detailed
personality test that helps
you learn about yourself and
discover majors and careers
that fit your strengths and
interests
• My Major & Career Matches
— extensive information about
majors and careers, including
insights about what to expect
and what courses to take now
• My College Matches — a
starter list of colleges based on
your home state and indicated
choice of major
• My AP Potential — a report
that shows you which AP
courses you may be ready
for now, as well as which AP
courses were offered at your
The Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test is ­cosponsored by the College Board and National Merit Scholarship Corporation.
© 2013 The College Board. College Board, AP, SAT and the acorn logo are registered trademarks of the College Board. My College QuickStart
and My SAT Study Plan are trademarks owned by the College Board. PSAT/NMSQT is a registered trademark of the College Board and
National Merit Scholarship Corporation. Visit the College Board on the Web: www.collegeboard.org.
AP feedback for ninth-grade students is only provided for AP European History and AP World History.
school last year (based on AP
Exams offered).
Visit www.collegeboard.
org/quickstart to get your My
College QuickStart planning tool.
Use the access code provided on
your score report.
What happens now?
Use the information provided
on your score report and in My
College QuickStart to improve
your academic skills and to plan
for college and beyond. Here are
some suggestions:
• Meet with your counselor to
review your PSAT/NMSQT
performance and course
selections relevant to your
future plans.
• Consider taking honors and/or
AP® courses.
• Review your online score report
and SAT study plan in My
College QuickStart.
• Retake the PSAT/NMSQT.
• Get involved in extracurricular
and community activities.
• Research majors, colleges
and careers using My College
QuickStart.
• Visit www.collegeboard.org
often to get more information to
help you plan for college.
Important
Reminder:
To qualify for scholarship
consideration, you must take
the test again in grade 11.
www.collegeboard.org
45
2013 PSAT/NMSQT®
Score Report Tutorial
for Middle School Students
You’ve already taken
the first step toward
college!
By taking the PSAT/NMSQT®
in middle school, you have a
head start on college. The test
shows you firsthand the kinds
of reading, mathematics and
writing skills you’ll need to
succeed in college and high
school. Use your PSAT/NMSQT
Score Report Plus to find out
what you need to learn. Then
choose the courses that will put
you on the road to college.
If the test seemed hard
— it should. It’s aimed
at students in the 11th
grade.
Were there lots of words you didn’t
know? Could you solve some of
the math problems but not many
others? Relax! And don’t focus on
your scores. The PSAT/NMSQT is
not testing what you know now,
but rather what you will need to
know later.
The longer you’re in school and the
harder you work, the more your
scores will improve.
How good are your skills?
The information on your score
report will help you identify the
skills you already have and those
you need to develop. First take a
close look at the “Your Answers”
section. Find the questions you got
wrong. Then look at your test book.
• Did the questions cover material
you haven’t learned yet?
• Did you get the easy questions
right and leave the harder ones
blank? (Remember, the “easy”
questions are easy for 11thgraders.)
• Did you guess when you didn’t
know the answer?
How Did I Do?
Are you in middle school (grades 6–8)? Yes?
Then relax. The PSAT/NMSQT shows skills you’ll
need before entering college. It does not expect
someone your age to perform as well as high
schoolers who take the test.
The best way to review your
test results is to go online at
www.collegeboard.org/
quickstart and use your
interactive score report. When
you choose a question to review,
the score report will display the
question, plus a thorough answer
explanation so you can improve
your skills.
Learn how to guess.
When you don’t know the answer
to a multiple-choice question,
do you make wild guesses or
educated ­g uesses? Guessing
­w ildly means that you pick any
answer when you don’t know
which is correct. Educated
guessing means that you
eliminate answer choices you
know are wrong and guess from
the remaining ones. With educated
guessing, the more choices you
can eliminate, the better your
chances of picking the right
answer. Try it.
Prepare for the next time
you take the PSAT/NMSQT.
Once you’ve zeroed in on your own
strengths and weaknesses, the best
way to get ready for the test is to
work hard in your regular classes
and read as much as possible. Before
taking the test again, you will be
given a copy of the PSAT/NMSQT
Official Student Guide. Review all
the sample questions, study the
test-taking tips and strategies, and
take the practice test. Get a good
night’s sleep before the test, and
make sure to eat breakfast.
Use My College
QuickStart™ to get
ready for college.
By taking the PSAT/NMSQT, you
receive free access to My College
QuickStart™, an easy-to-use,
online, personalized college and
career planning tool that includes:
• My Online Score Report — an
enhanced score report that
lets you review each test
question, your answers and the
correct answers with answer
explanations
• My SAT Study Plan™ — a
customized SAT® study plan
based on your PSAT/NMSQT
test performance, highlighting
skills for review and practice
• My Personality — a detailed
personality test that helps
you learn about yourself and
discover majors and careers
that fit your strengths and
interests
• My Major & Career Matches
— extensive information about
majors and careers, including
insights about what to expect
and what courses to take now
The Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test is ­cosponsored by the College Board and National Merit Scholarship Corporation.
© 2013 The College Board. College Board, AP, SAT and the acorn logo are registered trademarks of the College Board. My College QuickStart
and My SAT Study Plan are trademarks owned by the College Board. PSAT/NMSQT is a registered trademark of the College Board and
National Merit Scholarship Corporation. Visit the College Board on the Web: www.collegeboard.org.
46
• My College Matches — a
starter list of colleges based on
your home state and indicated
choice of major
Visit www.collegeboard.org/
quickstart to get your My College
QuickStart. Use the access code
provided on your score report.
Note: If you are under 13, you will
need parental permission to create
your account. Follow the directions
provided online.
What happens now?
You should use the information
provided on your score report to
improve your academic skills and
begin planning for high school,
college and beyond. Here are some
suggestions:
• As you prepare for high school,
choose courses that will best
prepare you for your education
and career goals.
• Consider taking honors and/or
AP® courses in high school.
• Retake the PSAT/NMSQT in
high school (talk to your school
counselor).
• Get involved in extracurricular
and community activities
because colleges look for how
a student will contribute to the
college community.
• Visit www.collegeboard.org
often to obtain more information
to help you plan for college.
www.collegeboard.org
Important 2013-14 PSAT/NMSQT® Dates
• February: Web release of
State Summary Reports.
February ’14
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• March 30: Deadline to order
optional reports and receive
them within 3-5 weeks of
order.
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Order 2014
PSAT/NMSQT®
materials!
• Mid-April: 2014 PSAT/NMSQT registration
announcement mailed to
schools. Online ordering
begins.
Request fee waivers
by June 27!
• June 27: Order 2014 test
materials by this date to
receive Official Student
Guides in September and
request fee waivers for
eligible 11th-graders.
April ’14
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• May: Request
accommodations for
students with disabilities
before the end of the school
year.
July ’14
June ’14
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Order and track PSAT/NMSQT test materials at www.collegeboard.org/school.
© 2013 The College Board. College Board, SAT and the acorn logo are registered trademarks of the College Board. AP Potential, My College QuickStart and ScoreWrite are trademarks owned by the College
Board. PSAT/NMSQT is a registered trademark of the College Board and National Merit Scholarship Corporation. Visit the College Board on the Web: www.collegeboard.org.
Important 2013-14 PSAT/NMSQT® Dates
• Aug. 5: Last date for schools
outside the U.S. to reduce
test book orders.
• Aug. 28: Deadline for receipt
of accommodations requests.
• Aug. 30: Last date for U.S.
Schools to reduce test book
orders.
• August: Official Educator
Guides and posters
announcing 2013
administration arrive in
schools
Return answer sheets
immediately after
the test!
• By Oct. 9: U.S. schools
receive test materials. Open
the shipment immediately to
verify that you have received
the correct materials.
August ’13
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• Oct. 16: Wednesday test
date.
20 21 22 23 24 25 26
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
• Oct. 17: Return Wednesday
answer sheets no later than
this date.
27 28 29 30 31
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
• Oct. 14: Columbus Day
• Mid-September: Student
guides delivered to schools
that ordered by June 28.
• Sept. 18: Last date for
schools outside the U.S. to
increase test book orders.
• Sept. 27: Last date for U.S.
schools to increase test
orders.
• Sept. 27: Deadline for
ordering nonstandard
test formats at www.
collegeboard.org/school.
November ’13
T
• By Sept. 13: Schools
outside the U.S. receive test
materials. Open the shipment
immediately to verify that
you have received the correct
materials.
• Nov. 15: Deadline for return
of all completed Fee-Waiver
Rosters.
• Nov. 22: Deadline for
ordering optional reports
at www.collegeboard.org/
school.
• November: Remind English
teachers to administer
an SAT® Practice Essay
with ScoreWrite™ (www.
collegeboard.org/scorewrite).
• Oct. 19: Saturday test date.
• Oct. 21: Return Saturday
answer sheets no later than
this date.
Remind students to use
My College QuickStart™!
• Early December: Score
reports mailed to school
principals.
• Mid-December: Students
can sign in to My College
QuickStart™ at www.
collegeboard.org/quickstart.
• December: Web release of
AP Potential™.
December ’13
January ’14
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Share the SOAS Report
with teachers!
• Jan. 3: Deadline to order
optional reports and receive
by February 2014
• January: Web release of
Summary of Answers and
Skills (SOAS).
• Late January: Optional
reports ordered by Nov. 22
available to schools.
Order and track PSAT/NMSQT materials at www.collegeboard.org/school.
130045455 13b-7582