PSAT Results To Be Delivered By Mid-November

With the conclusion of PSAT testing for 2024, it’s a good time to reflect upon the PSAT exam.  In September, the College Board announced National Merit Semifinalists for the class of 2025.  Now, the class of 2026 is stepping up, and results have come out quickly.  If your student took the PSAT by October 11th, scores became available on October 24th.  For students who completed testing by October 26th, scores will be available by November 7th.  Any additional scores will be released on November 14th.

As we’ve noted before, the PSAT is a single purpose test whose objective is to identify the nation’s National Merit Scholars.  Each year, approximately 17,000 students are named semifinalists.  That number is winnowed down to about 15,000 students who are named finalists.  From there, some 7,500 students will be eligible to receive a National Merit scholarship.

The College Board determines scores based on a selection index number which is easily calculated.  To determine your student’s National Merit Scholarship Index, you take their reading/writing score and double it.  To that number, you add their math score and then divide by ten.  For example, if your student scored a 700 on reading/writing and a 750 on math, you would multiply 700 x 2 = 1400.  To that, you would add 750 and then divide the sum by ten, arriving at their NMSI of 215.

Minnesota Numbers

Cutoffs for the National Merit Semifinalist level vary from year to year and from state to state.  For the class of 2025, the cutoff for Minnesota’s National Merit Semifinalists was 217.  For the classes of 2024 and 2023, the cutoff was 2016.

There is another level of recognition called the Commended Scholar.  That number is determined on a national basis and also varies from year to year.  For 2025, the cutoff for the Commended Scholar level was 208.  Approximately 36,000 students are named a Commended Scholar nationwide.

When Will I Find Out If My Student “Made the Cut”?

Formal notification of Semifinalist status isn’t announced until September of the student’s senior year.  Flying Colors will keep you posted if any new information comes to light before then.

Stay In The Know: Subscribe To Our Newsletters

We keep our newsletter subscribers up to date with important topics related to college entrance exam prep and tutoring. Subscribe here.

Fast Forward To Today

Today, we’re not only the leading provider of personalized ACT/SAT test preparation in Minnesota, we also provide students and families with a complete set of services including academic tutoring, college application essay assistance, expertise in test prep and tutoring for students with LD/ADHD and graduate school admissions test prep including the LSAT, MCAT, GRE and GMAT exams.

To celebrate the success of all our students and the quiet, steady growth of our organization, we’ve chosen a new name – Flying Colors.

Why The Name Change, and Why Flying Colors?

We’re still the same great company and team, but we believe ‘Flying Colors’ better captures all that we do – and why we do it. We’re passionate about building confidence, unlocking individual potential, and delivering an engaging and collaborative experience.

Our team of 50+ expert tutors has helped thousands of students tackle complicated academic subjects and prepare for their college entrance exams with tailored programs that consistently deliver exceptional results.

We’re proud to say we’re the exclusive provider of test prep services for a long list of great Minnesota schools, and we’re the only organization in the Upper Midwest with test prep instruction designed specifically for students with LD/ADHD.

About Our President

Ron Michalak is the founder of Flying Colors. He earned a BA in economics from Northwestern University and an MBA in marketing and finance from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

After college, Ron enjoyed a 25-year career in finance, marketing, and business development as an executive with firms including Arthur Andersen, Coopers & Lybrand, BellSouth and IBM/Internet Security Systems. Ron got his start in test prep nearly two decades ago when, as a student at the Kellogg School, he provided classroom-style instruction to SAT and GMAT students.

What Is The ACT Superscore, Exactly?

Beginning in April 2021, if a student had taken more than one ACT test, the ACT reported the student’s “superscore” as part of their results.

A superscore is a score that combines the best section scores from two or more ACT tests that a student has completed. On the surface, it sounds great, as the example below illustrates:

Note the new composite score, created from the compilation of the best scores. Sweet, right? It’s higher than any of the individual composite scores. Not so fast.

The Problem? Over 80% of Colleges Don’t Accept The ACT Superscore

Of the nation’s 2400+ schools that use ACT and SAT scores, fewer than 450 schools will consider an ACT superscore. The majority of colleges and universities will only consider a student’s single best ACT score from any number of attempts the student has made.

When it comes to the ACT superscore, be sure to do your homework. You can click here to see a list of schools that utilize ACT superscores in their decision process. Because admissions offices can change their policies, we strongly encourage students and families to check with the admissions office of the schools to which the student may apply for the most accurate information.

Stay In The Know: Subscribe To Our Newsletters

We keep our newsletter subscribers up to date with important topics related to college entrance exam prep and tutoring. Subscribe here.

While both are accepted by an increasing number of business schools, they cater to slightly different skill sets and are viewed differently by admissions committees.

Let’s break down the key factors you should consider when making this crucial decision.

1. Business School Preferences

First and foremost, check the admissions criteria of the schools you’re targeting. While many business schools accept both the GMAT and GRE, some might prefer one over the other. Schools will often provide guidance on their websites, or you can contact the admissions office directly.

2. Career Goals

If you’re targeting a specific industry post-MBA, it might be worthwhile to see if there’s a prevailing preference among potential employers. Some recruiters in the finance and consulting sectors, for instance, have been known to ask that GMAT scores be included on applicants’ resumes.

3. Test Structures And Your Skill Set

Evaluate your strengths. If you’re stronger in critical thinking, the GMAT might be a better showcase of your skills. However, if you have a liberal arts background or are more comfortable with vocabulary-based questions, the GRE might give you a better avenue in which to excel.

4. Flexibility For Other Graduate Programs

If you’re considering multiple graduate programs beyond an MBA, such as a dual degree in public policy or international relations, the GRE offers broader acceptance across various programs.

5. Test-Taking Experience

If you have previously taken one of these tests for another application, consider your comfort level and previous performance. If you have already prepared for and taken the GRE, for example, it might be easier to improve on that rather than starting fresh with the GMAT.

Weigh The Options

Choosing the GRE or GMAT is an individual decision based on various factors, including your school choices, career aspirations, skill set, and personal preferences. Do your research, possibly take a practice test of each to gauge your comfort level and consult with mentors or advisors. Remember, the goal is to present your best self to the admissions committee.

In Minnesota, the ACT has traditionally been the test of choice. Enter the new digital SAT. Students have quickly learned it is a shorter test and that has begun to drive demand. And while it’s true that the new SAT is indeed shorter, it’s also harder.

You might be familiar with the SAT college entrance exam, but perhaps the term “Digital SAT” is new to you. To understand the difference between the old paper version of the SAT and its new digital format, check out our article, “Understanding The Paper SAT vs. The New Digital SAT”.

This quick comparison of the digital SAT vs ACT can help determine which will be best for your student.

Pros of the Digital SAT vs. ACT

1. Shorter Test = More Time To Answer.

Students who take the SAT have a better chance of avoiding test exhaustion with the shorter exam duration. They also have more time to answer each question, reducing the stress of time management.

2. Digital Format For Digital Natives.

Taking an exam on an electronic device such as a laptop, Chromebook, or iPad is now normal for many students, and will likely be more comfortable and familiar for students than a paper test.

·While the ACT also has a digital option, it is not available in all locations.

3. Adapts To Student Ability.

The adaptive test format means that SAT sections (reading/writing and math) are comprised of two stages:

A student who does well in the first stage will receive a more challenging second stage–a key part of achieving a higher score. For a student who struggles with the first stage, the SAT software will deliver an easier second stage, to better gauge actual ability level and help prevent the student from leaving the test feeling deflated.

Cons of the Digital SAT vs. ACT

More Time To Answer = More Complex Questions

Because students have more time to answer, SAT developers are known to include some unique and sometimes unfamiliar approaches to testing concepts. Some questions require students to reason through SAT questions vs. simply choosing straightforward answers, and test-takers may find the question formats different than what they’re used to in the school setting. This makes practice testing important, to build familiarity with the testing approach.

Scoring Impact Of Weighted Questions.

Questions on the ACT are weighted equally – the easiest question on the test is worth just as much as the most difficult question on the test – so it is possible to guess on the most challenging questions and still receive a strong score. That is not the case with the SAT. It is a more sophisticated test where some questions count for nothing; others are more heavily weighted. Careful answers are required throughout the SAT exam as errors on some questions can be quite costly.

Limited Availability.

At this time in Minnesota, seats for the SAT are limited, and students may have to wait to test. SAT popularity has increased with the digital rollout, and schools are not yet meeting current demand. Based on our conversations with schools around the Metro Area, it can be challenging to offer the new digital SAT since students need to show up to the testing site with fully charged testing devices that have the appropriate software already loaded. We’ll all have to stay tuned to see if availability improves.

The Digital SAT vs ACT: Still Not Sure?

Your student can take both a practice digital SAT and a practice ACT exam with us to see which is a better fit. Flying Colors offers practice exams every weekend of the year.

You can learn more and register here. Check it out and start answering the “which test to take” question with confidence.

A More Flexible Exam

Are you ready for a “new and improved” ACT test? Changes coming to the new ACT exam in April 2025 should help to address two often-cited drawbacks of the test: stressful time constraints and a mandatory science section.

Test scores will still be reported on the current scale of 1-36, and online testing will continue to be offered in select locations, but the content and structure of the new exam will be noticeably different.

The New ACT Core Test

If the ACT makes good on its promises (and that’s a big “if”), students testing in Spring 2025 will enjoy a shorter core ACT test— just two hours instead of the current three—with sections in English, math, and reading.

The reduced testing time is a result of three updates: fewer questions in each section, shorter passages in the reading and English sections, and the elimination of science as a required section. With these changes, students will have more time to answer each question

Science Optional

Along with the current optional writing section, the science section will also become optional beginning in April 2025 according to the ACT’s proposal. This change will likely make the new ACT more appealing to students who might typically choose the SAT due to a lack of confidence in their science knowledge.

While there may still be colleges that require the ACT science section, the core ACT exam will be on a more even playing field with the SAT exam for those who do not identify science as a key skill or interest.

Greater Flexibility

With flexible options for added subject testing, the new ACT will offer students the opportunity to “focus on their strengths and showcase their abilities in the best possible way.” Students will have four testing options: the core ACT, the ACT plus writing, the ACT plus science, or the ACT plus both writing and science.

A Student-Centered Approach

Over the years, the ACT has had to overcome several perceived weaknesses of its test, including difficult pacing, the reluctance of some students to be tested on science, and even questions about the reliability and accuracy of the science section itself.

With the new optional science section and a shorter core exam, the new ACT has taken a step towards addressing these concerns and offering a testing experience with more appeal to a broader audience of college applicants.

Stay In The Know: Subscribe To Our Newsletters

We keep our newsletter subscribers up to date with important topics related to college entrance exam prep and tutoring. Subscribe here.