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PSAT

PSAT TESTING

The PSAT, or Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, is a standardized test administered by the College Board in the United States. The test is open to sophomores and juniors, however the majority of testers are typically juniors.  The exam is digital and will be given at Kirkwood High School on Oct 15, 2024. Registration for the PSAT will open on September 4th and will close on September 20th. There is a $20 fee associated with this exam.  After KHS registration, students will need to create a college board account.

On test day, your device must be fully charged; it will need to stay on for 3–4 hours. We also recommend you bring your device’s power cord or a portable charger. Students can expect to receive an email from College Board alerting them their scores are available sometime between late October through mid-November, 2024.

Once scores have been released, here is a video helping to explain the PSAT score report. 

Key Aspects of the PSAT

  1. Purpose: The PSAT serves several purposes:
  •  It provides practice for the SAT, which is a standardized test used for college admissions in the United States.
  • It helps students gauge their readiness for the SAT and identify areas where they may need improvement.
  • It serves as the qualifying test for the National Merit Scholarship Program, which awards scholarships based on students' PSAT scores.
  1. Sections: The PSAT/NMSQT consists of three sections:
  • Reading: Measures students' reading comprehension skills through passages and questions.
  • Writing and Language: Tests students' ability to revise and edit written passages.
  • Math: Includes both calculator and no-calculator sections, assessing math skills including algebra, geometry, and data analysis.
  1. Scoring: The PSAT is scored on a scale from 320 to 1520 (for the PSAT/NMSQT). Scores are reported for each section as well as a total score.
  2. National Merit Scholarship Program: Students who take the PSAT/NMSQT in their junior year may qualify for recognition and potential scholarships through the National Merit Scholarship Program based on their scores.
  3. Administration: The PSAT is administered once a year in October at schools across the United States. Students register for the PSAT through their schools, the test is supervised and proctored by school administrators, and there is a fee associated with exam registration.

Overall, the PSAT serves as an important step in the college preparation process, providing students with practice for the SAT and offering potential scholarship opportunities through the National Merit Scholarship Program for high achievers.

PSAT Study Sessions