4 Major Parts of Your PSAT/NMSQT Results
Your Scores
Your Skills
Understanding
Your
PSAT/NMSQT
Results
Your Answers
Next Steps
3 Test Sections
Critical Reading
Mathematics
Writing Skills
Your Scores
Score
You can see your projected SAT
score online in My College QuickStart
(www.collegeboard.org/quickstart).
Score Range
Percentile
If you are a junior, your scores are
compared to those of other juniors.
If you are a sophomore or younger
student, your scores are compared to
those of sophomores.
National Merit Scholarship
Corporation Information
The Selection Index is the sum of your critical reading,
mathematics and writing skills scores.
If it has an asterisk, you do not meet all of the eligibility
requirements for the competition.
The Percentile compares your performance to that of other
college-bound juniors.
The Entry Requirements section displays information you
provided on your answer sheet.
Your Skills
See how you did on each skill. The same skills are tested on the SAT.
You can try hundreds of practice questions, organized by skill, online
in My College QuickStart (www.collegeboard.org/quickstart).
Your Answers
You will get your test book back with
your PSAT/NMSQT results, so that
you can review the questions.
You can also review each test
question in My College QuickStart.
Your Answers:
Student-Produced
Responses
Some of the math problems required you
to grid in answers instead of selecting an
option. For these questions, you will see
the correct answer(s) written out.
Next Steps
What’s next?
Use the access code on your report to log in to My College
QuickStart, a personalized college and career planning kit. There you
can:
•Search for colleges
•Get a personalized SAT study plan
•Take a personality test to find majors and careers that fit you
www.collegeboard.org/quickstart
My College QuickStart
SAT vs. ACT:
Which Test Should I Take?
Let’s Get to Know
the SAT & ACT
Top Factors in College Admissions
1a) Grades in College Prep Courses
Advanced Placement
International Baccalaureate
Dual-enrollment Courses
Source: National Association of College Admissions Counseling, “2010 State of College
Admission”
Top Factors in College Admissions
1b) Strength of Curriculum
Rigor
Relevance
Quantity
Source: National Association of College Admissions Counseling, “2010 State of College
Admission”
Top Factors in College Admissions
2) Admissions Test Scores
SAT
ACT
AP & Subject Tests
Source: National Association of College Admissions Counseling, “2010 State of College
Admission”
Top Factors in College Admissions
3) High School GPA
Overall
Don’t fall behind
Don’t lose focus
Source: National Association of College Admissions Counseling, “2010 State of College
Admission”
The SAT at-a-Glance
2010
Averages
SECTION
FORMAT/ TIME
QUESTION TYPES
SCORE
Math
3 Sections
Multiple Choice
Grid-Ins
200–800
516
Critical
Reading
3 Sections
Multiple Choice
200–800
501
Writing
3 Sections
Multiple Choice
Essay
200–800
0–12
492
7.1
Experimental
1 Section
Multiple Choice
Not Scored
N/A
10 Sections
3 hours, 45
minutes
Multiple Choice
Grid-Ins
Essay
600–2400
1509
Total
The ACT at-a-Glance
English
1 Section
Multiple Choice
1–36
20.5
Math
1 Section
Multiple Choice
1–36
21.0
Reading
1 Section
Multiple Choice
1–36
21.3
Science
1 Section
Multiple Choice
1–36
20.9
Writing
1 Section
Essay (Optional)
1–36
2–12
20.8
7.1
4–5 Sections
2 hrs, 55 minutes
3 hrs, 25 minutes
Multiple Choice
Essay
1–36
21.0
Total:
FORMAT/ TIME
• ACT has “Science” reasoning questions.
• ACT has four trigonometry questions.
• SAT essay is required and first.
• ACT essay is last and not always required.
• SAT is 20 minutes longer.
What Do Colleges Think?
Facts:
• Nearly all schools accept the
SAT or ACT.
• 89% of schools use SAT or
ACT test scores in making
admissions decisions*.
Source: National Association of College Admissions Counseling, “Preparation for College Admissions Exams”, 2009
How Do I Decide?
Check out the Facts!
• Take the free SAT-ACT test on their website or
pick up practice books from Guidance.
• Look to see if your college of choice requires
either
GACOLLEGE411.org
• Create an account as a parent
• Have your student permit access to your
parent account
• Research colleges and get to know their
requirements