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PSAT Test - what is it and WHY do I have to take it?
The PSAT test, or "Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test" is a standardized test administered by the College Board and co-sponsored by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.
At Anderson, we will test all 9th, 10th and 11th graders on Tuesday, October 26th.
Your scores on the PSAT are not only a good indicator of how you'll do on the SAT test, but you can also qualify for National Merit Scholarships! Students may also earn "Commended Scholar" designation, which means the student did very well on the test, but are not selected to advance to become a National Merit Semifinalist. Although these students are not eligible for scholarship money from the National Merit Scholarship Program, their scores still look impressive to college admissions staff. Reaching the status of Commended Student or Semifinalist is a strong indicator of academic excellence to include in your application and may enable you to apply for Special Scholarships.
Additionally, PSAT scores can be used for acceptance to the Austin Community College Dual Credit program.
The PSAT consists of two sections - Reading and Math. The test is scored on a range of 160–760 for each section, adding up to a maximum score of 1520. The test is timed, and takes about 2 hours and 45 minutes.
Don’t stress about it, but take this testing opportunity seriously and do your best!
The PSAT can give you confidence when you are ready to take the SAT!
Interested in seeing some sample questions or taking a practice PSAT? Click HERE for more information.
Khan Academy also offers some great individualized study tools.
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SAT or ACT - what's the difference? Which should I take?
Many colleges base admissions decisions in part on the results of standardized tests called the ACT and the SAT tests. Juniors and seniors in high school usually take these tests to demonstrate their readiness for college level work. However, note that in recent years (since the pandemic), colleges are reporting that these tests are optional in the admissions decision process.
In general, the ACT and the SAT tests attempt to measure college readiness and predict future academic success.
But they do so in very different ways:
THIS page show a great comparison of ACT vs SAT tests, how long they take, what type of questions are on each, and has links to practice tests!
When and where can I take the SAT or ACT?
Link to see dates/locations for the tests and to register for the ACT can be found HERE; the SAT HERE.
**Do NOT use your AISD email when registering for these tests; the firewalls associated with AISD can cause issues with this process!**
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What is the TSI?
The TSI Assessment (TSI-A) is part of the Texas Success Initiative enacted by the Texas State Legislature and designed to determine a student’s readiness for college-level coursework in the general areas of
reading, writing, and mathematics. This test is not required for College admittance purposes but rather another assessment used to show a university that the student is ready for on level coursework.
It is an AISD goal that all students are considered "College Ready" upon graduation.
The TSI-A is an untimed, online exam in 3 parts, administered through the College Board’s Accuplacer digital platform. (i.e. it's online). We administer the TSI here in the College & Career Center!
Students might also take the TSI via your math or english class.
By meeting the minimum scores on the TSI, you qualify to take Austin Community College (ACC) courses while in high school, for example. You also may qualify to take 'off periods' during your senior year!
What are TSI "exemptions"?
Meeting minimum score requirements on other tests like the PSAT, SAT, ACT, etc can exempt you from having to take the TSI test for ACC dual credit. Check out THIS chart for details!
(FYI - The PSAT does NOT count towards AISD's "College Ready" goal - only minimum scores on SAT, ACT or TSI-A.)
Can I study for the TSI?
There are many study guides available online to prepare for this test. Studying is not required, but not a bad idea so you know what to expect on your test day! Note that the TSI may be taken multiple times to get the score you need!
Here are some study guides for your reference:
READING
WRITING
MATH
When and where can I take the TSI?
We offer the TSI at Anderson in the College & Career Center! If you're interested in taking the test to qualify for dual credit courses, contact Mrs. Painter. For senior college readiness testing, contact Mrs. Mason.
More questions? We are here for you! Stop by room 133 for more information or to ask questions.
You may also sign up for a time to meet in person or via phone call with us using these links:
Mrs. Mason
Mrs. Painter
PSAT Test - what is it and WHY do I have to take it?
The PSAT test, or "Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test" is a standardized test administered by the College Board and co-sponsored by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.
At Anderson, we will test all 9th, 10th and 11th graders on Tuesday, October 26th.
Your scores on the PSAT are not only a good indicator of how you'll do on the SAT test, but you can also qualify for National Merit Scholarships! Students may also earn "Commended Scholar" designation, which means the student did very well on the test, but are not selected to advance to become a National Merit Semifinalist. Although these students are not eligible for scholarship money from the National Merit Scholarship Program, their scores still look impressive to college admissions staff. Reaching the status of Commended Student or Semifinalist is a strong indicator of academic excellence to include in your application and may enable you to apply for Special Scholarships.
Additionally, PSAT scores can be used for acceptance to the Austin Community College Dual Credit program.
The PSAT consists of two sections - Reading and Math. The test is scored on a range of 160–760 for each section, adding up to a maximum score of 1520. The test is timed, and takes about 2 hours and 45 minutes.
Don’t stress about it, but take this testing opportunity seriously and do your best!
The PSAT can give you confidence when you are ready to take the SAT!
Interested in seeing some sample questions or taking a practice PSAT? Click HERE for more information.
Khan Academy also offers some great individualized study tools.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SAT or ACT - what's the difference? Which should I take?
Many colleges base admissions decisions in part on the results of standardized tests called the ACT and the SAT tests. Juniors and seniors in high school usually take these tests to demonstrate their readiness for college level work. However, note that in recent years (since the pandemic), colleges are reporting that these tests are optional in the admissions decision process.
In general, the ACT and the SAT tests attempt to measure college readiness and predict future academic success.
But they do so in very different ways:
- The ACT test measures what a student already knows. It covers material that the student should have learned during high school.
- The SAT test is used more as a predictor of what a student is capable of learning. It deals with material that the student may NOT have learned in high school.
THIS page show a great comparison of ACT vs SAT tests, how long they take, what type of questions are on each, and has links to practice tests!
When and where can I take the SAT or ACT?
Link to see dates/locations for the tests and to register for the ACT can be found HERE; the SAT HERE.
**Do NOT use your AISD email when registering for these tests; the firewalls associated with AISD can cause issues with this process!**
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What is the TSI?
The TSI Assessment (TSI-A) is part of the Texas Success Initiative enacted by the Texas State Legislature and designed to determine a student’s readiness for college-level coursework in the general areas of
reading, writing, and mathematics. This test is not required for College admittance purposes but rather another assessment used to show a university that the student is ready for on level coursework.
It is an AISD goal that all students are considered "College Ready" upon graduation.
The TSI-A is an untimed, online exam in 3 parts, administered through the College Board’s Accuplacer digital platform. (i.e. it's online). We administer the TSI here in the College & Career Center!
Students might also take the TSI via your math or english class.
By meeting the minimum scores on the TSI, you qualify to take Austin Community College (ACC) courses while in high school, for example. You also may qualify to take 'off periods' during your senior year!
What are TSI "exemptions"?
Meeting minimum score requirements on other tests like the PSAT, SAT, ACT, etc can exempt you from having to take the TSI test for ACC dual credit. Check out THIS chart for details!
(FYI - The PSAT does NOT count towards AISD's "College Ready" goal - only minimum scores on SAT, ACT or TSI-A.)
Can I study for the TSI?
There are many study guides available online to prepare for this test. Studying is not required, but not a bad idea so you know what to expect on your test day! Note that the TSI may be taken multiple times to get the score you need!
Here are some study guides for your reference:
READING
WRITING
MATH
When and where can I take the TSI?
We offer the TSI at Anderson in the College & Career Center! If you're interested in taking the test to qualify for dual credit courses, contact Mrs. Painter. For senior college readiness testing, contact Mrs. Mason.
More questions? We are here for you! Stop by room 133 for more information or to ask questions.
You may also sign up for a time to meet in person or via phone call with us using these links:
Mrs. Mason
Mrs. Painter