PSAT InterpretationPSAT Interpretation

January, 2012January, 2012

Albion Middle School Center Middle School

Don Berkey, 8th Grade Counselor Houda Crable, 8th Grade Counselor Denise Candow, 7th Grade Counselor

Welcome!Welcome!

SAT Question of the DaySAT Question of the Dayfrom www.collegeboard.comfrom www.collegeboard.com

Sentence CompletionDirections: Read the sentence Choose the word or set of

words that, when inserted in the sentence, best fits the meaning of the sentence as a whole.

Sentence CompletionSentence CompletionBecause King Philip's desire to make Because King Philip's desire to make

Spain the dominant power in Spain the dominant power in sixteenth-century Europe ran counter sixteenth-century Europe ran counter to Queen Elizabeth's insistence on to Queen Elizabeth's insistence on autonomy for England, ------- was -------.autonomy for England, ------- was -------.

Answer Choices:Answer Choices:

(A) reconciliation . . assured (A) reconciliation . . assured (B) warfare . . avoidable (B) warfare . . avoidable (C) ruination … impossible(C) ruination … impossible (D) conflict … inevitable(D) conflict … inevitable (E) diplomacy … simple(E) diplomacy … simple

Correct AnswerCorrect Answer

DD

Explanation:Explanation: The word "because" indicates that the The word "because" indicates that the information in the first part of the sentence (the information in the first part of the sentence (the part before the comma) explains the reason for the part before the comma) explains the reason for the situation described in the second part. The first situation described in the second part. The first part states that what King Philip wanted part states that what King Philip wanted (domination for Spain) "ran counter to" what Queen (domination for Spain) "ran counter to" what Queen Elizabeth wanted (independence for England). Elizabeth wanted (independence for England). Choice (D) logically completes the sentence.Choice (D) logically completes the sentence.

Correct AnswerCorrect Answer

The correct sentence reads:The correct sentence reads:

Because King Philip's desire to Because King Philip's desire to make Spain the dominant power make Spain the dominant power in sixteenth-century Europe ran in sixteenth-century Europe ran counter to Queen Elizabeth's counter to Queen Elizabeth's insistence on autonomy for insistence on autonomy for England, England, conflictconflict was was inevitableinevitable..

(from sample test, Jan. 2011)(from sample test, Jan. 2011)

PLEASE REMEMBER …PLEASE REMEMBER …

The PSAT test for 7The PSAT test for 7thth and 8 and 8thth graders is graders is just practice!just practice!

Students gain experience in test-taking skills Students gain experience in test-taking skills such as time management, familiarity with such as time management, familiarity with standardized test format, etc. which should standardized test format, etc. which should help them with future PSAT/SAT/ACT tests. help them with future PSAT/SAT/ACT tests.

Middle school student scores - Middle school student scores - compared to college-bound compared to college-bound

sophomores; sophomores; Juniors-compared to juniors and Juniors-compared to juniors and

above.above.

Materials brought home Materials brought home by your childby your child

2011 Score Report 2011 Score Report PlusPlus

Test booklet used by your Test booklet used by your

child on test day child on test day {Oct. 2011}{Oct. 2011}

ScoringScoring

Each correct answer = + 1 point Each correct answer = + 1 point (regardless of level of difficulty)(regardless of level of difficulty)

Each unanswered question = 0 Each unanswered question = 0 pointspoints

ScoringScoring

Incorrect answers Incorrect answers

(to math questions 29-38) (to math questions 29-38) 0 points 0 points

Incorrect answers Incorrect answers

(to multiple choice questions) (to multiple choice questions) - 1/4 point - 1/4 point

ScoringScoring

Critical ReadingCritical Reading Math Math Writing SkillsWriting Skills

20 to 80 scale on all tests20 to 80 scale on all tests

Grade 9 avg: 38-42Grade 9 avg: 38-42Grade 10 avg: 43-36Grade 10 avg: 43-36Grade 11 avg: 47-50Grade 11 avg: 47-50

ScoringScoring RangeRange: Scores within the range can be : Scores within the range can be

considered “similar” to yours. This estimates considered “similar” to yours. This estimates how much one’s score would vary if taken how much one’s score would vary if taken repeatedly with no additional skillsrepeatedly with no additional skills

PercentilePercentile: More significant because a : More significant because a “national” ranking.“national” ranking.

Expected score on SAT: Expected score on SAT: Add zero to raw score:Add zero to raw score:

48 on PSAT = 480 on SAT48 on PSAT = 480 on SAT

Your AnswersYour Answers

Question numberQuestion number Correct answerCorrect answer Check mark if correct or Check mark if correct or

correct answer is showncorrect answer is shown Difficulty of question Difficulty of question

(e = easy, m = medium, h = (e = easy, m = medium, h = hard)hard)

Selection IndexSelection Index Sum of Critical Reading, Math and Writing Skills Sum of Critical Reading, Math and Writing Skills

scores.scores.

The asterisk (*) indicates that your student does The asterisk (*) indicates that your student does not meet the eligibility requirements of being in not meet the eligibility requirements of being in the 10the 10thth grade. grade.

Used as initial screening for scholarship programs.Used as initial screening for scholarship programs.

Additional information was provided Additional information was provided by your student, including career interests.by your student, including career interests. See “Next Steps” See “Next Steps” {www.collegeboard.com/quickstart}{www.collegeboard.com/quickstart}

How To Improve ScoresHow To Improve Scores

Read section of report titled “Your Skills”Read section of report titled “Your Skills”

College Board has identified skills most College Board has identified skills most likely to improve with extra work.likely to improve with extra work.

CautionCaution: Many questions have not yet : Many questions have not yet been covered in 7been covered in 7thth and 8 and 8thth grade grade curriculums!curriculums!

District Results - District Results - 77thth GradeGrade

119 students tested119 students tested Mean scores:Mean scores:

Critical Reading:Critical Reading: 43.943.9

Math:Math: 42.042.0

Writing Skills:Writing Skills: 40.340.3

Selection Index Range: 79 to Selection Index Range: 79 to 174174

District Results - District Results - 88thth Grade Grade(Compared to Last Year)(Compared to Last Year)

126 students tested126 students tested Mean scores:Mean scores:

Critical Reading:Critical Reading: 45.5 45.5 (41.7)(41.7)Math:Math: 45.5 45.5 (44.4)(44.4)Writing Skills:Writing Skills: 42.3 42.3 (39.9)(39.9)Selection Index Range:Selection Index Range: 93 to 93 to

194194 (93 to 165) (93 to 165)

District Results District Results (Class of (Class of 2016)2016)

37383940414243444546

CriticalReading

Math Writing Skills

2010

2011

88thth Grade Compared To Grade Compared ToCollege-Bound OHIO College-Bound OHIO

SophomoresSophomores

Mean Scores: Mean Scores: 88thth Grade (OHIO 10 Grade (OHIO 10thth Grade) Grade)

Critical Reading:Critical Reading: 45.5 (49)45.5 (49) Math:Math: 45.5 (47)45.5 (47) Writing Skills: Writing Skills: 42.3 (48)42.3 (48)

88thth Grade Compared To Grade Compared ToCollege-Bound OHIO College-Bound OHIO

SophomoresSophomores

38

40

42

44

46

48

50

CritcalReading

Math Writing

Current 8thgraders

CollegeBound 10thgraders

SummarySummary

PSAT scores are PSAT scores are notnot used by colleges used by colleges as part of their admissions criteria.as part of their admissions criteria.

Success will increase with more Success will increase with more course work and more testing course work and more testing experiences.experiences.

It’s Just Practice!!It’s Just Practice!!

Take The Next StepTake The Next Step

Access your FREE PSAT College Planning Kit at: Access your FREE PSAT College Planning Kit at: www.collegeboard.com/quickstart

Review question and answer explanationsReview question and answer explanations

Develop skills through rigorous academic Develop skills through rigorous academic courses and quality outside readingcourses and quality outside reading

Follow the personalized advice in Follow the personalized advice in My SAT Study My SAT Study PlanPlan and and My College QuickStartMy College QuickStart

{see next slides}{see next slides}

My College QuickStartMy College QuickStart

My College QuickStartMy College QuickStart

My Online Score Report

• Projected SAT® score ranges

• State percentiles

• You can filter questions

• Questions and answer explanations

My College QuickStartMy College QuickStart

My SAT Study Plan™

• Personalized skills to improve

• SAT practice questions

• An official SAT practice test

My College QuickStartMy College QuickStart

My College Matches• Starter list of colleges

• Criteria to customize search

• Ability to save searches

My College QuickStartMy College QuickStart

My Majors & Career Matches

• Major you chose

• Related majors

• Related careers

In conclusion …In conclusion …

Thank you for reading the Thank you for reading the material.material.

Remember to contact your middle Remember to contact your middle school counselor with further school counselor with further questions and/or concerns.questions and/or concerns.