The College Board offers the standardized exam called the PSAT 8/9 to eighth graders and high school freshmen as part of the group of exams called the “SAT Suite of Assessments.”
The PSAT 8/9 is a precursor to the PSAT 10, the PSAT/NMSQT (Preliminary SAT/ National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test) and the SAT. It sets a readiness baseline, giving students and parents areas for targeted practice. By determining which areas students need to work on most, students can better prepare themselves for college readiness when they graduate from high school.
The PSAT 8/9 assesses your ability to solve problems and use appropriate approaches and tools strategically. The ability to reason logically in a variety of situations, including ones related to career, science, and social sciences, is tested throughout. The PSAT 8/9 includes a portion that allows the use of a calculator and a portion that does not.
The questions on the PSAT 8/9 have an emphasis on the math that is essential for real-world scenarios. The PSAT 8/9 requires you to analyze situations and think strategically to find a solution. Such real-world applications include scenarios you may encounter in:
- college math, science, and social science courses
- future jobs
- your personal life
Why take the PSAT 8/9?
The PSAT 8/9 tests the same skills and knowledge as the SAT, PSAT/NMSQT, and PSAT 10 - in a way that makes sense for eighth and ninth graders. It measures what they’re learning, shows them whether they’re on track for college, and lets them know where they need the most improvement. This gives students have time to tackle these areas before they take the SAT in
high school.
The PSAT is essentially a gateway to doing well on the SAT. Because the primary aim of the PSAT is to prepare students for the SAT, the two standardized exams share several similarities. As a result, prepping for the PSAT can give you an early sense of what SAT content areas you should focus on strengthening.
When is the PSAT 8/9 offered in Portland, Maine?
This fall, the PSAT 8/9 will be offered on October 16, 2019.
How do I prepare for the PSAT 8/9?
If you are interested in taking the PSAT 8/9 in the fall, we begin preparation this summer. Math topics covered in this test prep will also prepare students who are entering Algebra 1, Algebra 2 or Geometry this fall. We start with a comprehensive skills assessment to determine our road map and plan of action. We don’t want to waste time on skills already mastered - we want to focus on what each individual student needs to learn to perform well.
Let’s talk more about getting you confident and prepared for the PSAT 8/9 … Give Mathnasium of Portland a call at (207) 536 - 6888 on how we can help your child!
