The Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) is a program co-sponsored by the College Board and National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC). It's a standardized test that provides first-hand practice for the SAT®. It also gives you a chance to enter NMSC scholarship programs and gain access to college and career planning tools. The scores of this exam may also be used to qualify students into more advanced classes such as Dual Credit.
NISD currently offers the PSAT test to all sophomores and juniors as a tool to prepare for the SAT and National Merit Scholarship program. For questions regarding this test, please contact your high school counselor.
Test Date: Wednesday, October 11th, 2023
As students sit to take this test, they will participate in an introductory session, where they will be asked to complete an optional pre-survey from the College Board. You may view the pre-survey questions online: Pre-Survey Instructions
The SAT is an entrance exam created by the College Board that is used by most colleges and universities to make admissions decisions. The purpose of the SAT is to measure a high school student's readiness for college, and provide colleges with one common data point that can be used to compare all applicants. College admissions officers will review standardized test scores alongside your high school GPA, the classes you took in high school, letters of recommendation from teachers or mentors, extracurricular activities, admissions interviews, and personal essays. How important SAT scores are in the college application process varies from school to school.
NISD currently offers the SAT without an essay to all juniors. For questions regarding this test, please contact your high school counselor.
Test Date: Tuesday, April 17, 2024
Preparing for Test Day
- All students must have a photo ID such as a school photo ID, Drivers License, State ID, Military Dependent ID or Passport the day of the test.
- All students must have a College Board Account in order to access scores.
- Students will need a College Board account as scores are released through student College Board accounts. Students can also opt-in to (or out of) Student Search Services, request score reports be sent to colleges, and various other tasks through their College Board account. If a student does not have an account, they can sign up through www.collegeboard.org. Students must use a Personal Email when creating their account (do not use an NISD email address).
- Students should prepare snacks/water for scheduled breaks. The SAT and PSAT are timed tests that last around 4 Hours. There are two scheduled breaks where students can access their prepared snacks and drinks.
- Review 2022 PSAT/NMSQT OFFICIAL STUDENT GUIDE
-OR-
- Review SAT OFFICIAL STUDENT GUIDE
SAT Prep
Northside ISD offers high school juniors two opportunities to prepare for the April 17 school day SAT – a paid LIVE online course from The Princeton Review and free student-paced resources linked below under Study Resources .
The Princeton Review classes will run from March 2 through April 13. There are five sections to choose from for the 15-hour course led by an instructor. Participants will review SAT content and strategies, take four self-proctored SAT exams, and have access to The Princeton Review’s online portal and their recorded sessions for one year.
The deadline to register and pay for the class is February 23. For those who qualify based on income, the cost is $25. For all others, the cost is $75. Fees can be paid through MySchool Bucks.
How to use MySchool Bucks:
Click the link below to begin your registration:
- Students do not have to use their NISD email addresses.
Study Resources
- Students can use PSAT/NMSQT scores to unlock a free SAT study plan on Khan Academy. After sharing their scores, students will receive a customized online study plan based on their strengths and weaknesses. Students can begin by linking their College Board and Khan Academy accounts while signing up: https://signup.collegeboard.org/official-sat-practice/?SFMC_cid=EM883747-&rid=157169888
- Information on the College Board testing program: www.collegeboard.org
- Information and practice for the SAT: https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/practice.
- Information and practice for the PSAT: https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/psat-nmsqt-psat-10/practice
- Northside ISD Resources for Students:https://nisd.net/library/secondary-resources
- Step 1: Select- Prepare for College- Get Ready for the SAT Test
- Step 2: To access the resources from campus, students simply need to click on the Learning Express link from the Digital Resources page.
- Step 3: Off campus, they will need to first log in to NISD SSO then provide the info below:
- Username= nisd1
- password= research
- Step 4: Students will create their own password upon registration.
