PSAT/NMSQT Test
PSAT/NMSQT Dates
The fall 2017 testing schedule includes:
The PSAT/NMSQT assesses the critical reading, mathematics, and writing skills students need for college and beyond. The PSAT/NMSQT includes five sections in three skill areas: Critical Reading, Math, and Writing Skills. Look below for more detailed information on each of the areas. Testing time totals 2 hours and 10 minutes.
Critical Reading Section
Critical reading questions focus on a student's ability to analyze, evaluate, and think logically about what they read.
Mathematics Section
Mathematics questions call upon the skills students have learned in arithmetic, algebra, and geometry. Some of the questions are like those in standard math textbooks. Others require students to use math skills in original ways to solve non-routine problems. The ability to reason logically in a variety of situations is tested throughout. Basic geometric formulas are included in the test book for reference because the PSAT/NMSQT emphasizes application, rather than memorization, of this material.
Writing Skills
Writing Skills questions present sentences and paragraphs that contain the kinds of errors students must look for and correct in their own writing. They measure how well students:
To find out more about the PSAT/NMSQT you can go to their website: https://www.collegeboard.org/psat-nmsqt
For more information on test taking strategies and how to prepare for the test click here.
Benefits of taking the PSAT/NMSQT
The fall 2017 testing schedule includes:
- Primary test day: Wednesday, October 11
- Saturday test day: October 14
- Alternate test day: Wednesday, October 25
The PSAT/NMSQT assesses the critical reading, mathematics, and writing skills students need for college and beyond. The PSAT/NMSQT includes five sections in three skill areas: Critical Reading, Math, and Writing Skills. Look below for more detailed information on each of the areas. Testing time totals 2 hours and 10 minutes.
Critical Reading Section
Critical reading questions focus on a student's ability to analyze, evaluate, and think logically about what they read.
- Point scale: 20-80
- Timing: Two 25-minute sections
- 48 Questions
- Question types:
- Determining the Meaning of Words: Use vocabulary skills, context, roots, prefixes, and suffixes to determine the meaning of words.
- Author’s Craft: Understand how authors use tone, style, and writing devices such as metaphor and symbolism.
- Reasoning and Inference: Understand assumptions, suggestions, and implications in reading passages and draw informed conclusions.
- Organization and Ideas: Understand the organization of a reading passage, and identify the main and supporting ideas.
- Understanding Literary Elements: Understand literary elements such as plot, setting, and characterization.
Mathematics Section
Mathematics questions call upon the skills students have learned in arithmetic, algebra, and geometry. Some of the questions are like those in standard math textbooks. Others require students to use math skills in original ways to solve non-routine problems. The ability to reason logically in a variety of situations is tested throughout. Basic geometric formulas are included in the test book for reference because the PSAT/NMSQT emphasizes application, rather than memorization, of this material.
- Point scale: 20-80
- Timing: Two 25-minute sections
- Questions: 38
- Question types:
- Problem Solving: Solve abstract and practical problems by applying and adapting a variety of strategies. Monitor progress and evaluate answers in terms of the questions asked.
- Representation: Use and translate among representations including verbal, numerical, symbolic, and graphical to communicate mathematical ideas and solve problems.
- Reasoning: Develop and use mathematical arguments and proofs to explore the truth of conjectures and justify conclusions.
- Connections: Connect ideas from different areas of mathematics (particularly geometry and algebra) to state or solve abstract or applied problems.
- Communication: Express mathematical ideas precisely and communicate them coherently and clearly in the language and notation of mathematics.
Writing Skills
Writing Skills questions present sentences and paragraphs that contain the kinds of errors students must look for and correct in their own writing. They measure how well students:
- Express ideas effectively in standard written English
- Recognize faults in usage and structure
- Use language with sensitivity to meaning
- Point scale: 20-80
- Timing: One 30-minute section
- Questions: 39
- Question types:
- Manage Word Choice and Grammatical Relationships Between Words: Understand relationships between and among words, including subject–verb agreement, pronoun reference, and verb form and tense.
- Manage Grammatical Structures Used to Modify or Compare: Understand correct use of adjectives or adverbs, comparative structures (such as neither and nor), and phrases used to modify or compare.
- Manage Phrases and Clauses in a Sentence: Use well-formed sentence structures (e.g., parallelism, connectives, and relative clauses) to indicate relationships between and among sentence elements.
- Recognize Correctly Formed Sentences: Recognize correct sentence structure.
- Manage Order and Relationships of Sentences and Paragraphs: Identify how to order the elements of a sentence or paragraph to improve clarity, meaning, and the progression of ideas.
To find out more about the PSAT/NMSQT you can go to their website: https://www.collegeboard.org/psat-nmsqt
For more information on test taking strategies and how to prepare for the test click here.
Benefits of taking the PSAT/NMSQT
- The PSAT/NMSQT assesses reading, math, and writing skills; provides excellent practice for the SAT; and connects students to scholarships and personalized online tools.
- Students in 11th grade may be eligible for the National Merit Scholarship program and other programs that use PSAT/NMSQT scores.
- The PSAT/NMSQT and the SAT have the same format and evaluate the same skills. PSAT/NMSQT students also get a custom SAT study plan based on their results.
- After the test, students receive feedback on how ready they are for college and access to tools that help them improve.
- PSAT/NMSQT scores tell students and educators how likely students are to succeed in AP courses and on AP Exams.
- Students get free access to My College QuickStart. Features include an interactive score report, a personality test, major and career suggestions, and a starter list of colleges.
- Students who opt in on test day receive free information about admission and financial aid from colleges, universities, and scholarship programs that are interested in them.
- Sophomores who choose to take the test earlier than their Junior year can qualify for academic scholarships.