The New Redesigned PSAT / NMSQT

View the latest changes from The College Board regarding the new redesigned PSAT/NMSQ

Category	Pre-2015 PSAT/NMSQT	Redesigned PSAT/NMSQT
Total Testing Time* *Subject to research	2 hours and 10 minutes	2 hours and 45 minutes
Components	Critical Reading Writing Mathematics	Evidence-Based Reading and Writing Reading Test Writing and Language Test Math
Important Features	Emphasis on general reasoning skills Emphasis on vocabulary, often in limited contexts Complex scoring (a point for a correct answer and a deduction for an incorrect answer; blank responses have no impact on scores)	Continued emphasis on reasoning alongside a clearer, stronger focus on the knowledge, skills, and understandings most important for college and career readiness and success Greater emphasis on the meaning of words in extended contexts and on how word choice shapes meaning, tone, and impact Rights-only scoring (a point for a correct answer but no deduction for an incorrect answer; blank responses have no impact on scores)
Score Reporting* *Subject to research	Scale ranging from 60 to 240 Scale ranging from 20 to 80 for Critical Reading, Mathematics, and Writing	Some scores will be reported on the same scale used for the SAT: this scale ranges from 400 to 1600 for the total score, 200-800 for two section scores, and 10-40 for test scores
Subscore Reporting	None	Subscores for every test, providing added insight for students, parents, educators, and counselors

PREPARE NOW for the NEW Redesigned SAT

The Redesigned SAT

THIS IS NOT YOUR PARENTS SAT!  

THIS IS YOUR SAT REDESIGNED FOR THE WORLD YOU LIVE IN!

The “New” redesigned SAT will be implemented in the spring of 2016. The new SAT will affect high school students graduating in 2017.

Some highlights include:

1)      You will not be allowed to use a calculator on one of the sections of the Math domain.

2)     The scoring will be based on a maximum of 1600 points versus a maximum of  2400 points (The same scale used prior to the changes made in 2005).

3)     All students taking the new SAT should be familiar with the U.S. Declaration of Independence and other “founding documents,” such as  Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address or King’s” I Have a Dream” speech.

 Abelson Test Prep is prepared with all of the changes, and we will keep you updated at http://www.abelsontestprep.com
The graduating class of 2017 is the first group of students that will be taking the new, redesigned SAT.  These students will have to take the new 2016 SAT (unless they take the current SAT in the fall of their junior year or earlier).

* The PSAT given in October 2015 will reflect  the same changes as the SAT in 2016.

There will be two mandatory sections (domains) on the new SAT

1) Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (EBRW for short)- this is the sum of the Reading Test score and the Writing and Language Test Score.

2)  Math - This will be the math test score.

Optional Essay

§  Essay (“Optional;” The scores for the Essay will be reported separately and will not be factored into the area scores).

Points to Ponder

1) The verbal sections will require analysis and will include a wider variety of material and types of writing.

2)  The math will reflect real-world situations.

3)  The new SAT will be 3 hours long.  The optional Essay portion will be 50 minutes long.

4)  There will be one math section where calculators will not be allowed.

5)  No more deductions for incorrect answers!  So on the new test be sure to answer EVERY question.

6)  Essay will be “optional” in theory - ask Mr. Abelson why?

7)  There will be no more sentence completions (vocabulary), BUT students will be asked to define words in the reading based on their context, thus the exact same strategies that Abelson students have been taught for the past 37 years will be effective on the New Redesigned SAT.
Although the College Board has eliminated the sentence completions (vocabulary) they have simply moved the vocabulary into the reading section still testing students' ability to select multiple meanings of words based on their context. 

8) Scoring goes back to 400-1600 (200-800 for each EBRW and Math), with a separate score for the essay.

9) The new SAT will include questions about the “Founding Documents,” such as the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, or the Federalist papers.

"The times (the tests) they are a changing."

     There are few guarantees in life.  Death and Taxes are guarantees, but there is a third guarantee missing from this phrase.  Change is also inevitable and thus a guarantee.  

    More students took and prepared for the ACT last year than took the SAT, a huge change.  The College Board announced this year that the SAT is changing beginning March 2016.  The MCATs are changing beginning January 1st 2015.  Tests and their inevitable changing platforms are a part of our educational landscape.  

     Abelson Test Prep is positioned to guide you through these changing waters.  
We have made some significant new hires in our staff.  All of our staff are professionals who teach and practice in their respective fields daily.  This approach to the changing environment sets Abelson Test Prep apart and continues to earn our students the top scores in LSAT, MCAT, GRE, SAT, and ACT tests.

Join the thousands of students who have received the Abelson Advantage!

Welcome!

It is with pride and excitement that I announce the expansion of
ABELSON & ASSOCIATES STAFF DEVELOPERS and Abelson Test Prep, Inc.
For nearly one quarter of a century, I have worked with hundreds of educators and thousands of students as a mentor, coach, trainer and colleague. I have founded a group that uses my philosophy of:

“Treating everyone differently in order to treat them the same.”

This philosophy will be woven into each SAT / PSAT Prep class, each workshop, each facilitation and each plan that we do for your school or agency. My experience with testing and test preparation as well as my in “the trenches practitioner approach” will continue to set ABELSON apart from any other “service."
I know that dollars are tight and the economy is suffering. That is precisely the reason we can not abandon this group of students. We need to continue. Many districts have opted to use staff development funds to offset the cost of SAT Prep and Tutoring programs. We have several districts that now are sending their teachers to our prep classes for training in our methods for the eventual takeover of tutoring & Prep Programs by the district. Having your staff trained by Abelson & Associates will be a huge cost saving over the long run.

As always I will be available to you as we pursue higher standards of excellence to enhance each student.

In my next blog I will be announcing an exciting new partnership with the Capital Distrct Reading and Education Association. CDREA is pledging upwards of $20,000 to ensure that every student is given the same opportunity.
Feel free to visit our website: http://www.abelsontestprep.com/