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THEPSAT 8/9
THEPSAT8/9 Given to 8th and 9th gradestudents.Reflects the work studentsare doing in school.Measures the skillsand knowledge needed to beready for college and career.Connects students withopportunities, including freepersonalized practice tools onKhan Academy .
Establishes a baseline for collegereadiness.Closely aligned with the PSAT/NMSQTand SAT (good practice!).Get personalized online instruction toprepare for the PSAT/NMSQT and theSAT through Khan Academy.Helps identify 9th grade students who arelikely to do well in AP World History andAP European History.It’s fair. The questions are rigorouslyresearched and tested to make surestudents from all backgrounds who haveequal levels of preparation have an equalchance to do well.
FIVE THINGSSTUDENTS NEEDTO KNOW ABOUTPSAT 8/9 .
ABOUT THEPSAT 8/9 1. Rights-only scoring.Students earn pointsfor each correct answer.There’s no penaltyfor guessing.Students are encouraged to read eachquestion and select the answer theythink is best.
ABOUT THEPSAT 8/9 2. No obscure vocabulary.Like the new SAT, the PSAT 8/9focuses on words students are mostlikely to use again throughout collegeand career.Students won’t see words like“prevaricate” or “sagacious.”They will need to understand howwords like “synthesis” or “alleviate”are used in context.
ABOUT THEPSAT 8/9 3. More focused math.Focuses on the math skills mostwidely used in college and career.Most questions are multiple choice.Calculators are allowed on only onesection. Some questions are easier tosolve without a calculator.
ABOUT THEPSAT 8/9 4. Analysis, not opinion.The PSAT 8/9 will ask students to read apassage and:Use critical reasoning skills to showhow the author builds an argument.Use evidence from the text tosupport their analysis.Analyze a series of sentences orparagraphs and decide if it makessense.
ABOUT THEPSAT 8/9 5. Free, world-class testpractice for all.Free Official SAT Practice on KhanAcademy created in partnership withthe College Board.Personalized practice pathwaysprovided to each student.Full-length practice tests andthousands of sample questions.Accessible through any computerwith Internet access.Materials also available to print.
PSAT 8/9Test Design3 tests Reading Writing and Language MathTotal time 2 hours and45 minutes
Reading Test: 55 minutesPSAT 8/9Test Design5-minute breakWriting and Language Test: 30minutesMath Test – No Calculator: 20 minutes5-minute breakMath Test – Calculator portion: 40minutes5-minute breakVariable section with Reading,Writing and Language, or Mathquestions: 20 minutes long
PSAT 8/9What is tested?Reading TestIt’s About the EverydayThe Reading Test focuses on the skills andknowledge at the heart of education: the stuffyou’ve been learning in middle school, thestuff you’ll need to succeed in high school andcollege. It’s about how you take in, thinkabout, and use information. And guess what?You’ve been doing that for years.It’s not about how well you memorize factsand definitions, so you won’t need to useflashcards or insider tricks or spend all nightcramming
PSAT 8/9What is tested?What the Reading Test Is LikeWhen you take the Reading Test, you’ll readpassages and interpret informational graphics.Then you’ll use what you’ve read to answerquestions.It’s About the EverydayThe Reading Test measures a range of readingskills.Command of EvidenceWords in ContextAnalysis in History and Social Studies
PSAT 8/9What is tested?Writing and Language TestThe Writing and Language Test asks you to bean editor and improve passages that werewritten especially for the test — and that willinclude deliberate errors.
It’s About the EverydayPSAT 8/9What is tested?When you take the Writing and Language Test, you’lldo three things that people do all the time whenthey write and edit:1.Read.2.Find mistakes and weaknesses.3.Fix them.The good news: You do these things every time youproofread your own schoolwork or workshop essayswith a friend.It’s the practical skills you use to spot and correctproblems — the stuff you’ve been learning in middleschool and the stuff you’ll need to succeed in highschool and college — that the test measures.
Math TestPSAT 8/9What is tested?The Math Test covers a range of mathpractices, with an emphasis on problemsolving, modeling, using tools strategically, andusing algebraic structure.
It’s About the Real WorldPSAT 8/9What is tested?MathInstead of testing you on every math topic thereis, the PSAT 8/9 asks you to use the math thatyou’ll rely on most in all sorts of situations.Questions on the Math Test are designed to mirrorthe problem solving and modeling you’ll do in: College math, science, and social sciencecourses The jobs that you hold Your personal lifeFor instance, to answer some questions you’llneed to use one or two steps — because in thereal world a single calculation is rarely enough toget the job done.
PSAT 8/9How to get readyYou don’t have to discover secret tricks orcram the night before.The same habits and choices that lead to success inschool will help you get ready for the PSAT 8/9 andother tests in the SAT Suite of Assessments. Thebest way to prepare is to: Take challenging coursesDo your homeworkPrepare for tests and quizzesAsk and answer lots of questionsIn short, take charge of your education andlearn as much as you can.
PSAT 8/9Test DesignItems not allowed during testing Any devices, including smartwatches,that can be used to record, transmit,receive or play back audio,photographic, text, or video content Protractors, compasses, rulers Highlighters, colored pens, coloredpencils Dictionaries or other books — there areno exceptions, even if English is not yourfirst language Food and drinks — including bottledwater
FROMPSAT 8/9 TOCOLLEGEThe PSAT 8/9 will help prepareyou for college and career.Students thinking about collegeshould:Talk to their parents and school counselorabout their interests.Use Naviance to research colleges andmake a list of schools they’re interested in.Review high school graduation requirementsand college admission requirements.Keep taking challenging coursesPractice regularly via Khan Academy toprepare for college-level work.
FOR MOREINFORMATIONAbout the new SAT ,PSAT/NMSQT ,and PSAT 8/9:sat.org/newAbout SAT practice on KhanAcademy:satpractice.orgFor general SAT info:sat.collegeboard.org@OfficialSAT
MARKYOURCALENDARThe PSAT 8/9 will beadministered onWednesday,October 14th, 2015.Please arrive at schoolon time. There will beno make up tests.
GOODLUCK!Remember tofocus, workhard, and doyour best!
PSAT 8/9 5. Free, world-class test practice for all. Free Official SAT Practice on Khan Academy created in partnership with the College Board. Personalized practice pathways provided to each student. Full-length practice tests and thousands of sample questions. Accessible through any co
