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Understanding the PSAT and SAT
- 1. Understanding The PSAT and SAT: What is it good for? What does it tell me? Where do I go from here? David Taus, M.Ed.
- 2. I. What isthe PSAT? • P is for “Preliminary”
- 3. I. What isthe PSAT? • P is for “Preliminary” • You can also think of it as “Practice”
- 4. I. What isthe PSAT? • PSAT History – Sponsored by the College Board and the National Merit Scholarship Corporation – “Firsthand Practice” for the SAT – Gives students a chance to enter NMSC scholarship programs and gain access to college and career planning tools.
- 5. I. What isthe SAT? • PSAT History • SAT History – Sponsored by the College – Scholastic Aptitude Test Board and the National – First administered 1926 Merit Scholarship – Harvard President, Princeton Psychologist (Carl Campbell) Corporation – To “compare and evaluate” – “Firsthand Practice” for students the SAT – Originally based on army IQ – Gives students a chance tests to enter NMSC – Now administered by ETS scholarship programs and gain access to college and career planning tools.
- 6. II. What doesthe PSAT tell me? The PSAT is NOT a measure of intelligence! The PSAT is NOT a direct measure of knowledge! The PSAT assesses: • skills in reading, math reasoning, and writing • critical thinking skills
- 7. II. What doesthe PSAT tell me? The PSAT is a good baseline measure of how you will do on the SAT.
- 8. II. What doesthe PSAT tell me? The PSAT is a good baseline measure of how you will do on the SAT. – This is not a 100% accurate predictor – your SAT score can change dramatically!
- 9. II. What doesthe PSAT tell me? The PSAT is a good baseline measure of how you will do on the SAT. – This is not a 100% accurate predictor – your SAT score can change dramatically! – However, the scores for the two tests are strongly correlated (.86)
- 10. II. What doesthe PSAT tell me? The PSAT is a good baseline measure of how you will do on the SAT. – This is not a 100% accurate predictor – your SAT score can change dramatically! – However, the scores for the two tests are strongly correlated (.86) – Experts say that the SAT is slightly harder than the PSAT (www.collegeconfidential.com)
- 11. II. What doesthe PSAT tell me? “Students had an 87.6% (83.9%, 78.9%) chance of scoring 1500 (1650,1800) or above on the combined SAT, if they have scored at least 135 (152,169) on the combined PSAT, and an 82.0% (87.2%, 91.7%) chance of scoring below 1500 (1650, 1800) on the combined SAT, if they have scored lower than 135 (152, 169) on the combined PSAT.” (Wang and Milam, AACPS) If your PSAT Your corresponding SAT If you scored If you scored higher, will you lower, will you Score is… score is… Will you score score lower higher again? again? 135 1500 87.6% 82% 152 1650 83.9% 87.2% 169 1800 78.9% 91.2%
- 12. Score Report Plus •Your Scores – PSAT scores are reported on a scale of 20 to 80 for each category – 2008 average scores for 10th graders: 42 in critical reading, 44 in mathematics, and 41 in writing skills. • Ranges – This is an estimate of how much your scores would change if you took the PSAT again. • Percentile – This is a measure of how well you did compared to everyone else who took the PSAT.
- 13. Score Report Plus •Improve Your Skills – You will receive feedback on your academic skills, based on your performance in each section of the test. – Pay attention to the suggestions for how to improve specific skills. – This report is personalized for you, based on your performance on the PSAT. This is a personalized report that tells you how you’re doing on each specific academic skill tested by the PSAT. My College Quickstart has hundreds of practice questions for each skill.
- 14. Score Report Plus •Review Your Answers – You are able to see which questions you got wrong, by category!! – Look for patterns in order to identify points of challenge – Note that questions are rated by difficulty level
- 15. III. How canI get ready for the SAT? My College QuickStart is a free online college planning tool based on the PSAT. www.collegeboard.com/quickstart • Online score report – interactive and more detailed than print version (e.g. problem explanations) • Personalized SAT study plan • Personality Test – determine majors and careers that fit your strengths and interests • Major and Career matches, based on your interests • College Match Guidance, based on your PSAT scores, your interests, and your geographic location
- 16. III. How canI get ready for the SAT? My College QuickStart is a free online college planning tool based on the PSAT. www.collegeboard.com/quickstart You will need your access code
- 17. III. How canI get ready for the SAT? Register for the SAT! http://sat.collegeboard.org/register SAT Registration Deadlines 2013Test Dates Test Postmark/Submit by: March 9, 2013 SAT only February 8 May 4, 2013 SAT & Subject April 5 Tests June 1, 2013 SAT & Subject May 2 Regular Registration is $50 Tests Late Registration is $77 Subject Tests are $23 + $12 per test
- 18. III. How canI get ready for the SAT? Register for the SAT! Subject Tests?!?! SAT “Reasoning” Test: SAT “Subject” Tests: Traditional SAT, sometimes Subject-specific called the SAT I tests, sometimes called the •3 hr 45 min SAT II •Multiple Choice: Critical •One hour each Reading and Math •Multiple choice •Free Response: Writing •20 different subjects •Most colleges require •Some colleges require this test these tests
- 19. III. How canI get ready for the SAT? SAT? SAT Subject Tests? ACT? Which test should I take?!?!?
- 20. III. How canI get ready for the SAT? SAT? SAT Subject Tests? ACT? Which test should I take?!?!? This is a question you should ask to the colleges you’re applying to. It’s different for every college.
- 21. III. How canI get ready for the SAT? Score Choice Test Optional ◦ www.ETS.com ◦ www.Fairtest.org ◦ Students have ◦ 830 schools now option to release make the SAT some or all test and ACT optional! scores to schools ◦ UC dropped SAT ◦ Some schools II requirement for still require all sophomores, ie. scores 2012 (Stanford, Cornell , Yale)
- 22. III. How canI get ready for the SAT? Register for the SAT! http://sat.collegeboard.org/register Prepare for the SAT. • Do your homework! • Sign up for an SAT prep class • Sign up for an SAT tutor • Study with your friends • Study online (Grockit, eduFire, Brightstorm) • Read magazines, newspapers, books, blogs
- 23. SAT Prep withTutorpedia • 1-on-1 tutoring – Pay by the session, or save money with a package of hours
- 24. SAT Prep withTutorpedia • 1-on-1 tutoring – Pay by the session, or save money with a package of hours • Small group classes (workshops) – More cost effective, but not always as effective as 1-on-1
- 25. SAT Prep withTutorpedia • 1-on-1 tutoring – Pay by the session, or save money with a package of hours • Small group classes (workshops) – More cost effective, but not always as effective as 1-on-1 Tutorpedia tutors have worked successfully with OA students for the past three years! Last year Tutorpedia offered an SAT prep class at OA
- 26. SAT Prep withTutorpedia Tutorpedia’s SAT Curriculum •20 hours of instruction (ten 2 hour classes) •Uses the College Board SAT book •All aspects of the test are covered – Question Types – Content – Test-Taking Strategies •Emphasis on Metacognition and Self-Knowledge •Product is a comprehensive study plan, complete with analysis of strengths and challenges
- 27. SAT Prep withTutorpedia Rocking the SAT: Day-by- Day Curriclum Map DAY 1 DAY 2 DAY 3 Reading & Writing Critical Reading Verbs Essay Writing Math Numbers and Operations I Nymbers and Operations II Algebra and Functions I Question Types (optional in-class Passage-based Reading (see teacher notes for page Math: Multiple Choice (p. 305- Essay (see teacher notes for 313) page numbers) work) numbers) Figure out what the question is Test Taking Strategies Test Format and Structure Plug In Easy Words/Numbers testing Passage-based Reading (p. Math: Student Produced Essay (p. 513), Identifying Homework 391-395), Math Multiple Choice Responses (p. 416-418, 466- Sentence Errors (p. 409-410, (p. 396-401) 468), Essay (p. 451) 471-472) Math: Multiple choice (p. 419- Improving Paragraphs (p. 411- 424), Essay practice rewriting Essay (p. 389), Sentence Suggested Homework Completion (p. 390, 402, 425) 412, Passage-based Reading sentences (p. 112-118), (403-406, 426-428) Passage-based Reading (p. 459-462)
- 28. SAT Prep withTutorpedia Tutorpedia’s SAT Prep Recommendations •Start at least 12 weeks ahead of time •Finish the formal preparation with 2-3 weeks to go before the test; use the remaining time to target specific areas of challenge •Regular small doses is better than fewer big doses of studying •Stay sharp through test day!
- 29. Questions? Test Preparation • David Taus & Emma Bundy – (415) 948-1585 Academic Subjects – emma@tutorpedia.com Essay Writing – david@tutorpedia.com – www.tutorpedia.com Project-based • Brochures and Information available workshops • Customized 20 hour SAT prep Talks (like this one) classes AT Orinda Academy this Spring And more! • Thank you for your time!