As we have reported in our blog, the digital, adaptive PSAT will replace the paper-based assessment in the fall of 2023. Consequently, the class of 2025 will be the *first* to take the computer-based PSAT/NMSQT for national merit qualification.
While the College Board has assured schools and families that the final paper-based administration in October will be useful to sophomores, it will obviously lack the experiential value of taking a digital exam. Students deserve the opportunity to pilot the new format before it counts in 11th grade; and of equal importance, schools could greatly benefit from a low-stakes “trial run” before they are required to host the digital PSAT on their campuses.
At Compass, we have been building out our digital testing platform for years, and we are proud to share our digital, adaptive PSAT practice test with partner schools across the country.
The digital, adaptive PSAT practice test mimics the interface, question types, and test structure that College Board will formally unveil in the near future. The exam can be flexibly administered—on-campus or at-home—on school days or weekends that are convenient for your community.
This is not an official College Board PSAT; however, it does provide students with the experience of taking a digital adaptive test that mimics the content and structure of the 2023 PSAT.
Following completion of the exam, our individual score reports (see demo below) provide detailed analytics of each student’s strengths and weaknesses. We also create group reports to help you identify class-wide trends in performance and National Merit potential.
Please see further details on this page to learn more about the testing platform, the reporting tools, and the scheduling options and logistics involved. If you are interested in bringing Digital Adaptive PSAT Practice Tests to your school, please contact Matty Steiner, Adam Ingersoll, or Bruce Reed. You can also call our office at (800) 685-6986.
How it Works
A Testing Platform that
Simulates the PSAT
Designed to simulate the digital testing experience, the Compass Online Testing Center provides students with the opportunity to practice as they will test, using all of the tools College Board offers.
Interactive Score
Reports for Students
Each student receives an interactive score report, which indicates whether they received the easier or harder second module in each section. To improve time management, students can review how much time they spent on each question and compare their time to the average time spent to get each question correct. See the sample report below.
Group Performance
Reports for Counselors
As a counselor, you will get a group performance report to see how the class as a whole is doing. Our group score report and table helps compare your students’ performance regardless of whether they received the easier or harder modules. We also offer a National Merit Selection Index to help identify likely candidates.
Take a Tour
Visit the Online Testing Center Demo
Our tour of the Online Testing Center steps you through each feature and tool, giving you a preview of the testing experience and a guided opportunity to practice using those tools. Tools include:
- Highlighter—highlight passages and questions
- Answer Eliminator—streamline process of elimination
- Question Flagging—mark questions for review at the section or after results are in
- Timer—hide or show the time remaining to keep on pace
Upon entering the Compass Online Testing Center, students are given the opportunity to take this same tour. We strongly encourage all students to take advantage of its instruction, particularly if it is their first time taking a digital practice test with Compass, so they can utilize all of the testing tools.
Note: The demo must be accessed through Safari, Chrome, or Firefox on a laptop, desktop, or tablet. Mobile phones are not supported.
Review a Sample Score Report:
Frequently Asked Questions
Can students take this at home or should we administer the test on campus?
Some counselors are using the digital PSAT as an opportunity to administer a low-stakes digital test on campus before they are required to do so in the fall of 2023 with the first official digital PSAT. Others prefer to have students take the practice test on their own time. We can help you administer the test either way.
When is the digital adaptive PSAT practice test available?
We are able to accommodate requests for the digital adaptive PSAT throughout the winter and spring. Please contact us for more information.
How long is the test? How much time should we schedule?
The digital, adaptive PSAT is 2 hours and 34 minutes of testing time plus a 10-minute break between sections. In order to allow students to read the instructions and practice with the testing interface, we recommend allowing for a 3-hour testing period. Students with +50% or +100% accommodations will need approximately 4-5 hours to complete the exam. Students with extended time are required to use the entire time allotted for each section; they cannot complete. section early and move on.
What devices are supported?
We support laptops, desktop computers, Chromebooks, and iPads.
The Compass Online Testing Center runs in a web browser; students do not need to download an application. Access to a stable internet connection is very helpful, but students will not lose their work if there is a break in the connection.
What if a student's internet goes out mid-test?
Don’t Panic!
If students lose the internet, our system will automatically try to reconnect for a period of time. If the system is unable to reconnect, the test is paused and the student’s place is saved in the browser’s cached memory. Students can return to the test by following the link in their confirmation email or using the code we provide to the school.
Some schools choose to have students test at home or at different times throughout the school week. In order to allow for this flexibility, we establish a “testing window” where students will be able to access the exam. Students will have until the end of the testing window to complete the test.
When do students receive their score reports?
Though tests are graded immediately, we slightly delay the release of score reports to students to decrease the chance that they will be in a group of peers when they receive them, and thus less likely to compare scores or answers. Generally, students and their parents will receive reports the evening of the test. This can be delayed further upon request.
Counselors and administrators receive group reports within a week of students completing the test.
