PSAT/NMSQT

The preliminary SAT®/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test is a co-sponsored program by the CollegeBoard and National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC).

PSAT/NMSQT stands for Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.  It’s a standardized test that provides firsthand practice for the SAT Reasoning Test™.  It also gives you a chance to enter National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) scholarship programs.

 

The PSAT/NMAQT measures:

  • critical reading skills

  • math problem-solving skills

  • writing skills

 

You have developed these skills over many years, both in and out of school. This test doesn’t require you to recall specific facts from your classes.

The most common reasons for taking the PSAT/NMSQT

  • to receive feedback on your strengths and weaknesses on skills necessary for college study.  You can then focus your preparation on those areas that could most benefit from additional study or practice.
  • to see how your performance on an admissions test might compare with that of others applying to college
  • to enter the competition for scholarships from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (grade 11)
  • to help prepare for the SAT. You can become familiar with the kinds of questions and the exact directions your will see on the SAT.
  • to receive information from colleges when you check “yes” to Student Search Services.

The PSAT is only given in October to Sophomore and Junior Students.  The test date will vary each year.  Red Mountain starts registering for the PSAT in the beginning of September.  See the Upcoming Events link for more information.

 

College Testing/SAT & ACT

Red Mountain School Code 030221

Red Mountain SAT Location Code 03154

Seniors, Sign up NOW if you have not taken the ACT or SAT yet.  Juniors, should take the ACT or SAT in the spring or early summer of your junior year and are planning to attend a four-year college or university.  Register online or registration pakets are available in Counseling.

SAT:  www.collegeboard.com                                 ACT:  www.actstudent.org 

 

 

WHAT ARE THE  DIFFERENCES BETWEEN ACT/SAT??

S A T

A C T

 

 

Basic Fee:  $45.00

Basic Fee:  $31.00  no writing, $46.00  w/writing

Tests critical thinking and problem solving

Content based test

Tests vocabulary/much more than ACT

Four-section exam: English/Math/Reading/Science Reasoning

Is not entirely multiple choice

Tests English grammar

Has a guessing penalty

Has no guessing penalty

Writing essay section mandatory(25 minutes)

Writing essay section optional (30 minutes) additional $14.50

Math=Arithmetic, Algebra 1 & 2, Geometry

Math=Pre/Inter.Algebra, Coordinate/Plane Geometry, Trigonometry

Perfect score = 2400

Perfect score = 36

All scores reported to colleges

Students choose best score to report to colleges

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RMHS Career Center has ACT & SAT practice books that can be checked out by students.