How can my child take the PSAT?

Unlike the SAT, PSAT registration is not facilitated by the College Board. Instead, students register for the PSAT through their high schools. Your child's high school or college counseling office will tell you how and when to sign up for the PSAT.

How do I take the PSAT outside of school?

If you plan to take the PSAT at a school you do not attend, call the school four months before your test date and speak with a counselor about registering for the PSAT.

Can everyone take the PSAT?

It is normal for pretty much everyone in a good high school to take the PSAT. If you're planning on going to college or even just considering it, certainly you should take it. It's not only good practice for the SAT, it also serves as the qualifying test for a scholarship.

Can I take the PSAT at home?

Yes, but the test must be administered at a local high school or approved location.

How do I apply for the PSAT?

Students sign up at their high school, not through the College Board. Your child should talk to their school counselor in September to learn about their school's PSAT/NMSQT registration process.

How To Prepare Your Child Early For ACT, PSAT, SAT with Zach Gaidosh and Dr. Agnia Grigas

How much does a PSAT cost?

SAT School Day test registration: $60 each. PSAT 10 test registration: $18 each. PSAT 8/9 test registration: $14 each.

When can my child take the PSAT?

Most students take the PSAT at their high school in the fall of their sophomore or junior year. Ask a teacher or school counselor when the test will be offered at your school and how to sign up.

Can I take PSAT online?

PSAT/NMSQT is being offered digitally starting in fall 2023.

Is taking the PSAT free?

No, but many students don't have to pay. Some schools cover all or part of that amount. Others charge test administration fees.

How do homeschoolers take the PSAT?

Where Do Homeschoolers Take the PSAT? Unfortunately, your student cannot take the PSAT at home. However, homeschoolers can take the PSAT at a local high school on one of several dates throughout October. To find a local school where your homeschool student can take the PSAT, visit CollegeBoard.com.

Is it OK to skip the PSAT?

Do I (does my sophomore) need to take the PSAT? No. The PSAT (whether you're a sophomore or a junior, in fact) is not required, and deciding not to take it will not have any negative effects on your college admissions decisions.

What happens if I skip the PSAT?

If your student misses the PSAT/NMSQT in their junior year due to illness or extenuating circumstances, they can take the “alternative testing option.” Students can take the SAT 1 in exchange for the PSAT/NMSQT and the score is converted and used in substitution for the PSAT/NMSQT.

Where can my daughter take the PSAT?

If your child's school does not offer the PSAT to its students, your child can take the test at another local high school.

Can a school force you to take the PSAT?

In general, the PSAT is an optional test that serves mainly as practice for the SAT and for qualification for the National Merit Scholarship Program. Most high schools encourage students to take it for these reasons, but it's not strictly required by the schools themselves.

Can I take the PSAT not at my school?

Students who are homeschooled or plan to take the PSAT 8/9 at a school they do not normally attend, are considered "away students." They will not automatically be included in the registration file the school completes and will need to reach out to participating schools or district offices as soon as possible in order ...

Where can I take a PSAT?

Where Can I Take the PSAT? The Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT), PSAT 10 and PSAT 8/9 are typically taken at students' middle and high schools, rather than testing centers.

How hard is it to get a PSAT?

The PSAT is slightly less challenging than the SAT because it is designed to be a practice test. As a precursor exam, the PSAT will introduce students to the subject matter and test structure of the SAT. The PSAT is a shorter test as well, with fewer questions. The SAT is 15 minutes longer.

Can you take the PSAT anytime?

Most students take the test in 11th grade, but you could take it in ninth and/or 10th grade for extra practice. Note that only juniors who take the PSAT will be considered for a National Merit Scholarship — sophomores do not qualify.

What grade does PSAT matter?

SAT and ACT scores are used to evaluate students in the admissions process (with the exception of universities with test optional policies). PSAT scores, however, are not. In fact, the only PSAT scores that might influence your admissions odds are those you receive in your junior year on the PSAT/NMSQT.

What grade should you take PSAT?

The PSAT 8/9 is designated for students in the eighth and ninth grades and the PSAT 10 is for sophomores. The PSAT/NMSQT stands for the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, which students take as a sophomore or junior.

Should my child prepare for PSAT?

Your child doesn't need to study for the PSAT 8/9. The best way they can prepare is to pay attention in class and do their homework. The test is meant to assess the skills they are currently learning in school. See what kinds of questions are on the PSAT 8/9.

Is it worth it to do PSAT?

A strong PSAT score is likely to portend an equally strong (or stronger) SAT score. High SAT scores can, in turn, help you get scholarships and grants for college. Studying for these standardized tests is one of the few ways that students can positively affect their financial aid packages.

Does the PSAT matter in 11th grade?

All 11th graders who take the PSAT/NMSQT are eligible for National Merit Scholarships. Of the top 50,000 performers, 34,000 become Commended Scholars, while the remaining 16,000 are distinguished as National Merit Semifinalists.

How important is the PSAT?

Students who score well on the PSAT can significantly reduce university admissions and financial assistance processes. Always keep in mind if you want to participate in the National Merit Scholarship Program, you must take the PSAT as a junior or, in addition to testing as a sophomore.