Who should take the PSAT?
Sophomores looking to get an early start and juniors who want
extended preparation for the SAT should prepare for the upcoming
October PSAT.
Will my SAT score rise if I take the PSAT as a sophomore and
junior?
YES! Taking the PSAT can help raise your SAT score. Based on
the recent College Board SAT 2006 report, students who took the
PSAT in their sophomore and junior years scored a combined 233
points higher than students who did not take the PSAT at all.
- Students who did not take the PSAT at all scored an average
of 1407 on SAT.
- Students who took the PSAT their sophomore and junior year
scored an average of 1640 on SAT—233 points
higher than those who didn't take the PSAT!
- Students who took the PSAT their junior year scored an
average of 1513 on SAT—127 points higher than those who didn't
take the PSAT.
This new data shows how much practice—especially the
invaluable practice of taking the PSAT—will improve your SAT
score.
What's so important about the PSAT?
Taking—and preparing for—the PSAT can help you:
There are many good reasons to take the PSAT, or Preliminary
SAT, in your sophomore and junior years of high school: It's an
important first step in the college admissions process, so make
sure you're fully prepared and familiar with the test. Thorough
preparation and a high PSAT score will boost your confidence for
the SAT—and help you get the higher score you need.
Think of the PSAT as an opportunity to gauge how well you'll
do on the SAT and compare your skill level with students
nationwide. This preparation will build and strengthen your
skills for long-term success. And a high PSAT score can help you
qualify for National Merit Scholarships and other awards granted
to high-scoring juniors by the National Merit Scholarship
Corporation and other corporations, organizations, and
colleges.
What's on the PSAT?
Like the SAT, the PSAT doesn't ask you to recall specific
information from your course work, such as dates in history;
instead, it tests the critical reading, math problem-solving, and
writing skills that you've developed in school. Learn more about
the
structure and content of the PSAT.
Will a bad PSAT score hurt my college applications?
The PSAT is not a criterion for college admission, so taking
the test can only help you. It's an opportunity to learn more
about your academic strengths and weaknesses as well as a chance
to earn scholarship money for college. Take the PSAT in your
sophomore and junior years to take advantage of all that a high
score can offer.
Get ready for the PSAT and the SAT with Kaplan's PSAT/SAT
for Sophomores and Juniors.
