Eighth-grade students at Mahomet-Seymour Junior High School will be exposed to a different type of test when they are at school Thursday: the PSAT 8/9.
Previously, freshmen (PSAT 8/9) and sophomores (PSAT 10) within the Mahomet-Seymour School District have taken the SAT Suite of Assessments in preparation for the state-mandated SAT their junior year.
Although the PSAT 8/9 gives students a preview of questions they may see or prepare for later on in their educations, the PSAT 8/9 does not directly affect the student’s college applications or scholarship opportunities.
PSAT scores that are collected during sophomore year are used to identify National Merit Scholars and award merit scholarships for those students with the highest scores, but also don’t count towards college admissions applications.
The test draws from these subjects: reading, writing and language and math.
Mahomet-Seymour High School Principal Shannon Cheek said “the progression of the tests provides us with longitudinal data that helps inform us of many different things related to curriculum, placement decisions, preparation of the SAT exam, and alignment of curriculum to just name a few. The data is consistent and linked to the SAT, so having that information is helpful.”
Mahomet-Seymour Junior High School Principal Nathan Mills said eighth-grade students will not have time taken away from instruction to prepare for the PSAT 8/9.
Parents were notified that their child in eighth-grade would take the PSAT 8/9 via email on Dec. 6. The district covers the cost at $11 per student.
All students at Mahomet-Seymour Junior High School continue to take MAP testing three times a year and will take the state mandated assessment, formerly known as the PARCC test, in the spring.
