Donna Cox
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QUESTION: Does my child have to prep for PSATs?
Many schools have their Sophomores take the PSAT for practice, just to get their feet wet. The Sophomore year PSAT results mean very little and count for nothing. So no prepping is required or advised for that one. Most schools advise all their Juniors to take the PSAT for a couple of reasons. First, it IS good practice for the SAT - although shorter and essay-less, it is as difficult and has roughly the same format as the "real" SAT. Second, the Junior-year PSAT is also the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test; in other words, it is your student's showing on the Junior-year PSAT that determines his/her eligibility for National Merit recognition. In states such as Massachusetts, New York and Minnesota, which are known for the high quality of their educational systems, it is more difficult to attain National Merit ranking, because that ranking depends on how your student compares to others in his/her own state. So, should your student prep for the PSAT? If (s)he took the PSAT as a Sophomore and scored 200 or above, or if (s)he is in the top ten in his/her class and therefore has a good chance at ranking in the top one-half of one percent, then some prepping may just mean the difference between "almost" making National Merit status and getting a Letter of Commendation or even higher, and that just may mean some merit scholarship money, either from the National Merit folks themselves or from the colleges to which these students apply. There is still merit scholarship money out there, and wouldn't it be nice to have some colleges offering money to your child?
CTG does have a PSAT prep program for high-ranking Juniors-to-be. The PSAT is given in October, so the summer before Junior year is the best time to undertake PSAT prep. Call or email us for more information.
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FAQs SAT and ACT: What's the difference?
Which is better for my child?
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