PSAT/NMSQ

Who – What – Where – When – Why

All 10th and 11th Grade GISD students

PSAT/NMSQ

October 14, 2015

Georgetown Independent School District will support and provide the opportunity for all enrolled 10th and 11th grade students to participate in the administration of the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) on Wednesday, October 14, 2015.

All administration of the PSAT/NMSQ will occur on the students’ home campus.

Providing the opportunity for all 10th and 11th grade students to take the PSAT/NMSQ will allow the following benefits:

  • PSAT/NMSQ test results will inform sophomore students, counselors, and parents for future placement in AP classes.
  • PSAT/NMSQ test results for 11th grade studentswill provide the opportunity for National Merit Recognition, National Merit Semi-final status, National Merit Finals status, National Merit Scholar recognition, and possible scholarship potential.

PSAT 8/9

Who – What – Where – When – Why

Interested 8th and 9th Grade GISD students

PSAT8/9

December 1, 2015

The PSAT 8/9 is the appropriate test offered by College Board for 8th and 9th grade students. Georgetown Independent School District will provide the opportunity for any interested enrolled 8th or 9th grade student to participate in the administration of the PSAT 8/9.

Interested 8th and 9th grade enrolled students will be given the opportunity to test on December 9, 2015 at their home campus. This is an optional testing opportunity for interested students. It is no longer necessary for middle school students to travel to the high school campus for the administration of this test. Students will be responsible for registration fee of $10.00, payable to the student’s home campus.

The PSAT 8/9 is a test that serves as an indicator for students and teachers as to future Advance Placement (AP) readiness. GISD recommends that interested 8th and 9th grade students take the PSAT 8/9 andnot the PSAT/NMSQ. The PSAT 8/9 is grade appropriate and provides authentic and practical data that can be used to inform students, parents and counselors through a diagnostic score report.

Additional Information:

For more information on the PSAT 8/9 and the newly re-designed PSAT/NMSQ please check out the following links specific to the changes:

PSAT 8/9

Look specifically at the tab “Inside the Test”

PSAT/NMSQ

Khan Academy has partnered with College Board to provide free test preparation

Frequently Asked Questions:

What if I have a 10th or 11th grade student that does not want to take the PSAT/NMSQ?

This is an opportunity being provided by GISD. This is not a required assessment.

Can an 8th or 9th grade student still take the PSAT/NMSQ on October 14th?

No, GISD recommends that interested 8th and 9th grade students take the grade appropriate PSAT 8/9.

Is there a fee for 10th and 11th grade students to take the PSAT/NMSQ?

No, GISD will support all 10th and 11th grade students to take the PSAT/NMSQ on October 14, 2015.

Is there a fee for 8th and 9th grade students to take the PSAT 8/9?

Yes. This is an option al exam and any interested 8th or 9th grade student is responsible for paying the registration fee for the PSAT 8/9.

What is the cost of the exam?

The PSAT 8/9 is $10. Remember, schools order tests and send payments to the College Board; students do not.

How long is each exam?

The PSAT/NMSQ exam is 2 hours and 45 minutes plus time for administrative set up.

The PSAT 8/9 exam is 2 hours and 25 minutes plus time for administrative set up.

Is it an excused absence?

Yes.

What do I need to do to administer the test on my campus?

Please download and review the Supervisor’s Manual for more information.

For PSAT 8/9:

What if I have a student that requires accommodations?

Please read Administering with Accommodations

What if I am contacted by a homeschooled student? Are these students allowed to take the PSAT/NMSQ with the enrolled students on my campus?

If you are contacted by a homeschooled student, they may register and take the PSAT on your campus, HOWEVER, the district will provide the opportunity for testing only to those students that register by the deadline. That registration deadline is 5:00, October 9, 2015.

Are homeschooled students allowed to take the PSAT 8/9 with the enrolled students on my campus?

Yes, however, the exam fee for the PSAT 8/9 is the responsibility of the student. The cost of the exam is $10 for the PSAT 8/9 payable to the student’s home campus. Interested participants for the PSAT 8/9 must register by the deadline. The registration deadline for the PSAT 8/9 is November 4, 2015.