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What is reported in the Improve Your Skills section of the score report?
The Improve Your Skills section of Score Report Plus gives students a personalized analysis of their areas of weakness as well as specic suggestions for how to improve. This information is derived from analyzing individual performance across test questions. Each test question contains a different combination of skills. Based on a students individual performance across the questions, the score report notes up to three skills each in critical reading and mathematics and up to two writing skills in which the student needs to improve. Also referenced are test questions that contain the skills and that the student answered incorrectly. See the complete list of skills on pages 67.
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SOPHOMORES
Percentiles Math 99+ 99+ 99+ 99+ 99+ 99+ 99+ 99 99 99 99 99 98 98 97 97 96 95 94 93 91 90 88 86 86 84 81 78 76 73 72 69 66 63 60 56 53 50 46 42 39 35 35 31 27 24 20 20 15 11 11 8 8 6 6 3 3 3 2 2 1 43.2 11.3 Writing Skills 99+ 99+ 99+ 99+ 99+ 99+ 99+ 99+ 99+ 99+ 99+ 99 99 99 99 98 98 98 97 96 96 94 92 92 92 90 87 85 84 82 80 77 74 70 67 65 62 59 55 51 49 45 41 41 36 32 26 26 21 16 16 16 12 10 7 7 7 4 4 4 1 40.4 10.9
Points to Note
N Percentiles indicate the percentage of students whose scores fall below each specied score. N On the score report, percentiles for juniors compare their performance with that of other juniors who took the test. For sophomores or younger students, percentiles compare their performance with that of sophomores. N Percentiles are based on the critical reading, mathematics, and writing skills scores earned by a sample of college-bound juniors or sophomores who took the PSAT/NMSQT in 2006. N The mean score is the statistic that describes the average performance of a group. N The standard deviation is a measure of the variability of a set of scores around their mean. If the test scores cluster tightly around the mean score, as they do when the group tested is relatively homogeneous, the standard deviation is smaller than it would be for a more diverse group.
Reliability
shows how consistently students would earn similar scores in repeated testings.
Reliability Coefcient Critical Reading Mathematics Writing Skills 0.88 0.89 0.88 Average SEM 3.7 3.7 3.6
Points to Note
Data are based on a sample of sophomores and juniors who took the PSAT/NMSQT in the previous year (2005 Wednesday and Saturday forms). N A reliability coefcient helps to show expected uctuation in scores if a student takes a test more than once. The higher the reliability coefcient, the smaller the uctuation of scores across repeated testings. A reliability coefcient of 1.00 would indicate perfect reliability, or no expected uctuation. N PSAT/NMSQT scores should be interpreted as ranges rather than points. The standard error of measurement (SEM) in the table above indicates that a student who took different forms of the test under identical conditions would be likely to earn scores within 4 points of one another.
898,455
898,455
898,455
955,956
955,956
955,956
Points to Note
Selection Index
103 102 101 100 99 98 97 96 95 94 93 92 91 90 89 88 87 86 85 84 83 82 81 80 79 & below
Percentile
99+ 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 98 98 98 98 98 98 97 97 97 97 97 96 96 96 95 95 95 95 94 94 93 93 93 92 92 91 91 90 89 89 88 88 87 86 86 85 84 84 83 82 81 80 80 79 78 77 76 75
Selection Index
163 162 161 160 159 158 157 156 155 154 153 152 151 150 149 148 147 146 145 144 143 142 141 140 139 138 137 136 135 134 133 132 131 130 129 128 127 126 125 124 123 122 121 120 119 118 117 116 115 114 113 112 111 110 109 108 107 106 105 104
Percentile
74 73 72 71 70 69 68 67 66 64 63 62 61 60 59 57 56 55 54 53 51 50 49 48 47 45 44 43 42 41 39 38 37 36 35 34 33 32 31 29 28 27 26 25 24 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 17 16 15 14 14 13 12
Percentile
12 11 10 10 9 9 8 8 7 7 6 6 5 5 4 4 4 3 3 3 2 2 2 2 1
N Reported on a scale ranging from 60 to 240, the Selection Index is the sum of the critical reading, mathematics, and writing skills scores. For example, a critical reading score of 56, a mathematics score of 62, and a writing skills score of 59 would result in a Selection Index of 177 (56 + 62 + 59). N Percentiles are based on the Selection Index earned by a sample of college-bound juniors who took the PSAT/NMSQT in 2006.
FORM S
WRITING SKILLS Section 5
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. B D C A C D A C B C C A B B D E D E E C B D B B B E C B D A B C A B A E A A D
MATH Section 2
D A A B C C E A C E C E D B E E D D B B
MATH Section 2
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. E A C E A D B C A D E D B D A C A A E C
Section 3
25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. B E E A D B A D D C E D C A A B E B D D D C C C 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38.
Section 4
B A D A D E C A 2.50 6007 9 120 18 2.73 < x < 3.45 280 0 125 7.5 or 15/2
Section 3
25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. B D E B E B A D E B A C D D D E D C A C C B A B
Section 4
21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. B B E D C D C D 11 or 12 7 2400 19 < x < 23 52.5 0.25 or 1/4 141 4 80 1/2 or 0.5
80 76 73 70 68 67 66 65 64 63 61 60 59 58 57 55 54 53 52 51 49 48 47
80 76 73 70 68 67 66 64 63 62 61 60 58 57 56 55 54 53 52 51 50 49 48
Important to Note
N Points represent the total number of correct answers minus a quarter (1/4) of a point for each incorrect answer to a multiple-choice question. N Nothing is deducted for incorrect answers to student-produced response questions or for omitted answers of any type. N Points are totaled, then converted to scores on the 2080 PSAT/NMSQT scale. N Converting points to scores adjusts for slight differences in difculty between various forms. A statistical process called equating adjusts for these small differences. This ensures that a score of, say, 65 on one form of the test reects a similar level of performance as does a 65 on another form of the test. N There is no advantage or disadvantage in taking either the Wednesday or the Saturday test form.
PSAT/ NMSQT
Mathematics Skills
M1 Using basic concepts and operations in arithmetic problem solving How to improve: Practice solving problems involving positive and negative integers, fractions, decimals, ratio, percent, exponents, square roots, place value, and digits. Also practice solving problems involving odd and even integers, prime numbers, multiples, divisibility, and remainders. M2 Understanding geometry and coordinate geometry How to improve: Review geometry units in your textbook involving perimeter, area, volume, circumference, angles, lines, and slope. Familiarize yourself with the formulas given at the beginning of math sections of the test. M3 Dealing with probability, basic statistics, charts, and graphs How to improve: Practice solving problems that involve basic probability, basic counting, and nding the average (arithmetic mean), median, and mode. Look for charts and graphs in newspapers and magazines, and practice interpreting the data in them. M4 Creating either gures or algebraic equations, inequalities, or expressions to help solve problems How to improve: Practice solving problems by drawing or visualizing gures to help you understand the problem. Practice developing equations, inequalities, or expressions from verbal descriptions, gures, or numerical data. M5 Using basic algebraic concepts and operations to solve problems How to improve: Review algebraic concepts and rules, such as those involving substitution, exponents, solving equations and inequalities, and combining algebraic expressions. M6 Making connections among mathematical topics How to improve: Practice problems that require combining skills acquired in different math courses, such as problems that use combinations of arithmetic, algebra, and geometry. M7 Organizing and managing information to solve multistep problems How to improve: Write down your steps in solving the problem. Monitor the steps as you go along, keeping in mind what the question is asking. M8 Using logical reasoning How to improve: Practice solving problems in which you must consider different possible cases. Make adjustments in your solution strategy when things arent going as well as they should. It may help to look at the problem from different perspectives. Solving problems that require you to justify your answers may help you develop this skill. M9 Recognizing patterns and equivalent forms How to improve: Try recognizing a pattern by considering a simpler case. Try rewriting or rearranging the given expressions in a different form. M10 Recognizing logical key words How to improve: Pay attention to key words, such as not, at least, at most, must be, could be, possible, and different. These words determine the meaning of the question and therefore must be understood to correctly solve the problem. M11 Using answer choices to help solve the problem How to improve: Looking at the answer choices may help you understand the problem. Sometimes the choices can help identify a strategy for solving the problem.
Writing Skills
W1 Being precise and clear How to improve: Learn to recognize sentence elements that are ambiguous and confusing. In your writing, choose words carefully and connect them for clear meaning. W2 Following conventions in writing How to improve: Review the chapters in a grammar book that cover grammatical conventions, such as word choice, use of noun and prepositional phrases, and sentence construction. Work with your teacher to become more familiar with the conventions of standard written English. W3 Recognizing logical connections within sentences and passages How to improve: Use the writing process to help you revise your draft essays. Work with classmates and teachers to clarify meaning in your writing. W4 Using verbs correctly How to improve: Make sure that you can identify the subject and verb of a sentence. Make sure you understand subject and verb agreement. W5 Recognizing improper pronoun use How to improve: Learn to understand the distinction between informal, spoken pronoun usage and standard written pronoun usage. Review the way you use pronouns in your own writing. Ask your teacher to help you identify and correct pronoun errors in your own writing. W6 Understanding the structure of sentences with unfamiliar vocabulary How to improve: Read material that contains unfamiliar vocabulary. Look for context clues to help you guess at the meaning of unfamiliar words as you read. W7 Understanding complicated sentence structures How to improve: Refer to a grammar book to identify various sentence patterns and their effective use. Vary the sentence patterns in your own writing. W8 Understanding the structure of long sentences How to improve: As you read, break long sentences into smaller units of meaning. W9 Understanding the structure of sentences with abstract ideas How to improve: Read newspapers, magazines, and books that deal with subjects such as politics, economics, history, or philosophy. W10 Understanding the structure of sentences that relate to science or math How to improve: Focus on how something is said as well as on what is said. Write about the things you are learning in math and science classes. Read articles in the science section of newspapers and magazines so that you will feel more comfortable with scientic or math content. W11 Understanding the structure of sentences that relate to the arts How to improve: Focus on how something is said as well as on what is said. Read articles in newspapers and magazines about the arts so that you will feel more comfortable with these subjects.
N PSAT/NMSQT Summary Report: National, Regional, and State Data, providing score statistics and student-reported information for juniors and sophomores, including nal mean scores. Reports for 2006 will be available in the spring of 2007. Several optional reports are available for a fee. To order, visit www.collegeboard.com/school. N Special Summary Report, summarizing score data for schools that test fewer than 50 juniors/50 sophomores, or for schools that have some juniors or sophomores who tested elsewhere N System Summary Report, combining score data from all schools within a system N Electronic Data Reports, including all student-provided data as well as scores, skills, and students My College QuickStart access codes (in CD-ROM format).
Questions?
Visit www.collegeboard.com/counselors/psat for additional data relevant to the test. Or contact the PSAT/ NMSQT program at: Mail: P.O. Box 6720, Princeton, NJ 08541-6720 Phone: 888 477-PSAT (7728) (for educators only) 609 771-7070 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. eastern time Fax: 609 530-0482 E-mail: PSAT@info.collegeboard.org
2006 The College Board. All rights reserved. College Board, AP, Advanced Placement Program, SAT, and the acorn logo are registered trademarks of the College Board. AP Potential, MyRoad, and SAT Reasoning Test are trademarks owned by the College Board. PSAT/NMSQT is a registered trademark of the College Board and National Merit Scholarship Corporation. Permission is hereby granted to any nonprot school to reproduce this publication in whole or in part in limited quantities for distribution to students, parents, and staff, but not for sale, provided that the copyright notice appears on all reproduced materials. 00274-02079 RR116E37.5 Printed in U.S.A.
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