PSAT Information for 10th and 11th Grade STEM Families

Attention all STEM Academy 10th and 11th grade students and families:

The PSAT (Preliminary SAT) exam will be taking place at STEM on October 19, 2023.   This exam offers your child a valuable opportunity to become acquainted with the format and content of the SAT. It will help them familiarize themselves with the types of questions, time constraints, and the overall testing experience. Furthermore, the PSAT provides students with valuable feedback on their strengths and areas for improvement, which can be beneficial in preparing for the SAT.  Additionally, for 11th-grade students, the PSAT/NMSQT serves as the qualifying exam for the National Merit Scholarship competition. If you choose to opt out of the October administration of the PSAT/NMSQT, an alternate entry into the competition may still be possible, as determined by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. You can find more information about the alternate entry process here: https://www.nationalmerit.org/s/1758/interior.aspx?sid=1758&gid=2&pgid=1895

This year, the College Board is exclusively administering the PSAT electronically in preparation for a Spring 2024 digital and adaptive SAT administration. The STEM Academy will administer the Digital PSAT to 10th and 11th-grade students only on October 19, 2023 beginning at 7:40 am. Schools are required to register their own students for the digital version of the PSAT/NMSQT in October. To do so, we must provide the following information for each student: legal first name, legal last name, date of birth, gender (F = Female, M = Male, A = Another), and grade. Once students are registered for the PSAT/NMSQT, we will complete a digital readiness process that will grant students access to Bluebook. Bluebook is the software program students will use to take the PSAT/NMSQT and provides access with practice tests to help them prepare. In the meantime, students can practice using Khan Academy or by downloading free practice tests from College Board. You can access this information here: https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/psat-nmsqt/preparing. To learn more about the new digital PSAT, we invite you to visit College Board for an overview of the test, changes to expect, and content covered: https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/psat-nmsqt

If you prefer that we do not share the information listed above, please complete the Opt-Out form by Thursday September 14, 2023.

We encourage you to discuss the significance of this exam with your child and emphasize the importance of taking it seriously. While the PSAT does not directly impact college admissions, it is an excellent opportunity to practice and improve test-taking skills.

To ensure a smooth testing process, please make sure your child gets a good night's sleep before the exam and eats a healthy breakfast. While the Bluebook does have a built in calculator function we suggest bringing a calculator you are comfortable with.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding the PSAT, please do not hesitate to contact our counseling department or the school administration. Thank you for your attention to this matter. We appreciate your partnership in your child's education.