Skip to main content

Monroe Public Schools

Every Child, Every Day

Building Confidence & Readiness: Upcoming PSAT/NMSQT and Benchmark Assessments

Posted Date: 09/28/26 (11:30 AM)
View Original Post


Dear Masuk Students and Families,

As part of our continued effort to help students understand their academic strengths, identify areas for growth, and build confidence for future assessments, we have an important assessment day coming up at Masuk High School.


On October 22, 2026, students will participate in the following:

  • Grade 11: Students will take the PSAT/NMSQT, which provides valuable practice for the SAT while also serving as the qualifying assessment for the National Merit Scholarship Program.

  • Grades 9 & 10: Students will complete a benchmark assessment through Progress Learning designed to measure their current skill levels in areas similar to those assessed on the PSAT 9 and PSAT 10, which they will take in the spring of 2027.

  • Grade 12: Students will use the morning to work on their Capstone Projects and classes will commence with their period 5 (need to be at Masuk by 10:25am).  If any student cannot get their own transportation to Masuk that day for periods 5, 6, 7 and 8, then they can take the bus in the morning and work in the cafeteria.  Our Capstone Advisors will be in the cafeteria that morning should any student need assistance.


While these assessments provide us with useful information, our larger goal is not simply preparation for a test.  The skills measured: reading closely, analyzing information, applying mathematical reasoning, solving problems, interpreting evidence, and thinking critically; are skills students use throughout their classes and will continue to develop during their time at Masuk.

Students will have opportunities within their respective classes to strengthen these skills throughout the school year.  We will also provide students and families with resources that can be used independently for additional practice and preparation (there are many others):


One way to gain more insight is, beginning tomorrow, I will be adding an SAT Question of the Day to my daily announcements.  Each day, students will have an opportunity to try a question representative of the style, format, and thinking skills they may encounter on the SAT and related assessments. The answer and an explanation of the reasoning behind it will also be included each day.  And this isn't just for our juniors!  All Masuk students are encouraged to give the questions a try.  For our younger students, it is an opportunity to begin building familiarity with these skills well before they take the SAT.  Families can follow along, too!  These daily questions will provide parents and guardians with a better understanding of the types of questions students encounter and, more importantly, the critical-thinking, problem-solving, reading, and mathematical reasoning skills students need to apply to be successful.


Our goal is simple: practice builds familiarity, familiarity builds confidence, and confidence helps students perform at their best.  There is no expectation that students spend hours preparing for these assessments.  Instead, we encourage students to become familiar with the types of questions they may encounter, practice skills where they would like additional support, and approach the assessments with confidence.


Thank you for your continued partnership and support of our students. We look forward to helping every Panther continue to learn, grow, and build confidence throughout the year.


Have a great day!

Steve Swensen