INFORMATION: THE PSAT
The College Board PSAT (Preliminary Scholastic Assessment Test) is offered only once each year in mid-October. Individual high schools choose a Wednesday or Saturday test date, register students for the test, and send home a single sheet indicating where and when a student needs to appear and what to bring. Results (along with actual examination book with scratch-work, and copy of correct and student’s answers) become available in mid-December.
Students may take the test yearly (and many schools suggest starting in the sophomore year), but only the results of the junior-year administration determine National Merit Scholarship Qualification. Critical Reading (verbal), Math, and Writing (Grammar) scores (each on a 20 to 80 scoreboard) are equally weighted to determine a Selection Index Number.
The PSAT and SAT are exceedingly similar in content and format with three specific differences: The PSAT lacks:
1) The 25-minute written essay which the SAT contains.
2) The experimental section which the SAT contains. The experimental section does not count toward score. (A student’s efforts on that section are only used to develop future SAT questions However, it does provide greater fatigue factor on the SAT.).
3) Several Algebra II questions that appear on the SAT.