The PSAT/NMSQT was designed to provide students with practice for taking the SAT, while also offering opportunities to qualify for scholarship and recognition programs. Like the SAT, the PSAT/NMSQT measures math, reading, and writing skills. While the PSAT/NMSQT contains actual SAT questions, it is not designed to be as difficult. The PSAT/NMSQT is also shorter than the SAT, coming in at two hours and ten minutes. The SAT itself takes three hours and forty-five minutes.

The PSAT (Pre-Scholastic Assessment Test) is normally taken by high school students and serves as a practice test for the SAT (Scholastic Assessment Test). The SAT is taken by juniors and seniors as a precursor to college/university admission. It is also an assessment of a student's verbal and mathematical skills.

The PSAT/NMSQT is great practice for the SAT, and juniors who take the test may qualify to enter National Merit Scholarship Corporation programs. Most importantly, the PSAT/NMSQT is a comprehensive tool that gives valuable feedback to the students and the school. Your son/daughter will receive scores in verbal reasoning, math reasoning, and writing and will se how his/her scores compare to other sophomores across the country.

Standardized tests are only one indicator of how well you might perform in college. Of course we like to see high scores if possible, but your day-to-day performance in classes (i.e., GPA) is more important to us. The combination of a mediocre GPA and low test scores will be a concern, however.

Our Student Records Department has PSAT, SAT and ACT test scores on the transcripts for some students, but only if the student provided us with his/her correct social security number and put the correct social security number on the test at the time the test was taken. Test scores are posted from a data file purchased from the testing company, so we can't be certain that all information is provided. We are under no requirement to maintain these scores, but do so as a convenience to the students.

A raw PSAT score is calculated the same way as a raw SAT score. For each section (verbal, math, or writing skills), you get one point for a correct answer, but you lose 1/4 of a point for an incorrect regular multiple-choice answer. In the math section, you lose 1/3 of a point for each incorrect quantitative comparison answer. There is no penalty for incorrectly answering a grid-in. There is also no penalty for skipped questions.

Unlike the SAT, the PSAT scores are not sent to colleges and are not used for the college admissions process. Instead, the PSAT is the qualifying test for the National Merit Award. The PSAT contains questions that are designed to be slightly easier than those on the SAT and is approximately half as long as the SAT. However, since the SAT and the PSAT measure similar skills and have similar structures, preparing for and taking the PSAT can be excellent practice for taking the SAT.

The Scholastic Aptitude Test is given 7 times a year, beginning this school year on October 12, 2002. You can register to take the test either online or with a registration packet, available at the CORE Resource Centers. For online registration, visit www.collegeboard.com. The Preliminary SAT (PSAT) is given on two dates in the fall of every school year. This year, the dates are October 15th and October 19th. Students are instructed to ask their school's counselor for registration information.

While it is always a good idea to review the practice materials before any exam, students should not invest in formal, expensive test prep classes for the PSAT. The PSAT is meant only as a practice SAT, so, in a sense, taking the PSAT constitutes a form of test prep for the SAT.

The SAT is divided into three sections: critical reading, math, and writing. The ACT has the following sections: English, math, social science, natural science, and writing. Each section of the SAT is scored on a scale that goes up to 800 with national norms set at 500 (the highest possible score is 2400). The ACT is scored on a scale of 1-36. Many HPA students who are not satisfied with their SAT scores often score higher on the ACT.

The PLAN, a practice ACT, is given in October during the Sophomore year and the PSAT in October of the Junior here at LHN. SAT and ACT tests should be taken during your child's Junior year. Parents should register for the fall, winter or spring dates. Your child can take the ACT and SAT more than once. Mrs. Christian, our college guidance director, will answer any questions.

Without any additional preparation, PSAT scores are a good indication of how the student will perform on the SAT. Students normally take this in October of Grade 11.

SAT I-Reasoning test is a three hour, primarily multiple choice test that measures verbal and mathematical reasoning abilities that develop over time.

It is the exam usually taken in the sophomore or junior year as a warm-up for the College Board SATI. The SAT is the exam accepted by colleges and universities as part of their admission requirements. The SATII subject exams test specific areas such as English, Math or a foreign language. You can choose which subject tests to take. The UC system requires the SATII exam. It is one of the exams colleges and universities accept as part of their admission requirements.

Taking the SAT Test is usually not necessary, however, for some universities it is a requirement for a scholarship. Should this be the case, IDEA will inform you in due time.

Yes. Standardized test scores are an important part of your application for admission, but they are only one part of your application. Each major has established requirements. For example, the School of Business and Engineering place more of an emphasis on the math SAT than most of the majors in the School of Arts and Sciences. For more information, contact the Office of Admissions.

It is always a good idea to prepare for standardized tests. Before deciding what type of preparation is best, students should do some self-examination. Some self-directed students do very well by buying a book of practice tests and taking them on their own. Other students need the enforced discipline of attending a class. While it has been proven that preparation and familiarity with standardized tests do improve students' scores, one method of preparation is not necessarily better than another.

Usually, students take the SAT in the spring of their junior in high school and, if they choose, again in the fall of their senior year. Students that choose to take the Subject Tests often take them at the end of their junior year or at the beginning of their senior year. Since Subject Tests are directly related to specific subjects, it is a good idea to take a Subject Test as soon after completing its related high school course as possible.

All exams begin at 8 a.m. The PSAT exam requires 2-2 1/2 hours and the SAT's run three hours from the time the test was started. Scheduled dates are on the district calendar as well as the district calendar on this Web site.

Anonymous and Confidential use the same testing method. The only difference is one does not have your name attached to the results. Anonymous antibody testing is available at Anonymous Test Sites in some California counties. Anonymous testing means that absolutely no one has access to your test results since your name is never recorded at the test site. It is always a good idea to contact the testing clinic directly to confirm what type of test is available.