The PSAT is a practice test for college entrance exams and offers scholarship opportunities. It has three sections: critical reading, writing, and math. Scores are used to determine National Merit Semifinalists. Students can prepare with test materials and tutors, and guidance counselors can provide more information.
The Preliminary SAT®, or PSAT®, is a test offered to freshmen, sophomores, and high schoolers in the United States. It functions as a practice test for future college entrance exams and provides students with the opportunity to qualify for scholarships provided by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC). The College Board, a nationally recognized educational organization, creates, administers and evaluates the PSAT® exam. Most students take the test in their high school on a set date in October.
Most students take the PSAT® exam to prepare for the SAT and any college courses. The multiple-choice test is divided into three main sections: critical reading, writing and mathematics. Students are allotted 30 minutes to complete the writing section and 50 minutes each for math and critical reading. Students are expected to understand short reading passages, identify and correct grammatical errors, describe graphs, and solve problems in elementary math, algebra, and geometry.
There are a total of 125 questions on the PSAT® exam and the scoring procedure is very similar to that used on the SAT®. Each section is scored on a scale of 20 to 80 and each question is weighted evenly. To discourage guessing, students are not penalized for skipping questions, while a quarter point is deducted for a wrong answer. Exam scores are adjusted to reflect the difficulty of a particular test.
The NMSC uses PSAT® exam scores to determine semi-finalists for their scholarship program. The society recognizes individuals who score in or around the 99th percentile of all youth taking a given test. Such individuals are considered National Merit Semifinalists, a designation that is highly attractive for a college application. Semifinalists submit personal essays and letters of recommendation to be considered for finalist status. Finalists are eligible for scholarships provided by the NMSC and private companies.
Students can prepare for the PSAT® exam by studying test preparation materials, working with tutors, and taking practice tests provided by the College Board and private companies. Many bookstores, libraries, and online sources offer test preparation guides to familiarize students with the format of the test and offer tips on how to manage time. Tutors and practice tests help students improve on problem areas and prepare for the types of questions on the actual exam.
A high school student who is interested in learning more about the PSAT® exam can speak to his or her guidance counselor. Consultants are generally very familiar with testing and have access to many helpful resources. They can explain the exam in detail and inform students how and when they can register to take it.
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