Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Identification, Testing & Assessment PSAT 9th

Thanks. She is American. Actual dual. Born in NYC and then I got her cdn citizenship. Convenient.
Well, it is a matter of what she can do. If the school gives her a spot, then the PSAT/NM whatever. Otherwise the SAT is her only other option.

But since it will be 2+ hears before she takes it again. I don't think it will be awful.

Some random thoughts in response to OP and a couple of other responses: If you have a high ability child, I would definitely opt for the SAT over the PSAT 8/9 or the PSAT/NMSQT due to the extremely low ceiling issue. Keep in mind that the current SAT is not like the one given prior to 1989 and accepted by MENSA. The ceiling is much much lower. In order to lower the ceiling even more, the PSAT 8/9 maxes out at 1440 (720M/720RW) while the PSAT/NMSQT maxes out at 1520 (760M/760RW) as compared to the SAT max of 1600. This actually makes it harder for 99+ percentile kids to score in the 99+ percentile because when you lower the ceiling, many more students hit it and careless errors and luck of the draw become a factor. If DC's talent search SAT scores are already in the 1500 range, then it is impossible to reach that score on the PSAT 8/9 and a potential toss-up whether you will on the PSAT/NMSQT. I mentioned luck of the draw because on an easy PSAT, a single missed problem can subtract 10 or 20 points from the maximum score (the actual PSAT 8/9 DS/DD took last fall). The SI (selection index) is 1/10 the sum of the Math score plus two times the Reading/Writing score so for NM (National Merit) purposes, it is possible to miss Semi-Finalist status in the toughest states with a score of 1490 if it's 760M/730RW. It is possible to miss the NM boat by missing a total of two problems in the RW sections on an easy version of the PSAT. Of course, there are some states with an SI as low as the commended cut-off of only 212 (compared to 223 in the toughest states, including Americans aboard) where you can achieve NM with a score as low as 1360 (600M/760RW).

Would you care to elaborate please? I must be being spectacularly dense/obtuse this morning because I am understanding that statement to mean that literacy is weighted 20 times more importantly than numeracy 1:20. In other words, that a person's Maths score will at most count for 1/21 of their total ( assuming ceilings on both sections are reached). This doesn't sound right - what am I missing?

The new exam scoring is very confusing. My older two took the three part SAT/PSAT, so the scoring was easy to understand. If I am wrong, someone please correct this explanation.

I think what is being said is that it is the math score (say 710) divided by 10, so 71. Then the Reading and Writing converted raw scores, which will each range from 8 to 38. Add those together - say 32 and 35, so 67. Then multiply 67 by 2 and add 71 for a selection index of 205.

I think that the PSAT scoring going back before the three part SAT/PSAT was the math section plus two times the verbal. What is interesting is that while I would expect the heavier verbal weighting to favor girls, historically, more boys have been NMSF (though there are more girls taking the PSAT than boys).

What do you mean, opt for it? Opt for it for what situation? They have to take PSAT for NMSF, correct? I am in a large state with a child who is likely to be somewhere on the bubble for NMS. Her verbal scores were higher than math on the PSAT 8/9.

Yes, you need to take the PSAT (in 11th grade) for NMSF. Since the College Board keeps all SAT sittings that you take from 9th grade on, and since some colleges require that you send all test scores, it is better to take the PSAT as a 9th grader. The PSAT is not sent to colleges. If you top out the PSAT, then you know you're probably good for NMSF and will do well on the SAT.

If you want to take the SAT, there are usually organizations and test prep companies that will offer a practice SAT in real test-like setting. Just make sure the test company didn't make up the questions - make sure it is an official practice SAT or a past released test.

My son a sophomore took PSAT 8/9 last year. He will also take the PSAT10 this spring I believe. He was more comfortable with the SAT in the spring thru NUMATs.

I am thinking about a prep class over the summer, not sure it will help. Not sure he will buy into it. I think the whole NMF should not ride on one test on one day.

I believe this is current info.

https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/pdf/sample-psat-nmsqt-score-report.pdf

The PSAT/NMSQT is not mandatory in our district. It costs like $16 to take. Most don't take it. The SAT at ours is taken in April junior year. It's free and mandatory

I'm in a somewhat similar situation - my DD14 took the SAT in 7th and 8th for CTY/SET/TIP. As she's already taken it twice, we're going to take this year off.

She'll take the PSAT next year to prep for the NMSQT version the following year (though I doubt it's any different), and then SAT in late 10th and 11th.

It sounds like you're considering the PSAT in 9th, not the PSAT 8/9. If you are going to test this year, I'd recommend the PSAT - the 8/9 seems to be of no value, IMHO.

For others who may be reading with a DYS student in 7th/8th - I highly recommend taking the actual SAT towards the end of 8th (and once before as practice, if possible). The student gets experience with the actual test, and it comes off their records as if it never happened. But if the student does manage a very good score (as mine did, and I suspect other DYS'ers could), you have the option to keep it and have a score "in the bag" well in advance of college applications.

She did write the PSAT NMSQT since it was for the 11th grade. they gave her a spot since she neededd the score for a summer program application. It seemed very easy. This cannot be a reflection of the SAT. Otherwise I do not understand why everybody doesn't get a perfect score. How comparable is the PSAT NMSQT to SAT?