The PSAT 8/9 is a relatively new exam intended to help eighth- and ninth-grade students plan a path to college. It is similar to other tests in the SAT Suite of Assessments, but it is important to note that it is not the same exam as the PSAT 10 or PSAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.
One significant difference among the PSAT 8/9, the PSAT/NMSQT and SAT is that this exam will not directly affect students’ college applications or scholarship opportunities. Instead, the goal is to expose students to the different kinds of questions commonly found on higher-stakes tests in the years to come.
[Discover tips to prepare for college during high school.]
Here are three important facts students — and their parents — should know about the PSAT 8/9.
1. Test dates may vary: The PSAT 8/9 is offered in the fall and spring. Participating schools choose one of these two time frames, but they may not widely advertise that the PSAT 8/9 is available.
If you wish to sit for this exam, be sure to speak with your guidance counselor as soon as possible. There is a $10 fee for the test, though certain schools may cover the cost.
Home-schooled students can participate too. In this instance, you must identify a local school that plans to offer the PSAT 8/9. The College Board provides this helpful school search tool to streamline the process.
2. The content is similar to the SAT but not identical: The PSAT 8/9 shares essential characteristics with other exams in the SAT Suite of Assessments, like the SAT. The exam is divided into three broad categories: math, reading, and writing and language. There is no essay section.
The reading test, like the SAT, focuses on analysis and understanding how writers communicate. Also like the SAT, it draws on important real-world documents, literary works and essays.
The writing and language test asks students to improve poorly written passages. Some knowledge of grammar and syntax can be helpful here. There are no simple vocabulary questions, although you may be asked to select alternate wordings for some passages.
The math test follows the pattern of SAT-like questions in that you are required to reason through and solve story problems with the use of skills in algebra, data analysis, geometry and so on.
[Read about how to get ready for the PSAT.]
All three sections of the PSAT 8/9 are shorter than the SAT, and they assess students “in a way that makes sense for each grade level.” The goal, after all, is not to terrify you into avoiding the more advanced exam.
Rather, it is to provide you with a basic introduction to college admissions tests. When you take the PSAT with its National Merit Scholarship Program implications, you will be more familiar with the content and style of the questions.
The PSAT 8/9 also introduces test-takers to SAT scoring. The number you receive is not a simple score of the percent you answered correctly. Instead, it is a relative value that indicates how well you did compared with others who took the exam.
Finally, the PSAT 8/9 has a maximum score of 1440, with values ranging from 120-720 for each “half” of the test (evidence-based reading and writing, plus math). The SAT, in contrast, has a maximum score of 1600.
[Learn about three reasons your PSAT score matters.]
3. Your results can forecast your high school trajectory: Understand that the PSAT 8/9 is not just practice for the PSAT/NMSQT and SAT. It can also provide insight into your overall readiness for high school curriculum.
However, do not think of it as a screen that prevents you from registering for challenging courses. Rather, think of it as a road map that highlights which areas you will need to work on most intensively.
For instance, your results on the PSAT 8/9 can suggest whether you are prepared for Advanced Placement European History and AP World History. This is just one of several compelling reasons to take the PSAT 8/9 seriously.
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3 Important Facts About the PSAT 8/9 originally appeared on usnews.com
