If you’re a Junior or Sophomore this year, you may have taken the PSAT10 or PSAT/NMSQT in October. Scores were released last week for some and will be released this week for others. In this post, I am going to write about what the PSAT is and why I took it.
What is the PSAT?
The PSAT is a pre-SAT. There are three levels- PSAT 8/9 (for eighth and ninth grades), PSAT 10 (for tenth grade), and the PSAT/NMSQT (the same test as the 10, but Juniors can use it to qualify for National Merit Scholar. It is scored on a range of 320-1520 and has two sections: Reading and Writing, and Math.
Is the PSAT Digital?
Yes! This year, the PSAT went digital to prepare current Juniors for the SAT this spring, which will also be digital. This switch has brought about a few changes from the past: the test now only has two sections. Each section is divided into two modules, which use adaptive technology. Depending on how the student does in the first module, she will be given easier or harder questions in the second module. This makes the test shorter overall (about 2 hours). Each section is scored on a range of 160-760. The Reading and Writing section has 54 questions (27 per module) and the Math has 44 (22 per module). The Reading and Writing section is also no longer passage-based. Instead of 8-10 questions per one longer passage, each question has its own shorter passage (about 1-2 sentences). Finally, a calculator is now allowed on all math questions.
What are the Subsections?
Reading and Writing is scored in four subdomains. These are Craft and Structure, Expression of Ideas, Information and Ideas, and Standard English Conventions. Craft and Structure is about 13-15 questions (28%). Expression of Ideas is 8-12 questions (20%). Information and Ideas has 12-14 questions (26%), and Standard English Conventions has 11-15 questions (26%). In Math, the subsections (also called content domains) are Algebra (13-15, 35%), Advanced Math (12-14, 32.5%), Problem-Solving and Data Analysis (7-9, 20%), and Geometry and Trigonometry (4-6, 12.5%).
Why should I take the PSAT?
In eleventh grade, the PSAT can qualify students for National Merit Scholar. This can give a lot of scholarship opportunities. Even if the student does not become a Merit Scholar, Finalists and Semifinalists can often receive full-tuition scholarships. Commended scholars and students who receive some of the highest scores in their states can even be offered scholarships from both the college and outside institutions.
Even if you don’t achieve the NMS cutoff score, it is still good practice for the SAT, especially if you haven’t taken many standardized tests. It’s also a great idea to take the test as a sophomore in order to get an idea of how the test will go and prepare for the following year when the test can count for NMS.
I hope this post helped you understand the PSAT and why it can be a great opportunity.
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