Score - Branham High School

Branham High School
Presents
Preparing for College

The PSAT
Writing
30 minutes
Critical
Reading
25 minutes
Math
25 minutes
Math 2
25 minutes
Total Time:
2 hours, 10 minutes
Critical
Reading 2
25 minutes

Your Scores
Score
You can see your projected SAT
score online in My College QuickStart
(www.collegeboard.com/quickstart).
Score Range
Percentile
If you are a junior, your scores are
compared to those of other juniors.
If you are a sophomore or younger
student, your scores are compared
to those of sophomores.

National Merit Scholarship
Corporation Information
The Selection Index is the sum of your critical reading,
mathematics and writing skills scores.
If it has an asterisk, you do not meet all of the eligibility
requirements for the competition.
The Percentile compares your performance to that of other
college-bound juniors.
The Entry Requirements section displays information you
provided on your answer sheet.

Your Skills
See how you did on each skill. The same skills are tested on the SAT.
You can try hundreds of practice questions, organized by skill, online
in My College QuickStart (www.collegeboard.com/quickstart).

Your Answers
You will get your test book back with
your PSAT/NMSQT results, so that
you can review the questions.
You can also review each test
question in My College QuickStart.

Your Answers:
Student-Produced
Responses
Some of the math problems required you
to grid in answers instead of selecting an
option. For these questions, you will see
the correct answer(s) written out.

What’s next
Next Steps
Use the access code on your report to log in to My College
QuickStart, a personalized college and career planning kit. There you
can:
• Search for colleges
• Get a personalized SAT study plan
• Take a personality test to find majors and careers that fit you
www.collegeboard.com/quickstart

My College QuickStart

Going from the PSAT to the SAT
n PSAT is half the length of the SAT
SAT = 4 hours
n Students write an essay for the SAT
n Handful of new Algebra 2 topics in Math
n Colleges and universities evaluate SAT
(not PSAT) scores

General Application Requirements
n Completion of a-g requirements with grades
of “C” or better
n 2.0 minimum gpa for California State
University (10 th -11 th grade gpa)
n 3.0 minimum gpa for University of California
(10 th -11 th grade gpa)
n Private Colleges require letters of
recommendation, personal statements,
9 th -12 th grade gpa
n SAT Reasoning or ACT with Writing, and SAT
Subject Tests

CSU & UC (a-g Subject Requirements)
a – History/Social Science 2 years
b – English
4 years
c – Mathematics
3 years (4 rec)
(Algebra 1, Geometry, and Algebra 2)
d – Lab Science
2 years
(Biology, Chemistry or Physics)
e – Language other than English (same) 2 years (3 rec)
f – Visual and Performing Arts 1 year
g – Elective
1 year
Total: 15 courses with grade of C or better
UCs require completion of 11 out of the 15 courses by
the end of 11 th grade.

(a) History/Social Science
2 years required
n World History
n World History Honors
n US History
n AP US History
n American Government
n AP American Government

(b) English
4 years required
n English 1 or Honors
n English 2 or Honors
n English 3
n English 3 Honors (UC-approved)
n AP English Language
n English 4
n AP English Literature

n Algebra 1
n Geometry
n Algebra 2
n Algebra 2/Trig
n Trig/Pre-Calculus
n Statistics
n AP Calculus AB
n AP Statistics
(c) Mathematics
3 years required

(d) Laboratory Science
2 years required, 3 years recommended
n Biology or Biology Honors
n AP Biology
n Chemistry or Chemistry Honors
n AP Chemistry
n Physics or Physics Honors
n AP Physics

(e) Language Other Than English
2 years required, 3 years recommended
n Spanish 1, 2, 3, 4
n Spanish for Spanish Speakers 1, 2
n AP Spanish
n French 1, 2, 3, 4
n Mandarin Chinese 1, 2

(f) Visual & Performing Arts
1 year required
n Art 1, 2, 3, 4
n 3-D Design 1, 2
n 3-D Design Ind. Std.
n Digital Photography 1
n Drama 1, 2, 3
n Musical Theater
n Technical Theater 1, 2
n Dance Performance
n Concert Choir
n Treble Clef Choir
n Symphonic Band
n Jazz Ensemble
n Madrigals

(g) College Prep Elective
1 year required (in addition to those required a-f)
n Earth Science
n Economics
n Fine Arts Seminar
n Foods 2 - Culinary Arts
n Introduction to Engineering Design
n Principals of Engineering Design
n Journalism
n Public Speaking

Check for approved a-g courses
offered at Branham
https://doorways.ucop.edu/list

What if I receive a ‘D’ of ‘F’ in
Math or Foreign Language
n You will still meet the subject requirement for
Math or Foreign Language – If you earned a
‘D’ the first semester, and earned an ‘A, B, or
C’ in the second semester
n Taking an advanced course in the same subject
(math or foreign language) and earning an ‘A,
B, or C’ presupposes knowledge of the
previous course i.e. Algebra 2 validates Algebra
1
WARNING: Validating subject requirements does NOT
mean you meet the GPA requirement.

What if I receive a ‘D’ or ‘F’ in
any other a-g subject
D or F grades must be repeated:
n
n
n
n
n
Branham
Community College
Online through BYU – UCs and CSUs do not accept
only lab science and visual performing art classes
Any WASC-accredited schools
SAT scores can validate certain subjects depending
on scores
* Check with Guidance Advisor before making any plans

SAT Test
n
SAT Reasoning:
Three parts – 800
points possible
(1) Math
(2) Critical Reading
(3) Writing
n SAT Subject: Various
subjects. Can take up
to 3 in one sitting
n No longer required for
the UC, but
recommended
n Privates still require

ACT Test
n
n
n
Multiple choice test that cover 4 skill areas
36 possible points each
(1) English
(2) Math
(3) Reading
(4) Science
Writing section required for the UC

Testing Timeline
Sophomore Year
Junior Year
Senior Year
* If applicable

Application Dates
n
n
n
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CSU: October 1 st – November 30 th
UC: November 1 st – November 30 th
Private Colleges: Deadlines Vary
Community Colleges: Spring of your
senior year

Financial Aid
n Apply during your Senior Year
n FAFSA application opens – January 1 and
closes on March 2
n Apply for Cal Grant
n Research and apply for scholarships
according to individual deadlines

Senior Year Time Line
n July/August: Research and visit colleges
n August/September: Organize and complete
your brag sheet on Naviance
n Beginning October: Apply to colleges
n January: Apply for Financial Aid
n Spring: Receive acceptance letters and financial
aid packages
n March/April/May: Take college placement tests
n May 1 st : Notify the college you choose

College Websites and Resources
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n
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n
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www.connection.naviance.com/branham - College,
Career, Scholarship Search, Education Planning
www.california.colleges.edu – research colleges,
careers, complete assessment tests
www.csumentor.edu – explore the CSU system
www.universityofcalifornia.edu – explore the UC
system
https://doorways.ucop.edu/list – stay updated on
current Branham classes that are CSU/UC acceptable
www.fastweb.com – search for scholarships
www.fafsa4caster.ed.gov – start your financial aid
process early