PSAT as a Part of Comprehensive Test Prep
The PSAT is a slightly shorter and easier version of the SAT, testing you on questions relating to sophomore and junior-year levels of Reading, Writing, and Math. While many people consider it a practice run for the official SAT, it also acts as a qualifying test in your junior year to determine your eligibility for becoming a National Merit Scholar, which is a big motivating factor for many juniors to do well on this test.
For your junior-year PSAT, you are given a National Merit score in addition to your PSAT score that determines your eligibility for becoming a National Merit Scholar. Earning this honor can be used for scholarships and recognition on the national level, including being listed on the official National Merit Scholar site. California has historically had some of the highest score requirements in the nation, and holds the third-highest score cutoff for the class of 2021, with a qualifying score of 221 or higher.
If you are considering applying to very selective colleges, getting a perfect or near-perfect score on the PSAT NMSQT is a great way to stand out. Receiving a certifying score to be a National Merit Scholar will qualify you for scholarships through the state. Though colleges don’t consider PSAT scores in admissions over an official SAT or ACT score, a certifying score is a particularly impressive piece to submit to colleges as part of your application. Even if you don’t receive a score high enough to qualify for scholarships, taking the test will earn you valuable test-taking experience that you can carry through to the SAT or ACT.
Prepping for the PSAT creates a strong foundation in the topics that will be assessed again, albeit at a more advanced level, on the SAT and ACT. Prepping for the SAT or ACT after prepping for the PSAT will also make your secondary prep efforts more efficient, as the areas you will need to work on will have already been highlighted in your PSAT prep process. In this way, you hit the ground running for the tests that colleges will be looking at directly in admissions.
PSAT prep is an important starting point that will provide you with peace of mind while going through the prep process for the ACT or SAT, as you’ll be starting with a baseline score, a solid understanding of your strengths and weaknesses, and the testing strategies that you know work best for you. If you’re looking for a way to impress selective colleges, increase your scholarship opportunities, or establish a solid foundation for the SAT or ACT, starting with PSAT prep is the best way to set yourself up for success.
