WELCOME TPHS WELCOME TPHS PARENTSPARENTS

WELCOME TPHS WELCOME TPHS PARENTSPARENTS

PSAT RESULTS ARE HERE!PSAT RESULTS ARE HERE!

Hello and Welcome!

Elloise Bennett, Assistant PrincipalJayme Williams, Counselor

Torrey Pines High School

Our Goals for Tonight’s Presentation…

• Provide an overview of the PSAT• Highlight the PSAT Score Reports• Illustrate National Norms• Correlation between PSAT and TPHS

curriculum• Discuss SAT/ SAT II/ ACT tests• Methods to improve scores

What is the PSAT?

The PSAT assesses • CRITICAL READING

• MATH • WRITING SKILLS

that are important for success in college.

• SAMPLE MATH QUESTIONIf y = (x + 3)2, then (-2x – 6)2

must equal which of the following?

(A) -4(A) -4yy2 2 (B) -2(B) -2yy2 2 (C) -4(C) -4yy (D) 2(D) 2yy (E) 4y(E) 4y

THE CORRECT ANSWER IS (E) 4Y

SAMPLE CRITICAL READING QUESTION (Sentence Completion)

Medieval kingdoms did not become constitutional republics overnight; on the

contrary, the change was -------.

(A) unpopular(A) unpopular(B) unexpected(B) unexpected(C) advantageous(C) advantageous(D) sufficient(D) sufficient(E) gradual(E) gradual THE CORRECT ANSWER IS (E)

gradual

In what TPHS course curriculum will you see

these questions covered?

• INTRO TO ALGEBRA• ALGEBRA I• GEOMETRY• ALGEBRA II• HONORS ALGEBRA II /

TRIGONOMETRY• ENGLISH GRADES 9-12

WHAT STANDARDIZED

TESTS WILL HAVE QUESTIONS LIKE

THIS?

• STAR• PLAN• ACT• SAT• ASVAB• AP• CLEP

How the PSAT is scored…

Each correct answer 1 full point, regardless of difficulty

Each unanswered question 0 points

Each incorrect answer to a Student-Produced Response Question (Math)

0 points

Each incorrect answer to a multiple choice question

Minus ¼ point

Information on the Score Report

Your child's PSAT/NMSQT scores are printed right at the top of the report. Each score—for critical

reading, math, and writing skills—is based on a scale of 20–80.

The average critical reading, math, and writing skills score for juniors is about 49.

The average critical reading, math, and writing skills score for sophomores is about

46.

PSAT Selection Index• The selection index is the SUM of the three

scores (CR+M+W)• The selection index ranges from 60-240• The National selection index average for

Juniors is about a 147• A selection index of 221 may qualify a

junior student to become a national merit semifinalist.

• TPHS had 27 National Merit Semifinalists in 2006!

49 IS THE NATIONAL NORM FOR JUNIORS

PSAT Score Report Plus assists in determining…• how ready you are for college-level work. • how your score compares nationally. ALSO…

• Contains the number of, correct answers, your answer, and level of difficulty are displayed for every question on the test.

• The most valuable part of your Score Report Plus is the "Improve Your Skills" section.

www.collegeboard.com

Can PSAT scores be used to estimate SAT

scores?• PSAT CR, M, and W questions are

designed to be the same as those on the SAT reasoning test

• PSAT scores on a scale of 20-80, SAT scores on a scale of 200-800

• Estimated SAT range scores are included on student Score Report Plus

HOW CAN YOU IMPROVE YOUR

SCORE?• COLLEGEBOARD.COM (Question of the

day)• ACT.ORG• INFOTRAC- TPHS online test

preparation• SATMETHOD.COM• TESTU.COM• KAPTEST.COM• PETERSONS.COM• NUMBER2.COM• REVOLUTIONPREP.COM

• Read college level material• Take challenging courses• Become comfortable with the testing

environment.• Utilize TPHS staff as a resource• Visit the TPHS media center for after school

tutoring.• Visit the TPHS College and Career Center

(Room 401)• LEARN TO RELAX!

EVEN EASIER STEPS TO TAKE…..

SAT/ SAT II TESTING DATES

Test Date Reg. Deadline Late Reg.

March 10th (SAT only) Feb 2nd Feb 14th

May 5th April 3rd April 11th

June 2nd April 27th May 9th www.collegeboard.com

What is the SAT II?• SAT II subject exams are commonly taken after

advanced coursework is completed.

• The content of SAT II subject exams directly correlate with AP exams… but are designed to assess college prep curriculum.

• Which colleges require SAT II’s?

• UC’s- require 2 SAT II’s, in 2 different subject areas

• CSU’s- Do not require SAT II’s

ACT TESTING DATES

Test Date Reg. Deadline Late Reg.

Feb 10th Jan 5th Jan 6-19

April 14th March 9th March 10-24

June 9th May 4th May 5-18www.act.org

UC Correlation IndexACT score

SAT score

36 800-790

35 780-770

34 760-750

33 740-730

32 720-710

31 700-690

30 680-670

29 660-650

28 640-630

ACT score

SAT score

27 620-610

26 600-590

25 580-570

24 560-550

23 540-530

22 520-510

21 500-490

20 480-470

19 460-450

A-Cl Cm-Gu

Gv-Ld & EL

students

Le-Oh Sm-Z

Jayme Williams Brennan Dean Mary Sanchez-Allwein

Sally Gervasini

Linsy Glassman Oi-Sl &

AVID students

Jesse Gonzalez

Thank you for your time. Please feel free to contact your student’s counselor for

more information.