1. Fort Bragg High School 10 th Grade & 11 th Grade Advisory September 4, 2014

2. Practice for the SAT (SAT is one of the required tests to apply to 4 year colleges) Measures academic skills you’ll need for college Serves as an entry point to National Merit Scholarship Corporation competitions which rewards some 8,300 National Merit Scholarships each year Approximately 3.5 million students participate each year (44% eleventh-graders and 56% tenth-graders or younger)

3. Scholarship and recognition opportunities (11 th grade) College and career planning tools Admissions and financial aid information from colleges Feedback on academic skills which allows you to focus on what you need to improve upon for college Preparation for the SAT®

4. Familiarize yourself with PSAT so you can improve your score as an 11 th grader which is the year you can qualify for the National Merit Scholarships Become BETTER prepared for the SAT See what you need to improve upon to better prepare for college Improve your test taking skills…especially on timed tests Compare yourself nationally to other 10 th graders across the nation

5. The test assesses the academic skills that you’ve developed over the years, primarily through your course work. These skills are considered essential for success in high school and college: Critical Reading Mathematics Writing Skills

6. Question Types: The same, except the PSAT/NMSQT does not have an essay component. Length: The PSAT/NMSQT is 2 hours, 10 minutes. The SAT is 3 hours, 45 minutes. Level of Difficulty: The PSAT/NMSQT does not have 11 th grade-level math questions.

7. Multiple-choice questions: 1 point for each correct ¼ point deducted for each incorrect Math grid-ins: 1 point for each correct 0 points for each incorrect 0 points for omitted questions

8. The PSAT/NMSQT Score Report (Results from your test): contains information to help you improve your academic skills and prepare for the SAT lists skills that you have the best chance of improving with additional work - more prepared for college includes advice, written by teachers, on how to improve those skills

9. READ! Continuous reading improves vocabulary and develops essential skills. Read more books than just those required for class. Take Challenging Courses! This will help you to develop and strengthen your critical thinking skills.

10. Take the practice test in the Official Student Guide to the PSAT/NMSQT. Understand scoring and “educated guessing.” Familiarize yourself with the test’s format, questions types, and directions. Get this guide when you pay the $20 test fee or qualify for Fee Waiver (juniors only). Visit Counseling office to pay test fee.

11. Test Date: Weds. Oct. 29 th at FBHS – 1 st -4 th period Interested - write your name on sign-up-sheet to take the test – Advisors return list to Counseling Office by Friday, September 5 th. By signing up – you are committing to paying ($20 or $5 (with waiver)). STUDENT - Pay for test in the Counseling office and get your study booklet/practice test. Payment is due by Sept. 12th Cost: $20 (Cash or check made payable to Fort Bragg High School) Fee waivers available to juniors only – limited availability (See Counseling Office). Students who qualify for a fee waiver pay only $5 for PSAT.

12. Visit Marc or Ms. B in the counseling office. They’re here to help!