During a regular meeting on April 7, the Plymouth School Board heard the annual report on the Plymouth High School PSAT scores by Jim Condon, principal of PHS, and Aimee Portteus, director of guidance. The PSAT/NMSQT (Preliminary SAT /National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test) is a standardized test administered by the College Board throughout the United States each year.
The test determines eligibility and qualifications for the National Merit Scholarship Program. However, the test also provides both students and educators with feedback on the skills of individual students.
In Indiana, the cost of the test is absorbed by the state and is given to sophomores. Condon explained that all sophomores at PHS are given the test in October of each year.
Prior to 1997, the test only had two parts consisting of Math and Verbal skills. Now the test covers Math, Critical Reading and Writing Skills and is administered over a 2 hour and 15 minute time period. The Math portion is given in two 25-minute session when students are tested on using arithmetic, algebra and geometry to think logically. They are asked to solve both familiar and unfamiliar problems. Ten of the Math questions are open response questions that require students to enter responses on a grid. Students are allowed to use calculators.
The Critical Reading portion challenges students to analyze, evaluate and think logically about what they read. It is also administered over a 2-hour and 15-minute time period. The time for the Writing Skills portion is 1-hour and 30-minute period in which students must express ideas in standard English, recognize faults, and use language sensitive to meaning.
Following are two year cooperation of average PSAT scores:
Reading:
Class of 2016 (257 test takers) Class of 2017 (251 test takers)
PHS 41 40.3
Indiana 42.1 42.2
Nation 41.9 41.6
Math:
PHS 41.4 40.1
Indiana 43.3 43.5
Nation 42.8 42.8
Writing:
PHS 39 38.3
Indiana 40.9 40
Nation 40.6 39.5
Carol Anders Correspondent
