The PSAT 8/9 isn't debuting till this fall. Our school has been using the Aspire (ACT) for 8th graders but PSAT/SAT otherwise so it is likely that we will be switching over to the PSAT 8/9 for the 8th graders to match the high schoolers at some point.
In terms of difficulty, I am assuming it is similar to Aspire and a bit more advance than Explore since it is for Fall 8th through Spring 9th versus Fall 8th for the Explore. The setup should be similar to the SAT, PSAT/NMSQT, and PSAT 10 but easier questions. For example, there are no "Adanced Topics" questions in the Math section so essentially all the hard questions from the SAT will be absent. All four Assessments are vertically aligned although you might run into the same issue as NWEA/MAP as far as accuracy at the high end due to insufficient difficult questions. Anyhow, the scale goes up to 1440 and 720 and 36. If you apply the concordance table to it to compare to the SAT that was replaced in March, the maximum scores are equivalent to a 1390 combined, 690 Math, and a 680 CR.
I don't believe College Board intends for students to prep for it due to its purported purpose. However, at a guess, I would assume it will be similar to the easy or medium questions on the SAT.
Last edited by Quantum2003; 07/28/16 02:44 PM.
