Indiana
PSAT
Student
Guidance
Initiative
INDIANA
PSAT Student
Guidance Initiative
www.asainstitute.org
American Student
Achievement Institute
Counselor Toolkit
Contents Page
Divider 1: pages 2 – 5
Divider 2 : pages 6 – 9
Divider 3: pages 10 – 20
Divider 4: pages 21 – 25
Divider 5: pages 27 - 28
American Student
Achievement Institute
Indiana
PSAT
Student
Guidance
Initiative
PARTNERSHIP OF
Indiana Department of Education
CollegeBoard
American Student Achievement Institute
American Student
Achievement Institute
Indiana
PSAT
Student
Guidance
Initiative
BACKGROUND
What IS the PSAT?
American Student
Achievement Institute
A Few Facts
•Given in October
•Test Fees: Paid for by IDOE for 11th and 10th graders
•2 hours and 10 minutes
•Measures
Critical Reading
Math Reasoning
Writing Skills
•Scores on a 20 – 80 scale
•Services for Students with Disabilities
American Student
Achievement Institute
Benefits For Students
•Encourages Students to Start Planning
•Increases SAT Scores
•Provides Personalized Feedback
•Allows Entrance to the NMSQT
Competitions
•Provides Student Search Services
•Allows for Comparison with
other College-bound Students
American Student
Achievement Institute
Benefits For Schools
•Summary Reports
•Summary of Answers and Skills
(SOAS)
•Electronic File of Student Data
•AP Potential™
American Student
Achievement Institute
Registration Tools
How Do We
Get the
Word Out
and Get
Students to
Take the
PSAT?
Indiana
Gold Star Guidance
Registration Tools
Sign Up Sheet
How Do We
Get the
Word Out
and Get
Students to
Take the
PSAT?
American Student
Achievement Association
Sign Up Sheet
STUDENT SIGN-UP SHEET FOR THE OCTOBER PSAT/NMSQT
DATE: ____________________________________________________________________
TIME: _____________________________________________________________________
LOCATION: ______________________________________________________________
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: __________________________________
PLEASE SIGN BELOW TO BE INCLUDED IN THIS YEAR’S PSAT ADMINISTRATION
1. ___________________________
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20. ___________________________
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Registration Tools
Sign Up Sheet
How Do We
Get the
Word Out
and Get
Students to
Take the
PSAT?
PA Student Announcements
American Student
Achievement Association
PA Student Announcements
PA Student Announcement
To:
From:
CC:
Date:
Re: Sign Up to Take the PSAT
The PSAT/NMSQT is a comprehensive test that gives valuable feedback to students who are
planning on pursuing higher education. It is great practice for the SAT Reasoning Test .
INSERT YOUR SCHOOL NAME HERE will administer this year’s PSAT on INSERT
DATE, TIME AND LOCATION HERE. Students may register to take the test in the
Guidance Office. For more information, see your counselor or visit the PSAT information
website at www.collegeboard.com.
Once registered, students will be given the PSAT/NMSQT Official Student Guide, which is full
of useful information, including a full-length Practice Test. Students should review the Guide
and take the Practice Test to be sure they understand all the directions and are familiar with
the types of questions that will be asked.
Registration Tools
Sign Up Sheet
How Do We
Get the
Word Out
and Get
Students to
Take the
PSAT?
PA Student Announcements
School Newspaper Press Release
American Student
Achievement Association
Registration Tools
Sign Up Sheet
How Do We
Get the
Word Out
and Get
Students to
Take the
PSAT?
PA Student Announcements
School Newspaper Press Release
Local Newspaper Press Release
American Student
Achievement Association
Newspapers Press Release
School Newspaper Press Release
Date:
_______________________________________________________________
To:
______________________________________________________
Cc:
______________________________________________________
From:
RE:
______________________________________________________________
PSAT to be given at INSERT YOUR SCHOOL NAME HERE
The PSAT/NMSQT is a comprehensive test that gives valuable feedback to
students who are planning on pursuing higher education. It is great
practice for the SAT Reasoning Test, the test that most post-secondary
institutions use as a measure of potential success at that educational level.
Students will receive scores in critical reading, math reasoning, and writing
and will see how their scores compare to those of other sophomores or
juniors across the country. Student score reports that are returned after the
test include a personalized statement of specific academic skills that need
attention, along with suggested steps to improve those skills. Further,
juniors who take the test may qualify to enter National Merit Scholarship
Corporation programs.
INSERT YOUR SCHOOL NAME HERE will administer this year’s PSAT
on INSERT DATE, TIME AND LOCATION HERE. Students may
register to take the test in the Guidance Office. For more information, see
your counselor or visit the PSAT information website at
www.collegeboard.com.
Once registered, students will be given the PSAT/NMSQT Official Student
Guide, which is full of useful information, including a full-length Practice
Test. Students should review the Guide and take the Practice Test to be sure
they understand all the directions and are familiar with the types of
questions that will be asked. Classroom learning is the basis for test
questions, so the best way students can prepare is to get familiar with the
test and its format.
GROUP GUIDANCE LESSON
Explaining Results to Students
(and Parents)
American Student
Achievement Association
Understanding
PSAT/NMSQT
Results
The PSAT/NMSQT is cosponsored by the
College Board and the
National Merit Scholarship Corporation.
Your PSAT/NMSQT Score Report
PSAT/NMSQT
Score Report
Each section— Critical
Reading, Math and
Writing Skills—is
color-coded
Your Scores
Ranges
46 . . . . . . . . . . . 50 . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Percentiles
• If you are a junior, you are compared to other
juniors.
• If you are a sophomore, or younger, you are
compared to sophomores.
Percentiles
1 . . . . . . . . . . . 55 . . . . . . . .. . . 100
higher than 54 juniors
lower than 45 juniors
What SAT Ranges Can You Expect?
The quick way to estimate your SAT score is to add a “0”
to your PSAT/NMSQT score.
– PSAT/NMSQT Critical Reading Score:
50
– Estimated SAT Critical Reading Score: 500
Review Your
Answers
•
•
•
•
Question number
Correct Answer
Your Answer
Level of Difficulty
You will get your test book with
your score report, so you can
review the questions you got
wrong.
Free explanations for the answer to
every test question at
collegeboard.com/psatextra
Review Your
Answers:
Math
Also shows the math content
area of each question:
• Alg = Algebra & Functions
• Data = Data Analysis,
Statistics & Probability
• Geom = Geometry &
Measurement
• Num = Number &
Operations
Review Your
Answers:
Math StudentProduced
Response
Answer
Summary &
Scoring
• Correct answer = plus 1 point
• Omitted answers = no points
• Wrong answers to multiplechoice questions = minus ¼
point. (To discourage students
from blind or random guessing.)
• Wrong answers to math
questions 29-38 (Student
Produced Responses) = No
points lost.
Improve Your
Skills
• The skills listed are
based on your
individual
performance.
• Follow the suggestions
noted in “how to
improve”, and work
with your teachers.
National Merit
Scholarship
Corporation
(NMSC) Programs
• Selection Index
• Percentile
• Entry
Requirements
Your Educational
Plans
Based on the college major you
provided on the answer sheet,
this section will give you:
• Description of what college
students learn and do with that
major.
• Associated skills
• Recommended high school
courses
• Other majors to consider
• Associated careers
After You Receive Your
PSAT/NMSQT Score Report
• Review your
answers by
revisiting test
questions with
which you had
difficulty.
After You Receive Your
PSAT/NMSQT Score Report:
• Follow the suggestions for how to improve in the
Improve Your Skills section
After You Receive Your
PSAT/NMSQT Score Report:
Go to
collegeboard.com/
psatextra for:
• Free explanations
for the answers to
every test question,
including why
wrong answers were
wrong.
After You Receive Your
PSAT/NMSQT Score Report:
Go to
collegeboard.com/
psatextra for
additional practice
for the SAT:
• Sample SAT higherlevel math questions
• Student-written
sample SAT essays
After You Receive Your
PSAT/NMSQT Score Report:
Go to collegeboard.com/
psatextra for free access to
MyRoad, an online career,
major, and college
exploration tool.
(You’ll need the code in the
upper right corner of your
Score Report to access
MyRoad.)
DINNER BREAK
Please enjoy your meal
&
Allow us to guide your discussion with
the questions located on your table
American Student
Achievement Association
INDIVIDUAL
GUIDANCE LESSON
Explaining Results to Each Student
American Student
Achievement Association
Test Taking Strategies
•
•
•
•
Pacing
Omitting Questions
Practice SAT Tests
General Test-taking Strategies
American Student
Achievement Association
Course Enrollment
•
•
•
•
Work Ethic
Rigorous Curriculum
AP Potential
Problem-solving Activities
American Student
Achievement Association
Projected SAT Scores
• Add a “0”
• Look at your Range
American Student
Achievement Association
Potential “Fit” at
Indiana Colleges
• “The College Handbook”
• “SAT Scores & Indiana Colleges
• Criteria for College Selection
American Student
Achievement Association
Analyzing Score Report Data
• Achievement Data for High Schools Table
• Gathering Information
• Data Analysis
American Student
Achievement Association
2002 - 03
2003 -04
151
153
155
153
SAT Composite Score
College Bound Seniors
1087
1090
1077
1095
1102
1100
SAT, Percent of 12th
Graders Taking
86
85
83
82
85
85
Advanced Placement,
Percent Taking
N/A
N/A
N/A
11
15
20
38
Advanced Placement,
Percent of Exams
3 or above
N/A
N/A
N/A
90
89
87
82
Percent of Graduates
Pursuing College Education
84
86
86
90
91
93
92
2007 - 08
2001 - 02
151
2006 - 07
2000 - 01
152
2005 - 06
1999 - 00
2004 - 05
1998 - 99
PSAT College Bound Juniors
(Sum of the Verbal, Math, &
Writing Scores)
Standards
Thank you for coming!
Questions?
Further Discussion?
American Student
Achievement Association