PSAT Scores Are Back!Now What?

From the PSAT to College Admissions

1. Understand the PSAT Score Report.

2. Determine whether the ACT or SAT is best for you.

3. Make a Test Prep Plan to get a higher score.

4. Take the official ACT and/or SAT.

5. Apply to colleges.

From the PSAT to College Admissions

10th

Gra

de

Take the PSAT.Explore the ACT and SAT.

11th

Gra

de

Study for the PSAT.Take the PSAT.Determine whether to take the ACT or the SAT.Prep for the ACT/SAT.Take the ACT/SAT.

12th

Gra

de

Take the ACT/SAT again if needed.Apply to colleges.Get in to college!

Understanding the PSAT Score Report

Purpose of the PSAT

• A practice SAT

• National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test – for juniors only

• NOT for college admissions

PSAT Score Timeline

• October 11, 14, and 25 – PSAT 2017 Test Dates

• December 4 – PSAT Scores accessible to school counselors

• December 11-13 – PSAT scores available to students through the College Board’s electronic portal

0% 50%Median score

99%Top score

https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/pdf/psat-nmsqt-understanding-scores.pdf

PSAT Score Distribution

PSAT - 320 PSAT - 920 PSAT - 1520

PSAT Sections Score Range

Evidence-Based Reading & Writing 160-760

Math 160-760

https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/pdf/psat-nmsqt-understanding-scores.pdf

What’s a Good PSAT Score?

PSAT Sections

College & Career Readiness

Benchmark for 10th Grade

College & Career Readiness

Benchmark for 11th Grade

Evidence-Based Reading & Writing 430 460

Math 480 510

Scoring above the Benchmark gives a 75% likelihood of achieving a C or better in first year college courses.

https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/pdf/psat-nmsqt-understanding-scores.pdf

What’s a Good PSAT Score?

Percentile 10th Grade Score

11th Grade Score

99th 1360 1450

95th 1250 1350

90th 1180 1280

80th 1090 1180

70th 1030 1120

60th 970 1060

50th 920 1010

40th 870 960

PSAT/NMSQT 11th Grade Local Score Trends

Year 2015 2016 2017

MBHS 1122 1177 1132

MCPS 1076 1096 1082

State 989 1017 1006

Section Score Mean Trends for MBHS 11th Graders

Year 2015 2016 2017Mean Evidence Based Reading and Writing Score

558 592 567

Mean Math Score

565 585 565

0% 50%Median score

99%Top score

Source: https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/pdf/psat-10-understanding-scores-2017.pdf

National Merit

PSAT - 320 PSAT - 920 PSAT - 1520

National Merit Cutoffs in 2016 ranged from 1380-1480.

ONLY juniors can be considered for National Merit.

PSAT Scoring vs SAT Scoring

SAT: 400-1600

PSAT: 320-1520

300 600 900 1200 1500

Composite Score Range

Choosing the SAT or the ACT

Test Scores in College Admissions

95% of college admissions advisors are confident that the SAT and ACT are effective tools in measuring students’ future success at their schools.

Sources: Kaplan Test Prep College Admissions Officers Survey, 2011 and National Association for College Admission Counseling, 2014

95%

Test Scores in College Admissions

Approximately 80% of college admissions advisors state that there is no advantage to submitting both an ACT and an SAT score.

Is there any advantage to an applicant submitting both an SAT and ACT score instead of only one score, assuming both scores are strong?

Source: Kaplan Test Prep College Admissions Officers Survey, 2012

Factor SAT ACT

Length 3 hours 15 minutes 3 hours 5 minutes

Score Areas Composite, Evidence-Based Reading & Writing, Math

Composite, English, Math, Reading, Science

Score Range 1600 overall, 200-800 per section 1-36 overall and per section

SuperscoringMost schools take your best score per section, even from

different tests

Most schools use only your best overall test, not your

best score per section

Wrong Answers No penalty No penalty

Test Comparison

Section SAT ACT

W&L / English

More questions on effective language use

More questions on sentence structure

ReadingMore Synthesis and Rhetoric questions,

more time per question

More Global and Detail questions,

less time per question

Essay

Optional. 50 minutes. Given a 750 word source text, you must objectively

analyze the author’s argument.

Optional. 40 minutes. Given a prompt with 3 perspectives, you must

develop a relevant argument.

Test Comparison

Section SAT ACT

Math

One non-calculator section, multiple choice with 4

answers, grid-in questions, wordier

questions

Calculator allowed throughout,

all multiple choice but with 5 answers,

more Geometry

Science

No science section, but science-related material throughout and science

subscore

Science section with passages, charts and

graphs, science score is ¼ of overall score

Test Comparison

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Montgomery Blair SAT Prep Classes

Montgomery Blair High School After School Kaplan SAT Prep Classes

In preparation for the March 10th official SAT and the April 10th official SAT at MBHS during the school day given to all Juniors:

Start Date: February 1, 2018 End Date: March 1, 2018Days & Time: Tue & Thur starting at 6pmClass Code: SAIKM18562

In preparation for the June 2nd official SAT:

Start Date: May 1, 2018End Date: May 24, 2018Days & Times: Tue & Thur starting at 6pmClass Code: SAIKM18563

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