Dear Upper School Students and Parents,

As a college preparatory school, we strive to help prepare our students for college in many ways. One way we do so is by providing students with the opportunity to take the PSAT (Grades 10-11) and PreACT (Grades 9-11), assessments to help them practice the skills needed for SAT and ACT exams.
 
Students will be meeting with me during one of their English classes to discuss the components of the assessments, as well as to explore SCOIR, Frederica Academy’s web-based college counseling program. Results from both the PSAT and PreACT will be mailed home to students and parents in December. Below are more details about each exam and information about what the other grades will be doing on these testing days when they are not participating in them.
 
As always, please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns.
 
Thank you,
 
Laura Nevins
Director of College Placement
Wednesday, October 13
Grades 10-11
PSAT/NMSQT Testing Day
The PSAT/NMSQT (Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test/National Merit Qualifying Test) will be administered to all Sophomores and Juniors on Wednesday, October 13, 2021. Sophomores take the test for practice and exposure to the types of questions asked on the SAT, while juniors will have a chance to qualify for a Merit Scholarship and test their skills against other students nationwide. National Merit Scholarships are determined each year by an index totaling the verbal, math, and writing numbers of the test. The top 16,000 students are named National Merit Semifinalists and the top 34,000 are named Commended students. Semifinalists advance to compete for 7,600 Finalist positions and for cash prizes.
 
Students will receive a copy of the 2021 Official Student Guide to the PSAT/NMSQT in their English classes. Math and English teachers will be using the booklets and additional sample questions to help students practice and prepare for the test.

Students should bring two sharpened No. 2 pencils and a charged calculator to the exam. Testers should report to their assigned testing room at 8:15 AM. 
 
Standard Testers will be dismissed at approximately
12:00 PM on October 13th.

Students eligible for extended time on the PSAT/NMSQT will be notified
via email with their testing accommodations and room assignments.
Wednesday, October 13
Grades 9 + 12
Freshmen + Senior Ropes Course Retreat
Freshmen and Seniors will be creating community and mentoring relationships as they work with Adventure Ministries at the Epworth Ropes Course. This traditional Upper School Retreat was postponed earlier this year and we are excited that our students will have the opportunity to participate in this important event. 
 
Seniors and Freshmen will meet at 8:15 am and be dismissed at 11:30 am on this day. Freshmen and Seniors will meet on the Sea Island Green and then meet their Leadership and Rope Course Guides at Epworth. Details about the day and transportation will follow.

Freshmen and Senior parents should click on the button below to complete and submit an online permission form for this activity.
Friday, November 5
Grades 9-11
PreACT Testing
The PreACT will be administered to Freshmen, Sophomores, and Juniors on Friday, November 5th. The PreACT provides students with a structured testing environment similar to what they will experience when taking the ACT, ACT test-quality questions, and predictive scores on the familiar 1-36 scale. This helps students get comfortable with the test and understand how they're doing in core subjects. It also helps parents and educators identify areas where additional support might be necessary.
 
Students will receive a copy of the 2021-2022 Preparing for the ACT booklet in their English class. Math, English, and Science teachers will use the booklets and additional sample questions to help students practice and prepare for the test.
 
Students should bring two sharpened No. 2 pencils and a charged calculator to the exam. Testers should report to their assigned testing room at 8:15 AM.
 
Standard Testers will be dismissed at
approximately 12:00 PM on November 5th.

Students eligible for extended time will be notified via
email with their testing accommodations and room assignments.
Friday, November 5
Grade 12
Senior Health Seminar
Members of the Class of 2022 will participate in a Senior Health Seminar on Friday, November 5, while underclassmen take the PreACT exam.

Seniors will have an early dismissal at the conclusion of the seminar.