PSAT for 9th graders at FCPS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know why the PSAT is no longer being offered to 9th graders at FCPS? Thanks!

Just curious, where did you get the information that it will no longer be offered?

We got an email a few days ago. DD goes to South Lakes.

8-7-19

Dear Parents and/or Guardians of Tenth and Eleventh Grade Students:



This letter supersedes the letter you may have received in June about the PSAT 8/9 and the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT). Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) will no longer be offering the PSAT 8/9 test to students in 9th grade. FCPS will now provide the PSAT/NMSQT to tenth and eleventh graders on October 16, 2019 without cost. Only students in grade 11 are eligible to compete for the National Merit Scholarship; however, taking the PSAT/NMSQT in grade 10 provides students practice.



The PSAT/NMSQT is a standardized test designed to promote college readiness while preparing students for college entrance assessments. It measures evidence-based reading, writing and language, and mathematics with a focus on reasoning skills, knowledge, and comprehension. These are all skills that are important for college and career readiness. The PSAT/NMSQT is created and managed by the College Board, the same organization responsible for SAT and Advanced Placement (AP) tests.



Additional information about PSAT/NMSQT test content can be found at the following webpage: https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/psat-nmsqt-psat-10/inside-the-test/compare-specifications. The total testing time for the PSAT/NMSQT is 2 hours and 45 minutes, and students with disabilities with testing accommodations may require additional time. When school begins, we will provide families with more information about the schedule for PSAT Day and how to opt-out of the PSAT/NMSQT pre-survey, if desired.



Taking the PSAT/NMSQT test in tenth and eleventh grades helps to prepare students for success with the SAT college entrance test. All students who complete the PSAT/NMSQT will receive an individual score report, providing feedback based on their responses to the test questions. This will be helpful to tenth graders in preparing to take the PSAT/NMSQT again in eleventh grade and students preparing to take the SAT. Students will have access to Khan Academy's (https://www.khanacademy.org/) free online test preparation, which is customized based on their PSAT/NMSQT scores.



Tenth and eleventh grade students with disabilities who have testing accommodations documented in a 504 Plan or an individualized education program (IEP) may be eligible for testing accommodations on the PSAT/NMSQT. Your input and consent are necessary by August 15, 2019, for the school to submit a testing accommodation request before the College Board deadline. If you feel your student may need PSAT/NMSQT testing accommodations, please review the additional information and forms found here: https://www.fcps.edu/node/38355.



I encourage you to discuss this testing with your child. Students may prepare for the PSAT/NMSQT by visiting the College Board website (https://www.collegeboard.org/), getting a good night’s sleep prior to the test, and eating breakfast the morning of the test.



If you have questions about PSAT/NMSQT testing at our school, please contact our Assessment Coach Gina Lee at [e-mail]. If you have questions about the PSAT/NMSQT accommodations process, please refer to the information here or contact our SSD Coordinator at [e-mail]. Best wishes to you and your child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Fwiw, the 9th graders took the PSAT 8/9. It's not the same as the PSAT. It's designed for 8th and 9th graders' level. My DD took it last year.

+1.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is the point of it especially since it is a different test?

I think the point is that it gets kids into the college board's system, they get experience taking the test, the scores are a window into what their score on the SAT would be, and it gives detailed (question by question) information on what your kid knows and doesn't know (particularly in the math section).

I can see why they might drop it to cut costs. But, as a parent, I liked seeing the score b/c it helped me set expectations for the future.

Does it give you a correlation as to what their score would mean as a real SAT score?

I've googled it (when I got my DD's score) and there was a correlation. They don't tell you that, but you can get the gist if your child's percentile is X on the PSAT 8/9, then you might expect something in that range on the PSAT and/or SAT. Of course, that may be a reason to put more effort into studying or prepping for it. It also may be a reason for parents to adjust expectations on the types of colleges or programs you might look at.

Do you mean studying for the PSAT in 9th grade or the real SATs? There is no way my kid is studying for the PSAT in 9th grade.

I meant that seeing the score on the PSAT 8/9 might be a reason to study for the PSAT (if your child might be close to qualifying for merit scholarships) or the SAT for anyone else (either b/c you want to increase your score from mediocre to good to get into certain schools, or from good to great if the most selective schools are what you are hoping for). Or, if your kid isn't likely to prep for the SAT much (my kid is like this), it helps me realize that we're looking at schools that would accept X percentile.

[Anonymous]

FWIW, it looks like FCPS is now paying for 11th graders to take the PSAT and get their scores.

Last year and I assume in years prior, the school had all the 11th graders TAKE the PSAT, but the only way to get your score (and to be eligible for National Merit scholarships) was for the student to pay the fee.

This year, it looks like FCPS is paying the fee so that all 11th graders will take the test AND GET THEIR SCORES (and therefore all will be considered for National Merit scholarships).

So, they took away the test from the freshmen in order to give the scores to the juniors.

In the past, they figured that the juniors who already knew they might qualify for National Merit Scholars would be willing to pay for the fee to be considered. Those students would know from past testing (9th and 10th grade) that they were super high scorers. The rest of the juniors were just taking it as a practice -- so it was up to them to pay for the info.

I can see their point, but I also liked having the test/question info. for my 9th grader.

I wonder if they will start reporting the PSAT scores by school and by subgroup? They used to publish this info on the school profile for the SAT scores -- but I believe the last time it was published was for the school year 2015-16. So, it's very out of date.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know why the PSAT is no longer being offered to 9th graders at FCPS? Thanks!

Just curious, where did you get the information that it will no longer be offered?

It states on the fcps website that the district no longer gives the 9th grade psat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know why the PSAT is no longer being offered to 9th graders at FCPS? Thanks!

Just curious, where did you get the information that it will no longer be offered?

We got an email a few days ago. DD goes to South Lakes.

8-7-19

Dear Parents and/or Guardians of Tenth and Eleventh Grade Students:



This letter supersedes the letter you may have received in June about the PSAT 8/9 and the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT). Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) will no longer be offering the PSAT 8/9 test to students in 9th grade. FCPS will now provide the PSAT/NMSQT to tenth and eleventh graders on October 16, 2019 without cost. Only students in grade 11 are eligible to compete for the National Merit Scholarship; however, taking the PSAT/NMSQT in grade 10 provides students practice.



The PSAT/NMSQT is a standardized test designed to promote college readiness while preparing students for college entrance assessments. It measures evidence-based reading, writing and language, and mathematics with a focus on reasoning skills, knowledge, and comprehension. These are all skills that are important for college and career readiness. The PSAT/NMSQT is created and managed by the College Board, the same organization responsible for SAT and Advanced Placement (AP) tests.



Additional information about PSAT/NMSQT test content can be found at the following webpage: https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/psat-nmsqt-psat-10/inside-the-test/compare-specifications. The total testing time for the PSAT/NMSQT is 2 hours and 45 minutes, and students with disabilities with testing accommodations may require additional time. When school begins, we will provide families with more information about the schedule for PSAT Day and how to opt-out of the PSAT/NMSQT pre-survey, if desired.



Taking the PSAT/NMSQT test in tenth and eleventh grades helps to prepare students for success with the SAT college entrance test. All students who complete the PSAT/NMSQT will receive an individual score report, providing feedback based on their responses to the test questions. This will be helpful to tenth graders in preparing to take the PSAT/NMSQT again in eleventh grade and students preparing to take the SAT. Students will have access to Khan Academy's (https://www.khanacademy.org/) free online test preparation, which is customized based on their PSAT/NMSQT scores.



Tenth and eleventh grade students with disabilities who have testing accommodations documented in a 504 Plan or an individualized education program (IEP) may be eligible for testing accommodations on the PSAT/NMSQT. Your input and consent are necessary by August 15, 2019, for the school to submit a testing accommodation request before the College Board deadline. If you feel your student may need PSAT/NMSQT testing accommodations, please review the additional information and forms found here: https://www.fcps.edu/node/38355.



I encourage you to discuss this testing with your child. Students may prepare for the PSAT/NMSQT by visiting the College Board website (https://www.collegeboard.org/), getting a good night’s sleep prior to the test, and eating breakfast the morning of the test.



If you have questions about PSAT/NMSQT testing at our school, please contact our Assessment Coach Gina Lee at [e-mail]. If you have questions about the PSAT/NMSQT accommodations process, please refer to the information here or contact our SSD Coordinator at [e-mail]. Best wishes to you and your child.

It makes so much more sense for fcps to pya for the 11th grade test instead of the 9th grade test.

This should have been happening all along.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is the point of it especially since it is a different test?

I think the point is that it gets kids into the college board's system, they get experience taking the test, the scores are a window into what their score on the SAT would be, and it gives detailed (question by question) information on what your kid knows and doesn't know (particularly in the math section).

I can see why they might drop it to cut costs. But, as a parent, I liked seeing the score b/c it helped me set expectations for the future.

Does it give you a correlation as to what their score would mean as a real SAT score?

If this was about cutting cost, then they could have reversed the 9th and the 11th grade payment, asking the 9th graders to pay to get the scores instead of the 11th graders, but not take away the chance for students to have early exposure and assessment . Actually the email we got last week (West Springfield High School) stated that both 9th graders and 11th graders will need to pay. Soon after that payment information was removed from the email with no explanation.

I am thinking that other school systems in the nation are providing a chance to get that exposure for the 9th graders. It has been given all these past years. In our school, What I just heard when I went to pay for my Junior DD and wax told that the school got the direction that morning of the open house. So this whole thing was just a last minute change .

[Anonymous]

Our FCPS HS is offering the PSAT for 9th graders for $20. My DS just picked up his packet and one of the papers was a registration form for the PSAT.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our FCPS HS is offering the PSAT for 9th graders for $20. My DS just picked up his packet and one of the papers was a registration form for the PSAT.

Which High School ? Yes, other High Schools provide that opportunity as well. So this is last minute change we were at our HS did not make sense , and was not really across FCPS or a change made by FCPS as we were told.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our FCPS HS is offering the PSAT for 9th graders for $20. My DS just picked up his packet and one of the papers was a registration form for the PSAT.

Which High School ? Yes, other High Schools provide that opportunity as well. So this is last minute change we were at our HS did not make sense , and was not really across FCPS or a change made by FCPS as we were told.

My guess is that her kid is at one of the lower performing schools (Lee, MV, Justice, etc)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:FWIW, it looks like FCPS is now paying for 11th graders to take the PSAT and get their scores.

Last year and I assume in years prior, the school had all the 11th graders TAKE the PSAT, but the only way to get your score (and to be eligible for National Merit scholarships) was for the student to pay the fee.

This year, it looks like FCPS is paying the fee so that all 11th graders will take the test AND GET THEIR SCORES (and therefore all will be considered for National Merit scholarships).

So, they took away the test from the freshmen in order to give the scores to the juniors.

In the past, they figured that the juniors who already knew they might qualify for National Merit Scholars would be willing to pay for the fee to be considered. Those students would know from past testing (9th and 10th grade) that they were super high scorers. The rest of the juniors were just taking it as a practice -- so it was up to them to pay for the info.

I can see their point, but I also liked having the test/question info. for my 9th grader.

I wonder if they will start reporting the PSAT scores by school and by subgroup? They used to publish this info on the school profile for the SAT scores -- but I believe the last time it was published was for the school year 2015-16. So, it's very out of date.

This wasn't what happened for us. My rising 12th grade kid took the PSAT 8/9 in 9th grade, the PSAT in 10th grade, and the PSAT in 11th grade, and received scores everytime, even though we didn't pay a thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our FCPS HS is offering the PSAT for 9th graders for $20. My DS just picked up his packet and one of the papers was a registration form for the PSAT.

Would you mind sharing which HS, I am looking for a center for my DS (9th grade) so he can take the test. Could not find anything online.

[Anonymous]

Lake Braddock offers it to 9th graders for the fee