Last year the College Board, creators of both the SAT and PSAT,
announced plans to redesign both standardized tests. The new PSAT test has finally arrived; you
can download a full practice test and answers from the links in the right sidebar.
Because both the SAT and PSAT are created by the same publisher, the test format is identical. When a student is studying for one test he/she is actually studying for both tests! There’s no doubt the students who score the highest on these tests are the students who have been studying months, even years!
On April 30 and May 1 I’ll be teaching a PSAT/SAT prep class in Cumming designed for students who will sit for the PSAT and SAT this October. This class includes lesson plans which lay out three distinct summer test prep study schedules. Register for this class using the icon in the right sidebar.
What is the PSAT?
The PSAT/NMSQT is actually
the ONLY exam used to qualify high school juniors as National Merit
Scholars. Each year approximately 8,000 American students are selected as
National Merit Scholars based on their PSAT score. These students receive
hundreds of thousands of dollars in unsolicited scholarship opportunities from
colleges and universities across the United States. These scholarships
often include full tuition, free room and board, paid meal plans, books,
study abroad stipends; the list is endless!
Who should take the PSAT?
The highest possible score
on the PSAT is 240. Students in Georgia need to score between a 214 and
218 to be competitive for the National Merit Scholarship. Students can
take the PSAT for practice in 9th and 10th grades;
however, the score does not count toward the National Merit Scholarship
competition until the student sits for the exam as a junior. It is a good
idea to begin taking the PSAT as early as 9th grade to get an idea
of how much practice is needed to reach the qualifying score.
Can you prepare for the
PSAT?
Although the PSAT is a very
important test, most students go in unprepared. The PSAT is a test of
reasoning and logic; unlike any test most students will take during
their high school years. The students who score the highest on the PSAT
are those who have practiced using retired PSAT or SAT tests. The PSAT is similar to the SAT in that it covers critical
reading, math and writing. The PSAT does NOT, however, include algebra II. If a student begins an SAT prep program as
early as 8th or 9th grade, he/she should score very well
on the PSAT. Even preparing in 10th grade can yield huge score
increases.
Happy studying. . .
Christine
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