Raritan High School:
PSAT Scores and SAT
Changes
January 26, 2016
Kari Stambaugh
[email protected]
(732) 552-7586
What We’ll Discuss Today
•
•
•
•
•
Your PSAT Test Results
The Changes Coming to the SAT
College Admissions/Testing Timeline
Your Testing Options
How can The Princeton Review help you?
What is the PSAT?
It’s a “pre-SAT”
Doesn’t count towards your
college admission.
Practice for the real SAT.
High PSAT scores can qualify you
for a National Merit® scholarship
(among others).
Your College Board PSAT Score Report…
Highest possible
total is 1520.
Each section is scored 160-760 and then
they are added together to get the total
score.
Your College Board PSAT Score Report…
The College and
Career Readiness
Benchmark
shows how close
the student is to
mastering that
content section
on this test,
based upon their
grade level.
Your College Board Score Report…
Tips
Your College Board Score Report…
Answer key, so you can
continue to practice!
NMSQ…
Our state
qualifying score
is: XXX
Did you know that the SAT is
Changing?
Let’s walk through the differences between the current
SAT and the New SAT.
General Format and Scoring
Change
Current SAT
SECTIONS
3 subjects
2 Areas
• Math
• Math
• Critical Reading
• Evidence-Based Reading and Writing
• Writing Skills (essay included)
*Optional essay not included in other
scores
SCORING
•
•
Total score out of 2400
200 – 800 for each subject
New SAT
•
•
Composite score out of 1600
200 – 800 for each of the 2 Areas
General Format and Scoring
New SAT
PSAT 10 - PSAT / NMSQT
PSAT 8/9
320
1520
240
200
1440
400
600
800
1000
1200
1400
1600
Section
New SAT
Questions
Time per
Section
New PSAT
Questions
Time per
Section
Reading
52
65 minutes
47
60 minutes
Writing and
Language
44
35 minutes
44
35 minutes
Math – no
calculator
20
25 minutes
17
25 minutes
Math – calculator
38
55 minutes
31
45 minutes
Essay (optional)
1
50 minutes
The new PSAT is almost identical
to the new SAT.
Answers
Change
Current SAT
New SAT
ANSWER CHOICES
5 answer choices per question
4 answer choices per question
INCORRECT ANSWER
PENALTY
1/4 point off for each incorrect
answer on multiple choice
questions
No penalty for incorrect answers
26 correct
0
5
10
15
20
58 attempted32 incorrect
25
30
35
40
45
38 attempted: 30 correct +4
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
50
55
58
20 guesses
35
40
45
50
55
58
Other Changes
Change
Current SAT
New SAT
GRAPHICS
None other than
graphs in math
problems.
Charts and graphical elements
throughout the exam.
HISTORICAL
DOCUMENTS AND
SPEECHES
Not featured.
Will appear throughout the exam.
CALCULATORS
Permitted throughout
the math sections.
Permitted on only one of the two
math sections.
FORMAT
Paper and pencil only
Paper and pencil
Other Changes… Graphics everywhere
Breaking down college admissions
year-by-year
Grades
Activities
Freshman
Visit schools
Work on your college
essays
Prep for
SAT/ACT
Sophomore
Summer
Grades
Activities
A practice PSAT
Junior
Grades
Activities
SAT/ACT
Summer
Senior
Grades
Activities
SAT/ACT
(if needed)
What
do
the
SAT,
ACT
and
new SAT
What
do
the
PSAT
and
SAT
measure?
measure?
Admission tests..
True
… measure intelligence?
… can be used to award aid?
… reflect your GPA in high school?
… predict your college GPA?
… can be prepared for?
… should be prepared for?
… test what you’ve learned in HS?

False
Pretty Predictable
Questions on the SAT expect you to respond in a
pretty predictable way. What do they want you to
answer on this question?
If a store raises the price of an item by 20%, then decreases the new
price by 15%, what was the percent change in the price of the item?
Drill
Introduction – Basic Strategy
POE: What It Is and Why It Rocks
Because the SAT & ACT are multiple choice exams, the correct answer will always be right
in front of you. By using Process of Elimination (POE), you increase your chances of
gaining points.
Any time you can tell that an answer choice is wrong, cross it off!
The wrong answers are there for one reason: to distract you and keep you from picking
the right answer!
Process of Elimination
What is the capital of Malawi?
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
London
Tokyo
Paris
Madrid
Lilongwe
Ballparking
For some
questions, you
can ballpark the
correct answer
without even
solving the
problem!
Pacing and POOD
DO the questions that you have time for and aim for
accuracy. DON’T waste time with questions that are
too hard or too long.
Plugging In
1. Identify the
variable
2. Plug in a number for
the variable.
Basic Approach
for Plugging In
3. Work the steps of the
problem.
4. Calculate the Target
Value.
5. POE until one
answer choice is
left.
Plugging In
Freshman & Sophomore years
Homework Help = Better Grades
Grades
Activities
• More than 40 subjects including AP
classes.
• Get help with homework, go over a
concept you missed in class or
prepare for a big exam.
• Work with an expert tutor
Practice
PSAT
• 96% of students report they
improved their grades.
Better Grades Guaranteed.
Try a free 30 minute session at PrincetonReview.com/academic-tutoring
Junior year
Comprehensive Test Prep
Test Prep
SAT/ACT
Grades
Activities
Your Choice:
• Classroom Courses
• Semi-Private Instruction
• Private Tutoring
• Online Prep
EXCLUSIVE! Student Portal with access
to videos, paced practice questions,
quizzes and more.
EXCLUSIVE! Chat with a Teacher on
the student portal connects you to our
expert instructors 1:1 online through
test day.
Better Score Guaranteed.
How do you want to prep? We have options to fit any schedule and
learning style.
Senior year
College Admissions Counseling
• Work with a former Ivy League
admissions expert.
Test prep Visit
schools
SAT/ACT
Activities
Grades
College
essays
• Find the right school, write a perfect
college essay.
• Application strategies to access
more scholarships.
• Take the stress out of the
application process.
The Princeton Review is #1 at getting students into top colleges.
Things to remember
• Schools like to see wellrounded applicants.
• Start with a free practice
test.
Important Links
SAT vs. ACT
PrincetonReview.com/college/sat-act
HS Timelines
PrincetonReview.com/college-advice/college-prep-timeline
Free Practice Tests and Events
PrincetonReview.com/Events
Free 30 Minute Tutoring Session
PrincetonReview.com/academic-tutoring
Questions?
Kari Stambaugh
[email protected]
(732) 552-7586
We want to help you get into your dream school!
We’re #1 at getting students into
top colleges
30 years of proven methods and
test taking strategies
Awesome teachers
Guaranteed better scores and
better grades