<p>Is the PSAT given on more than one date? As it stands, AP Bio has a mandatory field trip on the same Sat as the PSAT is scheduled. At our little HS that leaves a conflict for all of our top kids in the Jr. class. It would be great if they could go to another site to take it on another day but don't know if that is possible. Advise please if you can. Thanks</p>
<p>The PSAT will only be given on either Wednesday, October 17th or Saturday, October 20th. Perhaps your school can locate another school doing the Wednesday testing that will allow y’all to test there.</p>
<p>How can AP Bio have a field trip on that day? That’s crazy. Call the administration and/or the school board to complain. Every junior should have the opportunity to take the PSAT.</p>
<p>um, gee call t he school and MOVE THE FIELD TRIP,duh I sa that to the school not to the OP)</p>
<p>why in the WORLD would they schedule it that day, and if they don’t move it, it is because they don’t want to admit an error</p>
<p>You don’t have to test at the school you attend, so the workaround is to find another school with available test kits on the Wednesday test date. But that should have been worked on a long time ago–the biology teacher was remiss to not do a conflict check before scheduling the field trip.</p>
<p>and the bio teacher needs to step up and say that…and to not let kids out is absurd and foolish</p>
<p>go to the top if the school does nothing, the school blew it and they know it</p>
<p>you need to rally the parents and on Monday ALL call in or go in…</p>
<p>This weekend you need to get the paretns of the students together and make sure that each and everyone calls the school on Monday, or goes in</p>
<p>You shouldn’t have to go someplace else for the test</p>
<p>And remember, this doesn’t just affect the “top” students, it affects ALL juniors and you need to approach it that way</p>
<p>Historymom:</p>
<p>I suggest that your kid and all the other juniors in AP-Bio not even bother to try to take the test elsewhere and on a Wednesday. It should be up to the school and the teacher to make arrangements for this alternate testing date and site.</p>
<p>PSAT is important for National Merit status and for scholarships that could be received from NM Scholar status.<br>
As well, taking the test on a Wednesday means that the students will miss Wednesday classes–which won’t please the teachers of those classes.</p>
<p>So the juniors should make representations with the teacher, CC to the principal and the school board. Let them deal with this mess. But do not pass up on the PSAT.</p>
<p>Sorry I was unclear. The AP bio trip can’t be moved. The students will be attending a Bio forum at Cal Berkely. The forum includes some AP Bio students, but also area college students and profs. We are roughly 3 hours North of Berekely so it will be an all day thing.</p>
<p>You are right, between the guy who schedules the tests and the AP Bio teacher there should have been better communication. I will find out if anyone is giving the test in our area on the Wed. date and make a point to let other parents know. Thanks for the support!</p>
<p>Talk with the principal and head counselor. Since the PSAT is given by the high school they should be able to schedule a special testing on wed for those students.</p>
<p>THe school should be finding other arrangements for the Jrs who can’t take it on Saturday…has the school even discussed options with you at all? what is their attitude about doing the test on Wednesday</p>
<p>as far as missing classes that Wednesday, hundreds of thousnads of students will be taking the test that day, big deal to miss some class time</p>
<p>I agree, the school needs to make the accomodations, but unless you all make a stink, they won’t bother, seeing as how they planned so poorly already</p>
<p>Does your school do the PSAT on saturday for other Juniors? </p>
<p>And why are they just telling you now about this? how odd</p>
<p>I agree that the students should be able to take the PSAT at their school on the Wednesday. The test booklets and answer sheets are already at the high schools. The schools should be able to arrange a special session on October 17th. All test booklets should be collected and not released until everyone has taken the test on Oct 20.</p>
<p>At our high school, the school provides the proctors (teachers, staff, and parents) and the testing room (the gym) for PSAT testing. It’s not like you have to have a third party involved so that the kids take the test.</p>
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<p>Yes, the tests have to be ordered in advance. BUT, I’m pretty sure that the Wednesday test forms and Saturday test forms are distinct, and each may only be given on its appointed day. </p>
<p><a href=“College Board - SAT, AP, College Search and Admission Tools”>College Board - SAT, AP, College Search and Admission Tools; </p>
<p>If the high school in question never planned to offer a Wednesday test, it doesn’t have any kits of Wednesday test booklets and answer sheets. I have no idea if the school can still order those at this late date.</p>
<p>the PSAT is in two and half weeks, the school needs to figure this out pronto,they blew it</p>
<p>The NMSC offers “alternative testing” for otherwise qualified juniors who miss the PSAT for legitimate reasons.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.nationalmerit.org/entering.php[/url]”>http://www.nationalmerit.org/entering.php</a></p>
<p>“A student who does not take the PSAT/NMSQT because of illness, an emergency, or other extenuating circumstance, but meets all other requirements for NMSC program participation, may still be able to enter the competitions. The student or a school official must write to NMSC as soon as possible after the PSAT/NMSQT administration to request information about procedures for entry to NMSC competitions by alternate testing. The earlier NMSC receives the written request, the greater the student’s opportunities for meeting alternate entry requirements. To be considered, a request must be postmarked no later than March 1 following the PSAT/NMSQT administration that was missed. NMSC will provide alternate entry materials including an entry form that requires the signature of a school official.”</p>
<p>Sherpa – This is a workable route but I would not suggest the kids to do this. It’s too much hassle for kids. This school already screwed up the test schedule/field because of poor administration and communication; it may screw up again for the kids who want to ask for NMSC paperwork again later. Also, the PSAT is not only for NMSC. It can be used to apply for other summer programs (which have deadline earlier than March 1). I would tell the kids to skip the field trip. The field trip does not determine the AP Bio score. Ask the parents to complain with the teacher and principal too. Also, what will the teacher do if some kids are sick on that day?</p>
<p>WOuld a FIELD TRIP be considered extenuating circumstances? That is a CHOICE the school made…I think the exception is for floods, deaths in family, and pretty serious stuff</p>
<p>Going the SAT submission route IS a major hassle. As time is getting a bit short, see if there is a nearby yeshiva high school. The one in our area does PSAT testing on Wednesday, maybe they can make arrangements that way if the local high school can’t manage a Wednesday testing on late notice.</p>
<p>PITA solution: schools admins and students arrive at school at earliest possible moment; students take PSAT BEFORE leaving on their field trip. The test takes (according to the CB) 2 hours and 10 minutes…</p>
<p>dmd77, I don’t think the school can do that. It could compromise the integrity of the test because the students taking it early would have seen the questions before the students taking it at the normal time even arrive. If there is any possibility that a member of the early group could somehow communicate with the late group (cell phones?), all of the tests could be invalidated.</p>
<p>Is the field trip mandatory? Seems like the PSAT is more important. My kids missed school field trips for any number of reasons involving schedule conflicts. Sometimes they were disappointed, but that’s life in the fast lane. I can’t see how a teacher would hold it against a student for missing a class/trip because of college boards.</p>