PSAT on Wednesday

[brehon]

Good evening, my ds is taking the PSAT on Wednesday. I’m on duty today and I find it hard to search on my phone. Can someone please confirm for me that there isn’t a specific homeschool code ds needs to know? Thanks.

[RootAnn]

No homeschool code again this year. This post has links to the PSAT Admin manual 2017.

 

Good luck to your ds on Wednesday!! My dd is taking it then, too.

Edited October 10, 2017 by RootAnn

[brehon]

Thanks so much for your answer and the link. Very helpful! Good luck to your dd!!

[Woodland Mist Academy]

The countdown begins... (Well, not really...it's been going on for quite some time.   ;) )

 

I really wish so much didn't rest on one shot exams. 

 

Steady nerves, steady pencils to the test takers. I hope they all wake up well and thinking clearly tomorrow. 

 

I'll be happy when we're all posting that the test is over.  :cheers2:

 

[Lanny]

My DD is also taking the PSAT/NMSQT tomorrow.  She is severely stressed this morning, because I had not stressed (or possibly even mentioned) the NM part of this. That was intentional on my part, because I didn't want to increase the stress on her.   I hope she will do very well and I will be thrilled, if she is in the top 1%, which she says she could be, if she had studied...  I hope she will be in the top 5% of the Hispanic test takers tomorrow and qualify for that recognition, which I believe will be "a plus" if she can put that on her university applications. .  GOOD LUCK TO ALL OF THE TEST TAKERS TOMORROW!

 

E.T.A. 

Any student that qualifies as "Hispanic" per the CollegeBoard should signify their interest in the National Hispanic Recognition Program. 

Edited October 10, 2017 by Lanny

[OnMyOwn]

My dd is taking this as a 10th grader this year and the school did give us a homeschool code to use on the instruction sheet they handed out. I'm thinking this sheet must have been copied and reused from a prior year though if the PSAT instructions say no code.

[RootAnn]

I sent mine with the code last year, but she didn't need it.

[JoJosMom]

My dd is taking this as a 10th grader this year and the school did give us a homeschool code to use on the instruction sheet they handed out. I'm thinking this sheet must have been copied and reused from a prior year though if the PSAT instructions say no code.

 

I suspect that you are correct, because there is definitely no homeschool code required this year.

[prairiewindmomma]

My son is taking it tomorrow as well. :)

[Penguin]

I spoke to our coordinator this morning to ask if DS should come in to pre-bubble. She told me that she has the homeschool code already. Not sure what to make of that, or if I should make a fuss of it.

 

ETA no real stress here. We are just using it to decide between the ACT and SAT for full-on prep. If the SAT becomes the chosen one, then the score will target test prep. DS has not had one of these tests since 8th grade.

Edited October 11, 2017 by Penguin

[Woodland Mist Academy]

I spoke to our coordinator this morning to ask if DS should come in to pre-bubble. She told me that she has the homeschool code already. Not sure what to make of that, or if I should make a fuss of it.

 

 

I didn't even think to ask about pre-bubbling. Guess it's too late now...

[catz]

Good luck Wednesday takers!  My kid is taking it Saturday. 

[happypamama]

My kid is taking it tomorrow just as a practice.

 

I told her not to put in a code because she’s homeschooled.

 

Does she need her social?

 

And does she need an ID? I thought they told me when I signed her up that she didn’t need one, and since she doesn’t drive, I’ll be checking her in at the front desk anyway. But the booklet says she does need one. Does she only need the ID for NMSQT purposes (which doesn’t apply this year)?

[JoJosMom]

My kid is taking it tomorrow just as a practice.

 

I told her not to put in a code because she’s homeschooled.

 

Does she need her social?

 

And does she need an ID? I thought they told me when I signed her up that she didn’t need one, and since she doesn’t drive, I’ll be checking her in at the front desk anyway. But the booklet says she does need one. Does she only need the ID for NMSQT purposes (which doesn’t apply this year)?

 

She does NOT need to provide her social security number, but she WILL need either an ID or a notarized copy of the identification form found on the College Board website.  I'll try to post links in a few minutes, if you need them.

 

Link to homeschool “What to Bring.†

 

Link to the College Board’s Privacy Statement.  (Note:  Although “Social Security Number†is an option still, it won’t even appear on the forms beginning in August 2018.)

 

 

Edited October 10, 2017 by JoJosMom

[happypamama]

She does NOT need to provide her social security number, but she WILL need either an ID or a notarized copy of the identification form found on the College Board website. I'll try to post links in a few minutes, if you need them.

 

Link to homeschool “What to Bring.â€

 

Link to the College Board’s Privacy Statement. (Note: Although “Social Security Number†is an option still, it won’t even appear on the forms beginning in August 2018.)

Ugh. I really wish they’d actually said that when I asked them. I should have looked at the book earlier, but I have been majorly stressed lately with a lot of other stuff. I can’t get anything notarized now. Well, I guess we will hope for the best. I’ve heard mixed things from local friends, but none have actually tested at this school.

[JoJosMom]

Ugh. I really wish they’d actually said that when I asked them. I should have looked at the book earlier, but I have been majorly stressed lately with a lot of other stuff. I can’t get anything notarized now. Well, I guess we will hope for the best. I’ve heard mixed things from local friends, but none have actually tested at this school.

 

Well, since they're the ones who told you that she didn't need anything, you're most likely fine.  Not all testing locations are sticklers.  The charter school where DD tested the first time was shocked when she showed up with the notarized form. :laugh:

[JoJosMom]

Well, since they're the ones who told you that she didn't need anything, you're most likely fine.  Not all testing locations are sticklers.  The charter school where DD tested the first time was shocked when she showed up with the notarized form. :laugh:

 

Oh, and tell her "Good luck!"

[brehon]

<sigh> I think I'm more nervous than ds...and this test is only for practice as he's a 10th grader.

 

So, he has a state ID already and will bring that. But he doesn't need his SSN, right?

 

How many pencils/erasers do you typically send? The "What to bring" guide said the kids could bring a snack & drink for the breaks. Are you sending a water bottle and a protein bar or something? Can he put all this in a backpack or something?

 

Sheesh!! I feel like such a rookie! Thanks for all the patient answers. ☺ï¸

[JoJosMom]

<sigh> I think I'm more nervous than ds...and this test is only for practice as he's a 10th grader.

 

So, he has a state ID already and will bring that. But he doesn't need his SSN, right?

 

How many pencils/erasers do you typically send? The "What to bring" guide said the kids could bring a snack & drink for the breaks. Are you sending a water bottle and a protein bar or something? Can he put all this in a backpack or something?

 

Sheesh!! I feel like such a rookie! Thanks for all the patient answers. ☺ï¸

 

 

:grouphug: I feel your pain, mama.  This is why we've done it twice already; by next year I am expecting (hoping) this to be old hat.  He will need state ID and will NOT need his SSN.  I send 2 pencils, but the school has had lots of extras.  I send a water bottle and a Cliff bar; my DD puts it in her purse, but your son might prefer a backpack. :laugh:

[yvonne]

If she has a passport, you could use that as an ID. That's what my kids do & we haven't had any issues.

[RootAnn]

DD will have an ID, but the school she takes it at knows her and there are very few kids who take it. Last time, there were three kids total taking the PSAT - I think that included her. I guessed there will be three plus her this year, but I won't know until she's done. :-)

I'd send a snack and a bottle of water with your kid along with some #2 pencils. ( DD would love to use mechanical pencils, but they aren't allowed.  :crying: )

 

Humorously enough, DD's August SAT Student Answer Service report arrived today. (I was expecting the Question & Answer Service - where they list her answer & the correct one. Instead, she got the Student Answer Service which only tells you if she got questions right or wrong.) Kinda too late to be helpful!

[mirabillis]

Ugh. I really wish they’d actually said that when I asked them. I should have looked at the book earlier, but I have been majorly stressed lately with a lot of other stuff. I can’t get anything notarized now. Well, I guess we will hope for the best. I’ve heard mixed things from local friends, but none have actually tested at this school.

my son didn't have to show his ID when he took the PSAT last year at a private school. nor did either of the 2 public high schools my son took the APs at did he have to show his ID either. so give it a go!

 

my ds takes it on the alternate day (when the private school tests) on oct 25. 

[Woodland Mist Academy]

Don't forget watches! Remember to charge calculators!

[brehon]

Good luck to everyone's dc!!

[coralloyd]

I am so prepared I have read and reread all the documentation. I made sure we knew exactly what to do and what to bring. However, I thought the test was yesterday! I dropped my dd off and drove away! She called me a few minutes later, saying I got the date wrong. I think it was/is nerves on my part. Well, it was at least a good trial run. Today is the big day (yes I'm sure). Prayers for all.

[happypamama]

School says no ID needed. Whew. And next year she should have a license, so she’ll be covered.

 

First time I ever dropped a kiddo off at the public school!

[Woodland Mist Academy]

I am so prepared I have read and reread all the documentation. I made sure we knew exactly what to do and what to bring. However, I thought the test was yesterday! I dropped my dd off and drove away! She called me a few minutes later, saying I got the date wrong. I think it was/is nerves on my part. Well, it was at least a good trial run. Today is the big day (yes I'm sure). Prayers for all.

 

I guess that's better than dropping her off a day late! Hope today goes well for her!

[Woodland Mist Academy]

Hope today's testers got at least a few hours of good sleep and are feeling rather energized and thrilled at the prospect of lots of bubbling this morning!  ;)

[emzhengjiu]

Good luck to all the PSAT testers today! My daughter is taking it as an 11th grader. She's a night person and looked as if she were sleep walking this morning! I hope she wakes up before the testing actually begins.

[Woodland Mist Academy]

It might make an interesting study to see if test scores vary in relation to testing times. Hmm... I wonder if larks have an advantage over owls?

 

Signed,

Mother Owl

[prairiewindmomma]

Ds had to leave at 6:30 this morning...I think he was sleep walking.  As long as he doesn't lose his passport, I'll be content. He's only in 10th this year.

[happypamama]

I woke my DD up at 6:50, to leave at 7:30, since we only live a few minutes from the school.  Now, 6:50 is a time that in both her book and mine, only comes once a day, and it sure isn't in the morning!  I insisted that she turn off her light at 10, and I went to bed at 11:30.  She was easy to wake up and not moving too slowly, so here's hoping that she was coherent.  Lol.

 

It probably helps that the lady in the front office at the school greets people with a big smile and said, "Here, I'll take her over to the room."  I'm sure it made DD feel better that they were friendly.

[Janeway]

Don't forget watches! Remember to charge calculators!

OH NO!! I forgot to send a calculator with him!!! Which kind did he need? 

[Woodland Mist Academy]

I think just a regular calculator would be fine. He might not even need one. 

[RootAnn]

 Now, 6:50 is a time that in both her book and mine, only comes once a day, and it sure isn't in the morning!

:iagree:

 

DD shocked me by getting herself up & moving early.  :001_cool:

I made her a quick breakfast & we were on our way . . . only a little bit behind schedule. She forgot to bring a sweater/jacket, so I sure hope the room is warm. (There are so few kids that they take it in the guidance counselor's office.) So hard to concentrate if you are cold! Some areas near us had their first frost of the season recently, so I hope the school turned on its heat . . .

 

Here's hoping for some interesting passages (which DD does better on than the boring ones) in the Reading section!

Good luck to all the testers today!! It'll be a long wait until December's score release, methinks.

 

Side note: I was going over the questions that she'll have to fill out before the test starts. I emphasized how important it was to answer some of them with the "right" answer so she doesn't knock herself out of NM status by choosing that she wasn't "in high school" (or some such) or by putting down the wrong graduation year. She interpreted it as me putting pressure on her that I assume she'll make NM.  :smash:  I explained that I didn't want a stupid mistake to knock her out of contention if she does the hard work of scoring high enough.

[Lanny]

My kid is taking it tomorrow just as a practice.

 

I told her not to put in a code because she’s homeschooled.

 

Does she need her social?

 

And does she need an ID? I thought they told me when I signed her up that she didn’t need one, and since she doesn’t drive, I’ll be checking her in at the front desk anyway. But the booklet says she does need one. Does she only need the ID for NMSQT purposes (which doesn’t apply this year)?

 

I suggested/told my DD to use the last 4 numbers of her SSN.  I have explained to her that she should only give her SSN for THE most important things. I read that the CollegeBoard will not ask for an SSN, starting in August 2018.  Had the SSN been required, my DD would have gotten an EIN (I.R.S. form SS-4 to apply) and put the EIN number and not the SSN. Much safer...  I use my EIN whenever possible and not my SSN.

 

Much good luck, to my DD and all others, who are taking the PSAT today!

[brehon]

So, ds set his alarm for six so he could eat b-fast. Only, he slept through his alarm and woke up at 7. He ate a cliff bar and we were off.

 

We got to the school by 7:40 and...

 

...the door to the main office (where the hs kids were to meet) was locked. And no one showed up until 7:55 (😳). By this time there were some 15 hs'ers there with parents in tow. When a student aide/worker showed up, she said she didn't know there were other kids coming in for the test and called a teacher.

 

Ten minutes later, and after asking us if we knew the way to the counselor's office (none of us did), we were shepherded across campus. Finally, someone showed up who knew what to do and assured us that they would ensure the hs kids were shown where they needed to take the test. I think we parents were slightly skeptical at that point, but wished our kids good luck and trooped back across campus to the parking lot. By the time I left there were some 25-30 hs kids there. So, I can understand the extra logistics needed on the part of the school and I am grateful that they are generally quite open to hs kids taking the raft of standardized tests.

 

Fingers crossed for all our kids!!

[RootAnn]

Now I have to figure out when to pick her up. I forgot how much shorter the PSAT is than the SAT.  :toetap05:  I told her to call me when it is done, but I think I might just head out there earlier than I told her...

[OnMyOwn]

Now I have to figure out when to pick her up. I forgot how much shorter the PSAT is than the SAT.  :toetap05:  I told her to call me when it is done, but I think I might just head out there earlier than I told her...

 

The sheet I was given by the school said they should be done by 12:45.  Testing began at 9:00.  I am planning to get there at 12:15.  It is amazing how long they can take to go through the directions and such with a room full of students.

 

The SAT subject tests are only an hour and yet, my dd was at the school for at least 2.5 hours for it.

[RootAnn]

Our testing started at 8:15. Actual testing is 2 hr 45 minutes. So, that would be 11 a.m. - not including bubble time since no one pre-filled at her location.

I think I showed up last year at 11:30 and she'd been waiting 15 minutes. Her location is strange since there will be only a handful (or less) of kids taking the test. I might plan on being there at 11:15 this time. Y'all who have lots of people at the site won't want to go by my numbers or you'll have a lot of playing-on-your-phone time...

[i might just bring dd#2 with me so we can do algebra in the car while we wait.]

[snowbeltmom]

Now I have to figure out when to pick her up. I forgot how much shorter the PSAT is than the SAT.  :toetap05:  I told her to call me when it is done, but I think I might just head out there earlier than I told her...

 

The email my D received instructed the parents to pick up their kids at noon.  (The public school kids who take the PSAT are dismissed at the conclusion of the test.  This is the first year that the school is doing this, and the first year that the school is only permitting 11th graders to take the test.  My guess is that the policy was changed because the school anticipates a greater number of 11 graders taking the test this year since they can leave school when the test is over, and the school was afraid that they wouldn't have space for the younger kids.)

 

[JoJosMom]

Now I have to figure out when to pick her up. I forgot how much shorter the PSAT is than the SAT. :toetap05: I told her to call me when it is done, but I think I might just head out there earlier than I told her...

I would expect at least 3 hours, but I think 12/12:30 is more realistic. The location where DD is testing had everyone pre-bubble, because historically that takes a ridiculous amount of time.

[happypamama]

Ours said the test would start at 8. It’s after noon, and I still haven’t heard from DD yet. That seems excessive.

[JoJosMom]

Ours said the test would start at 8. It’s after noon, and I still haven’t heard from DD yet. That seems excessive.

The first time DD took it was the first time in the new format and they hadn't pre-bubbled the demographic information. It was after 1, IIRC, before she finished.

Edited October 11, 2017 by JoJosMom

[Homeschoolmom3]

My middle son is practicing this year and is in 9th.  I didn't make a big deal about it this year since it was a practice and a baseline for us. He started at 8ish and was done at 11:30.  I hope he took the right test....I dropped him off with instructions and of course didn't follow them exactly.... :glare: teenagers!  He was taken to a room with 9th graders so hoping he took the PSAT and not one for the 9th graders (that is a bit different).  He said he did really well with the reading portion and the math without calculator portion but when he got to the calculator portion had trouble...(expecting that since he is still working on Geometry & Alg. 2 this year combined so hasn't had all of the math yet.)  Interesting to see how everyone else felt it went. 

 

I was in the stressful boat last year with my oldest so I know it can be stressful!  But time will go pretty quickly.  :)  :grouphug:

[happypamama]

She finally called me at 12:30. Nobody had prebubbled.

[Penguin]

I have to say that our local public school has been gracious and easy to deal with. Hearing so many horror stories, I am grateful!

 

DS (11th) was in a room with 9th graders but the proctor knew he was an 11th grader. Presumsbly he got the right test.

[prairiewindmomma]

Ds said it went well.  Our public school district was amazingly easy to deal with, and they even picked up the registration fee!

[Kendall]

My 5th child just took this today. For the first time in my 10 years of taking kids to this school for the PSAT, the counselor had me bring her in earlier this week to bubble in what could be done. She had her put the homeschool code. Since she is 10th I'm not worried about it, but wish I had read this thread earlier. The counselor was new. I helped her figure out that some of the questions couldn't be answered without the test booklet, so she said to save those until test day. I'll do my research better next year!

 

 

 

 

 

[RootAnn]

She came out at 11:31.

When your kids are done, have them de-stress by looking at the #PSAT2017 memes on Twitter. They are hilarious and I don't even get the inside jokes. Don't look if you aren't testing until Saturday!

Edited October 11, 2017 by RootAnn