What is the PSAT?

Hey there, kiddies! Today's topic is sort of a boring one, so I apologize ahead of time, but it is an integral part of your high school career.

The PSAT is an exam you take in October of 9th, 10th, and 11th grade. It is created by the CollegeBoard, the same people who make the SAT and AP Exams. At Mater, the PSAT is mandatory in 9th and 10th grade, but you need to sign up to take it Junior year (which I highly recommend!!).

PSAT stands for Preliminary SAT, and that is exactly what it is. The PSAT is a shorted, slightly easier version of the SAT. There are three section: reading, writing, and math. They're each scored individually on a scale of 8-38, and you also receive an overall average score.

This exam is very useful because it gives you a sneak peek of what the SAT is like, and when it comes to standardized exams being familiar with the structure of the questions is key to doing well. Now, the PSAT is just a preview. Just because your PSAT scores in Freshman year are not what you wanted does not mean you will do poorly on the SAT in your Junior and Senior year. My PSAT scores were nothing special; my SAT scores were definitely much better, for example.

When you take the PSAT, you become eligible for the National Merit Scholarship Program and the National Hispanic Recognition Program. These are two scholarships where the winner is selected based on scores. Each year, they created an index score (by adding the scores of all three sections) and select semifinalists and finalists based on that score. These are very selective and prestigious scholarships. Winning them is not impossible but it is pretty difficult.

So, next October when it comes time to take the PSAT, take it seriously and put forth maximum effort. I know standardized exams are the worst, but the PSAT is only a few hours long, and it's important to have a baseline of what your scores look like. If you want more information, feel free to reach out to any of the mentors or visit the PSAT's official website --> https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/psat-nmsqt-psat-10.

All the best,

Laura