Harmony Science Academy-Beaumont

The PSAT covers reading, vocabulary, grammar and usage, writing, and math (Arithmetic, Geometry and Algebra 1). There is not an essay portion included in the writing section of this exam.

The PSAT offers college-bound students a practice shot at standardized testing. A superior score on the PSAT can also lead to recognition as a National Merit Scholar during a student’s junior year. This scholarship offers a monetary award and looks excellent on a college transcript.

PSATs are administered in October, primarily to juniors since only they are eligible for the National Merit Scholarship. However, it’s becoming more common for younger students to take them exam as a means to familiarize themselves with the exam and the testing process.

Unlike the SAT and ACT, registration for this exam is done through a student’s high school. Students must contact their guidance office in September to register.

Each of the three sections on the PSAT (Math, Critical Reading, and Writing) is scored out of 80 points. The maximum total score a student can achieve is 240. Students get one point for each correct answer and lose ¼ point for each incorrect answer. Because the test is standardized, students are given a scaled score. Scores are distributed to school guidance departments from the College Board; students typically receive scores from their guidance departments between December and early January.

The SAT tests reading, vocabulary, grammar and usage, writing (including an essay) and math (Arithmetic, Geometry, Algebra 1 and 2)

The SAT is offered as a tool used by college admissions officers to quantitatively gauge the college-readiness of students continuing their education after high school.

The SAT is offered seven times per year: October, November, December, January, March, May and June. It’s traditionally taken in the spring of junior year and fall of senior year although advanced students may complete testing by the end of junior year.

Regular registration is done no later than 5 weeks in advance; late registration, which incurs an additional charge, must be completed no later than 3 weeks before the test date. Click here to register.

Each of the three sections on the SAT (Math, Critical Reading, and Writing) is scored out of 800 points (students seeking to compare their PSAT scores can simply add a zero to each PSAT individual section or composite score to get an equivalent SAT score.) The maximum total score a student can achieve is 2400. Students get one point for each correct answer and lose ¼ point for each incorrect answer. Since the test is standardized, students are scored on a scale. The essay portion of the writing section is one third of the total score in that section. Two graders will score the essay and award between 1 and 6 points each, yielding a total score between 2 and 12 points. If essay scores differ by more than one point, a third individual will score the essay.

ACT (American College Test)

The ACT tests reading, grammar and usage, science reasoning, and math (Arithmetic, Geometry, Algebra 1 and 2, and limited Trigonometry). It also has an optional writing section.

The ACT is a tool used by college admissions officers to quantitatively gauge the college-readiness of students continuing their education after high school.

The ACT is offered six times per year: September, October, December, February (except in NY), April and June. It is traditionally taken in the spring of junior year and fall of senior year. For a list of this year’s test dates, click here.

Regular registration is done no later than 5 weeks in advance; late registration, with an extra charge, can be done no later than 3 weeks in advance of the test date. Click hereto register.

Each of the four sections on the ACT (Math, Reading, English and Science) is scored on a scale between 1 and 36. Students receive 1 point for each correct answer and do not lose any points for incorrect answers. Therefore, it is to the student’s advantage to guess on any question he or she doesn’t know. The raw score of each section is then scaled. Scores from each section are averaged to yield a composite score between 1 and 36. The optional essay is scored by two readers who award between 1 and 6 points each, yielding a totally score between 2 and 12 points. If essay scores differ by more than one point, a third individual will score the essay.