The PSAT is debated as a useful test for college admission, but can lead to scholarships and National Merit recognition. It’s less demanding than the SAT and doesn’t affect future scores. The ACT is an alternative, but some schools don’t require either test. Taking preparatory tests can help determine career paths and some schools offer grants for low-income students.
The question of whether parents should encourage their children to take the Preliminary School Aptitude Test or PSAT is open to differing opinions. Some people are strongly in favor of children taking this test because it is not a measure most colleges use to grant admission, but it can be used to obtain scholarships. Others feel that this test is a relative waste of time and that time would be better spent if children prepare for the SAT reasoning test, which can sometimes be taken as early as 9th grade or freshman year.
It can be said about both the SAT and PSAT that they measure academic aptitude up to a point, and both cost money to take; testing fees vary by year. Many people not only pay for the test, but also spend huge amounts of money on PSAT or SAT prep courses, and a huge industry has sprung up around these tests. The two tests are not the same. The SAT has a written part, unlike the PSAT, and also contains concepts from Algebra II. It’s over an hour longer than the pretest.
There are two big advantages to taking the lower level test. Scores from it are used to gain entry into the National Merit Scholarship Program, and if scores are very high, students may be able to compete for scholarships under this program. Many students don’t win a scholarship, but they might get recognition for their achievements, which can be listed on a resume. The other reason parents may prefer this test for kids is because it’s like a SAT test, albeit less demanding, and a good way to determine how much work a child might need to pass the SATs.
Some may ask why not just take the SAT and the answer is simple. When someone takes a SAT and sends scores elsewhere, all scores count. A very low score may diminish slightly later high scores, although some schools take into account progression in scoring. The PSAT can be taken without affecting your SAT scores, and that may be its most important purpose. It can be seen as an indicator of performance on the SAT (to some extent) without changing how future SAT scores are perceived.
It should be noted that not all schools evaluate your SAT score, and some recommend taking the ACT instead. The ACT has two preparatory tests. In middle school students take the EXPLORE test and can choose to take the PLAN in 9th or 10th grade, before taking the ACT. Since students from all over the United States are applying to college, many universities will accept both tests, but some require you to take a specific one.
There are some schools that require neither test, and if it applies solely to these, there’s little point in taking the test preparatory levels, unless the goal is scholarships. Those students who definitely plan not to attend a four-year college initially may not need the PSAT, and if they change their mind, they can take the SAT in their senior year. However, most students don’t know for sure what their career path is in 9th or 10th grade, and PLAN or PSAT can be a step that helps make that determination and sets students on a career path. Doing such a test certainly doesn’t hurt and could be considered very useful. Some schools have grants to pay for testing for students in poor economic circumstances.
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