ROCKLAND HIGH SCHOOL
ROCKLAND, MASSACHUSETTS 02370
ALAN H. CRON, Ed.D.
Principal
(781)-871-0541
acron@rocklandschools.org
KATHLEEN A. PAULDING
Assistant Principal
(781) 871-8401
kpaulding@rocklandschools.org
Friday, October 2, 2015
Dear Parents, Guardians and Students,
On Wednesday, October 14 at 8:00 a.m., all Rockland High School sophomores and juniors will
take the PSAT/NMSQT exam. On October 14, freshmen and seniors are not required to report to
school until 11:05 a.m. For your convenience, page 3 of this notice is a copy of the day’s bell
schedule.
The Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) is a program
cosponsored by the College Board and National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC). It is a
standardized test that provides firsthand practice for the SAT ®. It also gives students a chance to
enter NMSC scholarship programs and gain access to college and career planning tools. The
PSAT/NMSQT measures:
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Critical reading skills
Math problem-solving skills
Writing skills
Similar to the SAT, the PSAT has separate math, critical reading and writing sections. Each subject
is scored on a scale of 20 to 80 and these scores are combined to create the National Merit
Scholarship selection index. Only juniors are considered for the National Merit Scholarship
competition. This scholarship competition awards approximately 8,200 scholarships annually.
The most common reasons for taking the PSAT/NMSQT are:
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To receive feedback on strengths and weaknesses on skills necessary for college study
which allows students to more effectively focus their preparation on those areas that
could most benefit from additional study or practice.
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To experience an exam comparable to the SAT and to discover how one compares to
other students across the nation.
To enter the competition for scholarships from the National Merit Scholarship
Corporation (grade 11 only).
To help prepare for the SAT. Students become familiar with the kinds of questions and
the exact directions they will see on the SAT.
To receive information from colleges when a student checks "yes" to Student Search
Service.
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Students who take the PSAT/NMSQT receive access to My College QuickStart - an easy-to-use,
online, personalized college and career planning kit. This useful tool incorporates the responses
that students provide when they take the test.
Information is presented in four main parts:

My Online Score Report - an enhanced score report that allows students to review each
test question, their answer, and the correct answer with answer explanations.
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My SAT Study Plan - a customized SAT study plan based on a students
PSAT/NMSQT test performance, highlighting skills for review and practice.
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My College Matches - a starter list of colleges based on a students state and indicated
choice of major.
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My Major and Career Matches - major and career matches that are compatible with a
student’s general interests and personality type.
My College QuickStart is available using the access code printed on the student score report. It can
be utilized throughout high school. We will distribute score reports in late December. For
additional information about the PSAT as well as the SAT, visit www.collegeboard.org.
We are pleased to provide this opportunity to all Rockland High School sophomores and juniors.
We believe that the PSAT exam is a powerful diagnostic tool that will help each of our students
more effectively prepare for their future.
Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions.
Sincerely,
Dr. Alan H. Cron
Principal
PSAT DAY BELL SCHEDULE
Wednesday, October 14, 2015
GRADES 10 &11
PSAT TESTING
8:00AM-11:25AM
All students:
Block D
11:25-11:55
11:55-12:25
12:25-12:55
Block A
12:58-1:45
Block B
1:49-2:35