The PSAT and SAT are standardized assessments provided by the College Board in the United States. The College Board, founded in 1900, is a not-for-profit organization that helps to prepare more than seven million students for college and university each year. These well-established assessments provide equal opportunity for AIS-R students to demonstrate their knowledge, skills, classroom learning, and college-readiness beginning in Grade 8 with the PSAT. These tests provide a standard measure in reading, writing, language, math, and specific subjects. The PSAT serves as an excellent predictor of how students will perform on the SAT. AIS-R administers the PSAT for Grades 8, 9, 10 and 11 as well as the SATs for Grades 11 and 12.

The PSAT

While the PSAT is not an exact replica of the SAT, it serves as an excellent introduction to the test because the questions and test format are similar. The test includes three sections: Reading, Writing and Language, and Mathematics (with calculator and without). Test results give each student an idea of how he/she might perform on the SAT and provide feedback for improvement. Subscores are available for every PSAT test section, providing added insight for our students, parents, teachers, and counselors. PSAT scores are not reported to any colleges. AIS-R students take the PSAT in the fall of Grade 10 and 11. AIS-R also offers a version of the PSAT for Grades 8 and 9, taken in the spring. These tests are similar to the SAT, but contain questions that are better aligned with what students have learned, know and can do at these grade levels. Students taking the PSAT 8/9 and 10 are not eligible for the National Merit or other scholarships, and their scores are not shared with any colleges.

National (U.S.) Merit Scholarship Available

When a student takes the PSAT as a Grade 11 student and is one of the 50,000 highest-scoring test takers, he/she will be considered for a $2,500 National Merit Scholarship. To have a chance of winning the scholarship, semifinalists must keep up their grades, do well on the SAT, write a biographical letter, and submit letters of recommendation.

The SAT

The SAT is taken by AIS-R Grade 11 and 12 students. The SAT measures knowledge and skills related to reading, writing, mathematics and specific subjects that are needed for academic success in college. The SAT assesses how well test takers analyze and solve problems—skills they are learning in school that they will need in college and university. AIS-R offers the SAT, SAT with Essay and SAT Subject Test 4-6 times per year for AIS-R students. Grade 11 students typically take the SAT once or twice during their second semester and Grade 12 students typically take the SAT once or twice during their first semester.