<p>I am aware that it's the norm in many places for kids to start taking the PSAT in 10th grade - if a student comes close to NMSF cutoffs, they can work on getting their scores up and all students have an idea which areas to work on to improve their PSAT and SAT scores. That's why it makes me slightly SICK that my d. will take it this year without ever having seen it because it's not done in our public h.s. When I suggested last year she try to take it, it would have involved her pursuing it and she didn't want to be the only sophomore taking it. I keep telling myself it really doesn't matter - she'll find out what areas she needs to work on to improve her SAT scores and that's what matters. But of course, that isn't the whole story.</p>
<p>I agree, sewbusy. It serves to artificially inflate the state's 11th grade average because everyone has practiced in the 10th grade but only the high scorers self-select to retake in 11th. Maybe that's the idea.</p>
<p>In response to jenskate's post about why not just take the SAT in 10th grade as "practice" for taking the SAT later, rather than the PSAT....</p>
<p>In addition to less time....it also doesn't appear on your official SAT record from the College board. </p>
<p>Also, the PSAT, for no additional fees, comes with an evaluation of what types of topics the student should work on...based on specific questions that were incorrectly answered.</p>
<p>imdamom: If that's the reason, I am very saddened. Amazing how everything can boil down to numbers and image. I suppose these policies then may have some effect on NMSF cutoff numbers as well.</p>
<p>In general, the cut-off scores for NMSF went down this year in most states.</p>
<p>No matter how you look at it, as somebody mentioned before, the bottom line is that more people taking the tests earlier and earlier......generates millions of $ in revenue for the College Board.</p>
<p>Our school tests on Wednesday. Although freshmen and sophomores are encouraged to take the test (and many in the honors classes do take the test), the test has been taken by mostly juniors. Cost $16--own expense--probably fee waivers available.</p>
<p>But this year, an organization callled GEAR UP is paying for all freshmen to take the PSAT.</p>
<p>
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It serves to artificially inflate the state's 11th grade average because everyone has practiced in the 10th grade but only the high scorers self-select to retake in 11th.
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<p>I don't think I've ever seen any HS average PSAT score. They brag about number of semifinalists and average SAT scores, but not PSAT. Anybody seen average PSAT scores for a HS?</p>
<p>As far as I know, our hs doesn't give out those numbers. On another note, Marmat, thanks for posting what goes on at your New Jersey public high school. While I have close ties with the Garden State, my kids attend a high school abroad that is very "ETS"-"CB" oriented with a majority of students that go on to attend college in the States. While, all frosh and sophomore students take the PSAT, the policy is for frosh and sophomores only. For most of the students the PSAT is indeed their first encounter with standardized testing and, frankly, comes as a bit of a shock. Over the years, I have seen more bewildered faces than I can count nervously perusing that "Practice with the PSAT" pamphlet that we have come to think of as just another part of the initiation to the wonderful world of high school - the kids quickly realize that they are not in the buffer zone of middle school anymore and, on the whole, do make a smoother adjustment to testing when they meet the SAT later on in the game. In our case, though, the shoe is on the other foot - ironically the PSAT is not mandatory or even programmed for juniors since the majority of students are not Americans and so do not qualify for the NMS pool even if they do get promising scores ranges. So, my sophomore D will take the PSAT on Wednesday also, and, of course, regular classes are canceled to accommodate the test. If she, or any other qualified student, decide to take the PSAT as a junior, however, that is an entirely different question - then we hit a brick wall and have to request and lobby for special permission to take the test.</p>
<p>Fairfax County, VA also pays for the sophomore PSATs but not any other grade. It is strongly encouraged for all 9th-11th graders to take the exam. Anecdotally, several of our middle schoolers who are already in Geometry are taking it this year as well (parents pay).</p>
<p>FCPS high school students take it on the Wednesday and go home afterwards. IIR, seniors get the day off. The 8th graders (at least mine) will be going back to the middle school after the exam is over.</p>
<p>Another reason why a student may opt for the PSAT over an SAT is the cost of the exam. The SAT registration fee is a lot higher than the PSAT.</p>
<p>My D will take the PSAT on Wed. She was encouraged -- highly encouraged -- to take the exam in 9th grade. And all students took it in 10th grade. Both times at the school. Administration pulled out all 10th grade students who'd scored above a certain number and brought them in for a "talk" about the importance of the PSAT. Then six weeks ago they brought them in again, and they told them about a 3 week Sat. prep course that would be offered -- free of charge -- at the H.S. They strongly encouraged these kids to take the prep course -- sending a letter home with the student and mailing one to the parents, as well. After the cut-off date for scheduling the prep course, they did make it available to other students who might wish to take it ... until they met their capacity number for the class. </p>
<p>zebes</p>
<p>I actually find this quite amazing that schools are encouraging 10th graders (and earlier) to take the PSAT. My kids go to an independent high school which WILL NOT PERMIT anyone to take it before 11th grade. I believe the theory is that they are desperately trying to keep a lid on some of the college pressure. I realize that there might be alternative ways to try to take the test in 10th grade, such as asking to test at a local high school which might have extra tests, but my point is that the independent school tries to make it as difficult as possible.</p>
<p>When my son was in 9th grade (our first high schooler), I let him sleep in on PSAT morning. Last year he took it as a 10th grader-cold, with no prep. He'll take it "for real" on Wednesday.</p>
<p>So now my daughter is in 9th grade and we signed her up for the PSAT. The school was making a BIG push for all 9-11th graders to take it. I'm sort of regretting it now...she's so busy that I'm pretty sure she would benefit more from getting to sleep in on Wednesday.</p>
<p>Actually, there was a reason we signed our 9th grader up for the PSAT. She does NOT read for pleasure (how could she be my child?!) I guess I want to see how bad she really does on CR.</p>
<p>momof3sons: Your kids' high school has a point. Kids have a lot of things to do in sophomore and freshman year and they should not worry too much about standardized tests. My D is a sophomore and will be taking the PSAT next weekend. I was hoping she would 'prep' for it this weekend but she simply didn't have time. Her homework and extracurriculars took up most of her time. Among other things she read book 2 of the Oedipus trilogy, studied for today's Algebra test, spent all Saturday morning in allstate choir rehearsal, got together with her teammate to prep for junior varsity debate, and went to her private voice lesson. Outside of this she probably had 3 hours of recreation time in the whole weekend. Should I have asked her to sacrifice that time to study specifically for the PSAT? I didn't have the heart to do that. It did not seem right.</p>
<p>Vicariousparent, I've always been told NOT to have the 10th graders study at all....the logic is that you will get a true raw score. If they score-after no prep-near the Commended cut off, then it's worth the time or effort for a PSAT prep course.</p>
<p>Students at my son's private HS take the PSAT in 10th grade on the Wed.test date, also without any prep. They then take it for real in 11th grade.</p>
<p>A young person who is an avid independent reader and who likes math will have MORE effect on his test score than the young person who takes a prep course, so it's kind of stretching a point to say that some students in whatever grade take the test "without any prep."</p>
<p>I agree that taking the test with no prep would help establish a 'baseline' to identify strengths and weaknesses. But if indeed some schools are using sophomore PSAT scores to determine eligibility for AP courses or for other forms of targetted intervention (as suggested by other posts here) then there is a pressure to perform well. I doubt my daughter's school plans to use the score specifically for any purpose but any time there is a standardized test score available to the school there is a chance it will be used for evaluative purposes.</p>
<p>Anyway, it is always a good idea to read through the booklet about the upcoming test, even if you don't do the full sample test under actual test time limits (the best form of "prep" of all), just to be familiar with the question formats and what to expect on test day. </p>
<p>Good luck to this week's PSAT test-takers.</p>
<p>I think our school is pushing the test because it wants more National Merit Semi-Finalists. Out of a class that runs between 600-700 students, we typically have 2-4 NMSFs. The other high school in our district typically has arond 8, even though it is less "economically advantaged." Our school works very hard to be in the Newsweek Top 100 (by pushing AP classes) and I think they can't believe they don't have more NMSFs every year.</p>