A Catalyst for Your College Journey: 4 Reasons You Should Take the PSAT

This blog post delves into the top four reasons the PSAT is essential for high school students. We discuss benefits for early academic planning, for test-taking practice ahead of taking the SAT or ACT, and the fact that the PSAT can put you on a path to academic honors and even some hefty scholarships.

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Why Take the PSAT? Overview

Some students wonder, should I take the PSAT? What’s the purpose? What are the benefits?

As a matter of fact, some 1.5 million students take the PSAT each year — so it’s worth asking whether you too should take the PSAT…

While the two pillars of standardized testing, SAT and ACT, are familiar to many students and guardians, far fewer people understand the purpose of the PSAT, if it's required or not, and whether they should take it or not.

In essence the PSAT is a younger sibling of the SAT, so it's very similar to the SAT and when you register for the PSAT or SAT you get linked to the suite of services and resources offered by the College Board, which also offers AP curriculum and exams, and a variety of school and scholarship search services.

One thing the PSAT isn’t used for is college admissions...

But before you say to yourself, “Then why bother to take the PSAT?” keep in mind that there are several ways the PSAT can still help you stand out academically when it's time to apply to selective colleges and universities:

• Helping you do better on the SAT (or ACT)
• Helping you and your high school counselors ensure you're on the best academic tracks possible, including identifying areas for improvement versus readiness for more accelerated courses (honors, AP, IB...), and in which subjects
• Offering a pathway to academic honors that elevate your application profile or help you earn merit scholarships to offset education costs

So don't assume the PSAT isn't useful.

If you care about positioning yourself as a strong applicant for selective colleges and universities, the PSAT could help you achieve that goal!

Before we look more closely at the top reasons to take the PSAT, remember that the PSAT is actually a suite of "PSAT-related" tests. Put more simply, there are three different versions of the PSAT, aligned with different grade levels.

The primary function of these related tests is to give students a longer runway for academic feedback and improvement. Just as athletic programs for children and younger teens support a longer arc of skill training and fitness, the PSAT offers younger students ample opportunities to hone their test-taking prowess and continually get feedback on their academic growth — both their strengths and gaps — into and through high school.

Amid the general similarities, the PSAT/NMQST stands apart as the only one of the three tests that can qualify you for the National Merit Scholarship, even though the test is virtually identical in length, format, and content to the PSAT 10.

In other words, whether or not you opt to take the PSAT 8/9 and PSAT 10 beforehand, to qualify as a National Merit Scholarship finalist or winner, you'll need to take the PSAT/NMQST in your junior year of high school.

Top 4 Reasons To Take the PSAT

Reason #1: If Your High School Requires It

One good reason to take the PSAT might be because your school requires it! That’s right, some high schools simply administer one or more of the different PSAT tests to all students.

• At least some educators believe deeply that standardized test scores can provide useful academic feedback.
• Many educators require the PSAT at their school to ensure all students get familiar with timed tests and standardized tests — a step toward leveling the playing field before students go on to take either the SAT or ACT, which are more consequential for college admissions.

Reason #2: Early Academic Planning

Beginning with the PSAT 8/9, taking the PSAT is a good way to begin gauging your progress and proficiency in core academic subjects and skills.

You (and school counselors) can use this information alongside other indicators, like district tests and your transcripts, to help you pick courses that best support and accelerate your academic progress, whether it's getting extra academic support in a specific subject or enrolling in courses with more academic rigor, including AP courses, honors courses, or IB programs.

Reason #3: Test Prep & Better Chances for Success on the SAT

Since the PSAT is a "low-stakes" test (there's not a lot riding on the outcome), it's a great way to learn what to expect when you take the more high-stakes SAT or ACT down the road.

In essence, the PSAT is your early academic training ground and standardized testing boot camp, helping prepare you to anticipate the challenges of a timed, standardized test format, including test-taking strategies, the level of academic rigor involved, and the kinds of concepts and skills you'll want to study and review. All of these will put you in a better position to ace the SAT or ACT down the road!

Reason #4: To Compete for a National Merit Scholarship & Academic Distinction

Winning a National Merit Scholarship is a great way to earn academic distinction. If you truly get an exceedingly high score compared to your peers — by state level and nationally — you might qualify as a NMS Finalist or walk away with a $2,500 scholarship that offsets some of your college costs.

The National Merit Scholarship Program website also has more information about additional types of scholarships, such as corporate-sponsored and college-sponsored scholarships, aligned with the PSAT.

Even if you don’t win a scholarship, by achieving the rank of a National Merit Scholarship Finalist, you highlight exceptional academic achievement, a distinctions you can use to apply for other merit scholarships and to elevate your college applications.

In fact, there are many schools and entities that award merit scholarships to students who show distinction on the PSAT. The College Board maintains a list of scholarship partners where students and guardians can find links to more information about eligibility and how to apply.

What's the Difference Between the SAT and PSAT?

The PSAT, aka Preliminary SAT, is just that, a junior version of the SAT, making the SAT and PSAT very similar.

As such, the PSAT is nearly identical to the SAT.

• Compared to the SAT, the PSAT has five fewer questions in reading and ten fewer in math, and it takes about 15 minutes less.
• While the SAT and the rival ACT are both equally respected for use in college admissions, PSAT scores are not used for admissions.
• Scoring high enough on the PSAT/NMSQT can earn you academic honors, as a National Merit Scholarship recipient or National Merit Scholarship Finalist (US residents and US citizens living abroad only).

For a more nuanced comparison of the SAT and PSAT, be sure to check this resource:

SAT vs. PSAT: Key Differences and Essential Insights for Students

What’s the Difference Between the PSAT/NMSQT, the PSAT 10, and the PSAT 8/9?

The PSAT is really a cluster of related tests, with slightly different functions and names, which can be a source of confusion.

PSAT/NMSQT

You might think of this as the standard version of the PSAT, the version of the PSAT most people mean when they say “PSAT.” The PSAT/NMQST (short for Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test) is administered in the fall of junior year.

Only the PSAT/NMQST qualifies students for a National Merit Scholarship.

PSAT 10

The PSAT 10 is identical to the PSAT/NMSQT in content and format, but it’s administered in grade ten instead of grade eleven. It does NOT qualify you for consideration as a National Merit Scholar.

PSAT 8/9

So what the heck is the PSAT 8/9? You can think of it as a junior version of the PSAT 10 — it’s shorter than the PSAT 10 / PSAT-NMQST with five fewer reading questions, ten fewer in math, and four fewer in the writing and language section. It is also scored on a different scale, 240–1440.

The other main difference between PSAT 8/9 and the other two PSAT’s is that the PSAT 8/9 is administered to 8th and 9th graders, over the course of the school year, with no fixed administration date.

Expert Tips for When and Why To Take the PSAT

PSAT 8/9

While it may seem like college is light years away when you’re in eighth grade — or the equivalent grade level as an international student — being able to leap frog a lower level course and start 9th grade in a higher level course, such as a higher level foreign language course or a more accelerated level math course, can help you get onto a more advanced track, enabling you to take higher level courses each year and achieve at levels that would be out of reach if you started high school at a lower level.

For this reason, taking the PSAT as early as 8th or 9th grade can be useful as a catalyst for accelerating academic growth and progress.

Both the process of preparing for the test, and insights you gain from your PSAT score, can motivate you to achieve more in high school and guide course selections to that end. By starting early in high school to build a stronger academic resume, you'll be more likely to stand out in a highly competitive admissions landscape down the road.

Think of it kind of like a parent aspiring to raise an Olympic athlete — they’re going to try and find their young athlete opportunities for early training and preparation. Equipping yourself to stand out for admission to a very selective university is not that different. Seizing opportunities for academic planning and growth in lower grades sets a foundation for a more rewarding college journey.

Crimson Education offers a variety of resources and services for early academic preparation that are ideal for younger college-bound students, including Crimson Rise and the Crimson Global Academy.

Regardless of what kinds of academic opportunities you have locally, you're likely to find Crimson advisors can help you access top-notch opportunities aligned with a personalized approach to your college journey, connecting you with a global network of exceptional educators and college-bound peers — motivated scholars just like you!

PSAT 10

The PSAT 10 doesn’t qualify students for the National Merit Scholarship program but offers a great way to get feedback on areas for academic growth. By building on your PSAT 10 performance — and with input from counselors, teachers, and tutors — you're likely to improve your PSAT/NMSQT score as you also lay a solid foundation for acing the SAT (or ACT).

All that said, the value of taking the PSAT 10 can depend on each student’s individual circumstances and goals.

Reach out to your high school guidance counselor for input, or sign up for a free feedback session with a Crimson Education strategist.

PSAT/NMSQT

Your PSAT/NMSQT feedback will only be useful to inform your SAT or ACT test prep if you've aligned test dates strategically, leaving a sufficient time window for study and review. You'll want to have enough time between your PSAT/NMSQT test and your anticipated SAT/ACT test to execute a solid test preparation plan.

It's also important to remember that if you are a US student or US student living abroad and want to be in the running for the National Merit Scholarship or qualify for distinction as a NMS Finalist, you must take the PSAT/NMSQT.

In general, if you have strong academic preparation and your goals include trying to be a competitive applicant at highly selective colleges and universities, taking the PSAT/NMSQT and shooting for that high-range score could be a fairly straightforward way to get double the returns on your effort: adding extra flair to your academic resume while also honing your test skills before taking the more high-stakes SAT or ACT.

Final Thoughts

Since a PSAT score isn’t used for college admissions, it's understandable that students and guardians will wonder if there are good reasons to take the PSAT.

Now you know there really are several good reasons to consider taking the test. You also have some insights into how different PSAT tests might support different stages of your college journey.

In addition, since the PSAT is “low stakes,” there aren’t many compelling reasons not to take it. So, why knock yourself deciding whether it’s worth it or not? You could just reckon that it makes more sense to take the PSAT than not to, using it as one more way to assess your academic strengths and gaps, to practice for the SAT or ACT, and to get connected with the College Board and its network of colleges and scholarship offerings.

For more guidance on standardized testing, or to learn about elite PSAT/SAT/ACT tutoring, or other admissions goals, schedule a free feedback session with a friendly Crimson Education advisor today. We can't wait to hear about your college journey and discuss how our team can help you be among the top applicants to your dream school!

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