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.

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.

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.

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.

College admissions offices will not see students' PSAT scores. This score is meant to give students some guidance in preparing for the SAT, and for strong junior test takers, this score will be used to determine students' status in the National Merit Scholarship Competition.

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.

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 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 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.

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.

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.

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.

The PSAT is basically a practice test. It is a chance to experience the test without risk as it does not go on your record. For the top 1% of students, the test is also the qualifying test for National Merit (junior year only). If you are a top student and test-taker, be sure to prepare and be familiar with the test.

There's an easy solution to this dilemma: Just add a 0 to the end of each score. For example, a Critical Reading Score of 65 on the PSAT is equivalent to an SAT score of 650. It's possible. But be careful; most students find the PLAN to be a little bit easier than the PSAT. Note that the PLAN is out of 32 instead of 36, so the use of a score conversion table often misleads you into thinking that his/her PSAT score was better. Try this equation: (predicted ACT score = PLAN SCORE x 1.