{"id":1803,"date":"2018-10-09T17:42:52","date_gmt":"2018-10-09T17:42:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.academicapproach.com\/benefits-strong-psat-score-2\/"},"modified":"2023-07-17T14:51:09","modified_gmt":"2023-07-17T14:51:09","slug":"benefits-strong-psat-score-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.academicapproach.com\/benefits-strong-psat-score-2\/","title":{"rendered":"The PSAT\/NMSQT: Its Purpose &#038; Benefits"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em>The following is a repost of an essay written by our founder, Matthew Pietrafetta, for the blog last year. As the 2018 PSAT\/NMSQT is just around the corner, we hope this is a helpful reminder of what the test is and the benefits of a good score.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.academicapproach.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Tutoring5_700x300.jpg\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-1219\" src=\"https:\/\/www.academicapproach.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Tutoring5_700x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"700\" height=\"300\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The PSAT\/NMSQT is upon us! This College Board exam for 10<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">th<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and 11<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">th<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> graders isn\u2019t just a preliminary version of the exam they will take to qualify for college entrance. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.academicapproach.com\/about-the-tests\/psat\/\">PSAT<\/a> is a big deal, not just a pre-big-deal \u2013 aiming for a strong PSAT score helps students (and their parents) do three critical things: <\/span><b>predict<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><b>qualify<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and <\/span><b>learn<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b><i>Predicting<\/i><\/b> <b><i>performance<\/i><\/b><b> with the PSAT<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Since its 2016 revision, the PSAT\/NMSQT has become a better-than-ever predictor of the SAT. In almost every way, the PSAT looks, reads, and feels like a full-length SAT, covering nearly identical content in almost the same amount of time. Because of this, a strong PSAT score<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">helps predict a strong SAT score.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Evidence-based Reading &amp; Writing <\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">PSAT\u2019s Reading is almost identical to SAT\u2019s, except PSAT Reading is five questions fewer and five minutes shorter. \u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">PSAT\u2019s Writing &amp; Language is the same as SAT\u2019s. <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Mathematics <\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">PSAT\u2019s no-calculator section is three questions fewer than SATs but offers the same amount of time.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">PSAT\u2019s calculator section features seven questions fewer in ten fewer minutes.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>PSAT Essay<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The SAT optional essay is NOT offered at all on the PSAT.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The table below offers a side-by-side comparison of the structure and content of the two exams. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.academicapproach.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Screen-Shot-2017-12-14-at-1.55.47-PM.png\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-3474 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.academicapproach.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Screen-Shot-2017-12-14-at-1.55.47-PM.png\" alt=\"A strong PSAT score can help predict a student's future SAT score.\" width=\"582\" height=\"714\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In short, the PSAT is only 15 questions fewer and 15 minutes shorter than the SAT (not counting the essay of course). <\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.academicapproach.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Screen-Shot-2017-12-14-at-2.00.14-PM.png\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-3475\" src=\"https:\/\/www.academicapproach.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Screen-Shot-2017-12-14-at-2.00.14-PM.png\" alt=\"A strong PSAT score can help a student prepare for the SAT, including comparing timing and construct of both tests\" width=\"601\" height=\"367\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h3><b>Good News for Students <\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The close comparison of the PSAT and SAT is good news for students. From both a content and experience standpoint, taking the PSAT prepares students for both the material covered on the full-length SAT as well as the experience of sitting for a lengthy and rigorous standardized test. A <\/span><b>strong PSAT score<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> predicts similar performance on the SAT.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As a predictor, the PSAT can help students year over year. Because the new PSAT system offers testing from 8<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">th<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> grade to 11<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">th<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> grade if a school district offers that testing, a student can have a transparent view of where he or she is tracking towards 11<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">th<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> grade.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b><i>Qualifying<\/i><\/b> <b><i>for scholarships<\/i><\/b><b> with the PSAT<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A strong PSAT score can also help students earn recognition, and sometimes scholarship dollars, as either a commended scholar or a national merit scholar. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Each state has two cut-off thresholds (one for commended scholars, one for national merit) to qualify for these designations, which are determined by the fall of senior year. Many colleges offer scholarships associated with these honors, though PSAT scores are not typically provided to colleges as part of the application.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">See additional details in the table below.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.academicapproach.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Screen-Shot-2017-12-14-at-2.02.37-PM.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-3476\" src=\"https:\/\/www.academicapproach.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Screen-Shot-2017-12-14-at-2.02.37-PM.png\" alt=\"A strong PSAT score can help students qualify for the National Merit Scholarship.\" width=\"611\" height=\"758\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h2><b><i>Learning<\/i><\/b> <b><i>to improve<\/i><\/b><b> with the PSAT <\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The most important function of the PSAT is to help students learn. So what\u2019s the best way to drill down into and learn the most from a student\u2019s score report? <\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Composite Scores: The high-level view <\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The highest-level view of performance is the total score and the two section scores: Evidence-Based Reading &amp; Writing and Math. These scores begin to tell the story: how does performance compare between the skills areas? Is there a discrepancy that calls for particular attention and focuses? Percentiles provide context on a student\u2019s performance in comparison to peers.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.academicapproach.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Screen-Shot-2017-12-14-at-2.04.00-PM.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-3477\" src=\"https:\/\/www.academicapproach.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Screen-Shot-2017-12-14-at-2.04.00-PM.png\" alt=\"Whether a student has a weaker or strong PSAT score, they can learn and improve from their score.\" width=\"622\" height=\"237\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h3><b>Subscores: Where to focus for improvement<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Subscores help you drill down further: are there particular question types in reading, grammar or math that are in need of attention? \u00a0\u201cYes, I\u2019ve never really learned the nuts and bolts of grammar, and sure enough my Standard English Conventions subscore shows it.\u201d \u201cI find aspects of algebra very challenging, and sure enough my Heart of Algebra score makes it obvious.\u201d \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The subscores provide more detailed information on particular skill areas, and the red, yellow, and green color bars indicate a student\u2019s college readiness.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.academicapproach.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Screen-Shot-2017-12-14-at-2.07.32-PM.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-3478 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.academicapproach.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Screen-Shot-2017-12-14-at-2.07.32-PM.png\" alt=\"Subscores help students understand a strong PSAT score.\" width=\"430\" height=\"404\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h3><b>Question &amp; Answer Analysis: question-level detail \u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The most productive level of learning takes place at the question level. \u201cWhat did I get wrong and what did I pick instead of the correct answer?\u201d There is no true learning without understanding error \u2013 digging into the thinking behind erroneous answers builds skills and self-knowledge. \u00a0\u201cWas that an easy, medium, or hard question?\u201c \u201cOh, I see why I picked C instead of B \u2013 I missed that detail in the passage, don\u2019t understand comma use perfectly, or failed to distribute a negative when FOILing out that algebraic expression.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The question-level feedback also provides the relationship to the cross-section and sub-section scores, so a student can identify if the question they missed was related to a particular skill area.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.academicapproach.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Screen-Shot-2017-12-14-at-2.09.07-PM.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-3479\" src=\"https:\/\/www.academicapproach.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Screen-Shot-2017-12-14-at-2.09.07-PM.png\" alt=\"The PSAT Question-Level Feedback Report helps students further either their poor or strong PSAT score.\" width=\"628\" height=\"251\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h3><b>The Test Booklet: A Window into student problem-solving <\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of the most important pieces of feedback comes from the actual test booklet from the PSAT. This booklet is key. Inside, students can see their own work. Did you annotate the reading passage? Did you write out your steps in that math problem or instead do mental math and hence caused the careless mistake? \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The booklet provides an incredibly valuable opportunity to explore a student\u2019s specific problem-solving process and to coach, modify, learn, and grow. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In all, the PSAT provides a valuable opportunity for growth and learning, no matter what the score. <\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The following is a repost of an essay written by our founder, Matthew Pietrafetta, for&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1804,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[22,96,23,21],"tags":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.academicapproach.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1803"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.academicapproach.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.academicapproach.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.academicapproach.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.academicapproach.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1803"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.academicapproach.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1803\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1811,"href":"https:\/\/www.academicapproach.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1803\/revisions\/1811"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.academicapproach.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1804"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.academicapproach.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1803"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.academicapproach.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1803"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.academicapproach.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1803"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}