Standardized testing plays an important role in the transition from high school into college. The SAT, administered by the College Board, and the ACT, administered by the American College Testing Service, serve as baseline measures for almost all seniors in America applying for entrance into college. Right or wrong, these standardized measures are used to predict how a student may perform on the collegiate level in relation to his/her peers.
Memphis University School requires that all juniors take at least one of each of these tests prior to the beginning of their senior year. Students are responsible for properly registering for, taking the tests, and then having their scores sent to MUS. Please find the links below for information about this process:
SAT: http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/sat/reg.html
ACT: http://www.actstudent.org/regist/index.html
In preparation for these tests, MUS requires all students in grades 9 through 11 to take the PSAT each year in October. The PSAT provides students with a predictive score for the SAT and the score obtained in the junior year is used for entrance into the National Merit Corporation Scholarship Competition. MUS regularly places 20 to 25 percent of the senior class in the competition as either a National Merit Semifinalist or as a Nationally Commended student.
A strong curriculum is the best preparation for both of these tests according to the organizations that create and administer them. There are of course other factors that contribute to success on these tests such as: test familiarity or awareness of content, knowing the best strategies for attacking the different portions of the tests, an understanding of timing during the test administration, along with others.
MUS conducts PSAT help sessions from year to year, assisting students in developing solid test-taking strategies and facilitating the administration of practice tests. Below are some links that will be beneficial in the preparation process.
PSAT Booklet
PSAT Practice Test
PSAT Answer sheet
PSAT Test Prep English
For questions or more information, contact John Cady, director of Student Life, at (901) 260-1367.