The PSAT: What Is It and Should You Take It?

Whether you are the most studious student or not, College Board’s Pre-SAT or PSAT may be a good way to develop your reading comprehension, English language, mathematical, and algebraic skills…and maybe even earn some money! In an increasingly competitive world, junior year of high school has the potential to make or break a person’s chances of being accepted into their dream schools. Whether it be taking AP or IB courses, asking teachers to write letters of recommendation, continuing extracurricular involvement, or taking standardized tests such as the SAT and ACT, most students are preoccupied with a long list of activities during their junior year of high school. So, why should add the PSAT to their junior year bucket list?

Why Take the PSAT?

Firstly, the PSAT can be a valuable tool for students to measure their level of performance on standardized tests. Because a large number of high schools offer the PSAT for free, it can be a low-stakes way for students who are taking a standardized test for the first time to gauge how well they will perform on the SAT, which is often an important component of college admissions. The PSAT is essentially structured as an easier version of the SAT, which makes it a strong entry point for students who want to measure their level of comprehension on topics tested in the SAT. Therefore, score reports from the PSAT can be useful in preparing students for the SAT and possibly other major tests such as the AP English Language and Composition Exam. As a result, the PSAT serves as a benchmark for students to see what topics they can improve on. Apart from the benefits associated with taking the PSAT as a benchmark, students can take the test in order to qualify for the National Merit Scholarship. Students who earn top qualifying scores on the PSAT in 11th grade can receive a $2,500 scholarship as well as recognition as a National Merit Semifinalist or Finalist.

Tips for the PSAT

One of the most important components of the PSAT is TIME. Most high school students and counselors agree that the skill of reading and answering questions in a limited amount of time is a large factor in determining whether a student will score well on the PSAT. The PSAT consists of the following four sections: • Reading - 47 questions; 60 minutes • Writing and Language - 44 questions; 35 minutes • Math (No Calculator) - 17 questions; 25 minutes • Math (Calculator) - 31 questions; 45 minutes In order to perfect the timing component of the PSAT, practice is key. Most of the content needed to answer questions on the PSAT are already covered in most school curriculums. Students need to work solely on applying the concepts they have already learned to various different rhetorical and mathematical situations. To practice, students can link their Khan Academy account with their College Board account, which will allow students to exclusively practice concepts that they struggle with, targeting their focus on specific topics. Additionally, the College Board offers several practice tests for the SAT and PSAT in order to prepare students for their upcoming exams. By taking a full practice test in a single sitting and grading their accuracy, students can identify patterns of missed questions. With the new digital PSAT, testing will be moved online, which marks the first time the PSAT has gone digital. Therefore, students will be able to utilize the Bluebook platform in order to take the test. To take the test, a student must have registered with their school, or another local school, during the test window that takes place between October 2nd and October 31st, 2023.

The Verdict

While students are often overwhelmed with tasks and activities during their junior year, registering for the PSAT may be a valuable investment that students can use to their advantage. Whether it be qualifying to be a National Merit Scholar or practicing for the SAT, juniors can leverage the PSAT to grow as students.