PSAT

October 13th 

This communication is to inform you that all 9^{th -} 11th grade students in Fort Bend ISD will take the PSAT (Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test), on October 13, 2021. The PSAT 8/9 is the first in the College Board’s “SAT Suite of Assessments,” and is aligned with the newly designed SAT that went into effect March 2016. 

9th grade - At several points along its path, the SAT Suite of Assessments connects students to programs that recognize academic excellence and award college scholarships. Scores from the PSAT 8/9 ARE NOT used in any scholarship or recognition programs. The purpose of the PSAT 8/9 is to establish a starting point in terms of college and career readiness at the time when students are transitioning to high school.  This exam serves as a “check-in” on progress, allowing students, parents and teachers to pinpoint areas for focused practice as students progress through high school.

 10th Grade - At several points along its path, the SAT Suite of Assessments connects students to programs that recognize academic excellence and award college scholarships.  Scores from the PSAT/NMSQT for 10^th graders ARE NOT used in any scholarship or recognition programs. The purpose of the PSAT/NMSQT is to help identify strengths and weaknesses in terms of college and career readiness.  This exam serves as a “check-in” on progress, allowing students, parents and teachers to pinpoint areas for focused practice as students progress through high school.

11th Grade - At several points along its path, the SAT Suite of Assessments connects students to programs that recognize academic excellence and award college scholarships.  Scores from the PSAT/NMSQT for 11^th graders ARE used in many scholarship and recognition programs. The purpose of the PSAT/NMSQT is to help identify strengths and weaknesses in terms of college and career readiness.  This exam is cosponsored by College Board and the National Merit Scholarship Corporation and serves an entry point to nearly $180 million in scholarship dollars. 

The PSAT includes 2 hours and 45 minutes of actual testing time and 15 minutes of breaks.  There will be tests in reading, writing and language, math (given in 2 portions – one with no calculator and one on which a calculator is permitted, although not required) and a variable section with questions from all three of those areas. 

 12th Grade  -This is a very important message regarding the upcoming PSAT assessment scheduled to take place tomorrow Wednesday, October 13, 2021.  For this testing day, FBISD will implement an approved assessment waiver to reduce interruptions during testing at Hightower High School. Please see the information below: 

• All students who are classified as seniors should arrive by 9:45 a.m., and report to the Auditorium.  
• Students who need district transportation (those who ride the bus) must utilize normal transportation to school and report to the AUditorium

Per the State of Texas, all students must attend at least 4 hours on each instructional day. Non-testers classified as seniors would be allowed “late arrival” and therefore be present for official attendance-taking at the conclusion of the PSAT testing. The approved state waiver will allow our district to take official attendance at an alternate time. If any non-testing senior is not present (in class) by 9:45 a.m., they will be marked absent. Students who are not required to test and who do not show up can be in jeopardy of loss of course credit.   

Regarding calculator use and approved calculators, the College Board states, “All questions can be solved without a calculator, but a scientific or graphing calculator is recommended [for the portion of the math test on which a calculator is permitted]…….Students are encouraged to bring their own calculators. Students may NOT use:

• laptops or other computers, tablets, cell phones, or smartphones;
• models that can access the Internet, have wireless, Bluetooth, cellular, audio/video, recording and playing, camera or any other smartphone-type feature;
• models that have typewriter-like keypad, pen-input, or stylus; or
• models that use electrical outlets, make noise, or have paper tape.”

The following calculators ARE ALLOWED on the PSAT Math Portion that permits calculator use.

All scientific calculators are acceptable to use on the PSAT.  Any four-function calculator can be used (though not recommended). The following is a list of approved graphing calculators for the PSAT. No other graphing calculator may be used. 

**The use of the stylus is not permitted.

As stated above, it is recommended that students bring their own calculators, although the use of a calculator is not required since all questions can be solved without a calculator. Schools will not provide calculators on test day for 9th and 10th graders unless in a student IEP the PSAT is a clear assessment identified as needing calculator. It is not necessary for you to purchase a graphing calculator.  Scientific calculators, which many households already have, will be sufficient for this exam.  Also, many of them can be purchased inexpensively.

Khan Academy and the College Board (makers of SAT) have partnered to provide free and affordable SAT practice at the following website.                   https://sat.collegeboard.org/practice

Decemeber STAAR Retest Dates

December STAAR EOC Results Information

If your student took a STAAR EOC Retest in June or December, then their results are expected to be posted and available to view in the Student Portal.  Or can access student scores at www.texasassessment.com by using the student social security number, DOB and name.

Summer results are projected to be in by late July and December scores are in towards the middle to end of January 2021. Please feel free to begin going to the Student Portal and looking for results at that time. As a reminder, STAAR student reports are no longer sent home in the mail and are only available on the Student Portal. For instructions on how to access your child's scores online, please click this link. If you still have difficulty, please feel free to contact me. 

December 07 - English I 

December 08 - Algebra I

Decemner 09 - English II

December 10 - Biology and U.S. History

Edgenuity Online Tutorials Available for STAAR Retesters

Spring STAAR EOC Test Dates

English I:  April 5th

English II: April 6th

Make up: April 9