On Test Day
Everything you need to know about PSAT/NMSQT test administration
The College Board depends on you and your assistants to administer the PSAT/NMSQT according to the PSAT/NMSQT Supervisor's Manual so that all students have the same opportunity to do their best. Thank you for the efforts you and your staff make to ensure a test administration that is efficient, secure, and fair for all students.
Learn more about what your students need on test day and how to manage the test administration:
- What Students Should Bring: Items that are and that are not allowed into the test room
- Before the Test: What you and your students can do to prepare for the test
- During the Test: Procedures to follow while taking and administering the test
- After the Test: What is required following test day?
Test Day Closures
If your school closes on test day due to unforeseen circumstances such as weather or building disruptions, widespread illness, etc., contact the PSAT/NMSQT program by 3 p.m. EST Friday, October 16, to arrange for an alternate administration.
The alternate administration date is the same for all participating schools, usually later in October, and is set by the PSAT/NMSQT program. If your school is administering the alternate exam, all students in your school must test on the designated alternate test date.
In most years, the alternate administration of the PSAT/NMSQT differs from the standard administration. Schools participating have to certify that they understand these differences and have communicated them to all students. These differences include:
- Test books from the alternate administration cannot be returned to students; instead they must be returned to the PSAT/NMSQT office immediately with the answer sheets.
- Neither paper nor online score reports from the alternate administration will provide feedback about the students' performance on specific test questions and skills; nor will they provide correct answers or answer explanations.
- Students may not order copies of their answer sheets from the alternate administration.
- Schools that use the alternate administration of the test in 2009 may not be permitted to do so in 2010 or 2011.
- Schools that use the alternate administration will not receive Summary of Answers and Skills (SOAS) reports.
If individual students miss the test as a result of illness, an emergency, or other extenuating circumstance, they should follow these instructions (also found on page 5 of the Official Student Guide to the PSAT/NMSQT).
Schools administering the 2009 test on their registered test date, but experiencing high levels of absenteeism due to the H1N1 virus, should contact the PSAT/NMSQT program for assistance.