What is the PSAT?

The following information was taken from the College Board website. (PSAT/NMSQT)

"The Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) is a program cosponsored by the College Board and National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC). It's a standardized test that provides firsthand practice for the SAT^®. It also gives you a chance to enter NMSC scholarship programs and gain access to college and career planning tools.

The PSAT/NMSQT measures:

• Critical reading skills
• Math problem-solving skills
• Writing skills

You have developed these skills over many years, both in and out of school. This test doesn't require you to recall specific facts from your classes.

The most common reasons for taking the PSAT/NMSQT are to:

• Receive feedback on your strengths and weaknesses on skills necessary for college study. You can then focus your preparation on those areas that could most benefit from additional study or practice.
• See how your performance on an admissions test might compare with that of others applying to college.
• Enter the competition for scholarships from NMSC (grade 11).
• Help prepare for the SAT. You can become familiar with the kinds of questions and the exact directions you will see on the SAT.
• Receive information from colleges when you check "yes" to Student Search Service." 

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PSAT/NMSQT: Score Report Plus:
All students who take the PSAT/NMSQT receive free access to My College QuickStart, a personalized college planning tool that complements the Score Report Plus. With the access code provided on your score report, you can access the following:

My Online Score Report—an enhanced score report that allows students to review each test question, their answers, and the correct answers with answer explanations. 

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*It is recommended that the PSAT be taken in 10th and/or 11th grade. Students can take it more than once, and one veteran homeschool mom suggests taking it in 9th, 10th and 11th grades. When your student is in 11th grade they qualify to enter the competition for scholarships. (See Scholarships and Recognition)

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PSAT and Homeschoolers
If you are a home-schooled student, contact a principal or counselor at a local public or independent high school to make arrangements to take the PSAT/NMSQT at their school. Be sure to do so well in advance of the mid-October test dates, preferably during the previous June.

If you have been approved for College Board accommodations, or are planning to apply for accommodations in time for the PSAT/NMSQT, please notify the school where you will be testing to allow for timely ordering of any appropriate materials.

If you're a home-schooled student, your PSAT/NMSQT score report is sent directly to your home address. On the test day, when completing the basic information on the answer sheet, be sure to enter your state's home school code in the "school code" section. The test supervisor will provide this for you.

PSAT High School Search