PreACT & PSAT/NMSQT Comparison

  • The PreACT and PSAT/NMSQT are designed to help you prepare for future college entrance exams. Taking these exams help you determine your strengths and areas of improvement as you work toward college and career readiness. Please use the guide below to understand the difference between the PreACT and PSAT/NMSQT.

     

    PreACT

    PSAT/NMSQT

    EMS ISD Test Date

    October 13, 2021

    October 13, 2021

    Cost

    $14.00 (Grades 9, 11 & Homeschool)

    *Free for EMS ISD Sophomores

    $18.00 (Grades 9, 11, & Homeschool)

    *Free for EMS ISD Sophomores

    Testing Time

    2 hours 10 minutes

    2 hours and 45 minutes

    Grade Levels

    9th, 10th, 11th Grades

    9th, 10th, 11th Grades

    Sections

    English (30 min)

    Math (40 min)

    Reading (30 min)

    Science (30 min)

    Reading (60 min)

    Writing & Language (35 min)

    Math (70 min)

    Important Features

    Helps prepare students for the ACT college entrance exam, which students should begin taking during the Spring of their Junior year

    Allows students to explore how career aspirations align with interests

    Rights Only Scoring (No Penalty for Guessing)

    Key Content Features:

    English-Measures a student’s understanding of punctuation, usage, and sentence structure, production of writing, and knowledge of language.

    Math- Focuses on skills students learn in high school math courses including number & quantity, algebra, functions, geometry, statistics and probability.

    Reading- Measures a student’s reading comprehension.

    Science- Measures scientific reasoning skills acquired in courses in the natural sciences. Materials are drawn from biology, chemistry, earth/space science, and physics.

     

    Helps prepare students for the SAT college entrance exam, which students should begin taking during the Spring of their Junior year

    Juniors can qualify for scholarship opportunities based on the score they receive (National Merit & More)

    Scores can be linked with Khan Academy to provide an online study resource for the SAT

    Rights Only Scoring (No Penalty for Guessing)

    Key Content Features:

    Words in Context-Focus on widely used words/phrases found in texts in many different subjects

    Command of Evidence-Interpret, synthesize, and use evidence found in a wide range of sources

    Math that Matters Most- Problem solving, data analysis, algebra (linear equations and systems), Advanced Math, geometric and trigonometric skills relevant to college and career

    Problems Grounded in Real-World Contexts

    https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/psat-nmsqt-psat-10/inside-the-test/key-features

    Score Reporting

    Total Score: 1- 35

    Feedback is provided on where a student falls in their path to achieving college readiness

    Total Score: 320-1520

    Feedback is provided on where a student falls in their path to achieving college readiness