Nationally Normed Testing

What are norm-referenced tests?

Tests can be made to compare students to each other (norm-referenced tests) or to see whether students have mastered a body of knowledge (criterion or standards-referenced tests). Norm-referenced tests compare a student's score against the score of a group of students. For example, students who take the ACT or SAT are given a scale score and a percentile (the percentage of other test takers with lower scores).The corresponding percentile of each scaled score varies from test to test.

PSAT

The Preliminary SAT provides first hand practice in critical reasoning, math problem-solving and writing skills which are found on the SAT reasoning test. The PSAT also serves as the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test which qualifies students for scholarship programs.

Any home-schooled student who resides in the Pflugerville Independent School District may participate in the PSAT/NMSQT and/or any college advanced placement test offered by the District. For more information, please contact the high school transition counselor in the home-schooled student's attendance area.

SAT

The SAT reasoning test measures the critical thinking skills you will need to be successful in college. The reasoning test looks at how well you analyze and solve problems. Subject tests are also available. Both the SAT and ACT are widely accepted as part of a college’s admission process and are taken during a student’s junior or senior year of high school.

ACT

The ACT test is a multiple-choice assessment that assesses high school students’ general education development and their ability to complete college-level work. English, mathematics, reading, and science are tested while the writing portion is optional.

For more information regarding these tests, please contact the counselor at your student’s school.

References:
College Board
http://www.collegeboard.com/splash/
SAT Information
http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/sat/about.html
ACT website
http://www.act.org/aap/