Each autumn, Sophomores and Juniors from around the US crowd into their high school to take the PSATs. The PSAT is a standardized test that focuses on both math and English. Each is scored on a scale from 160-760. This means that the highest a person can score is 1520. This standardized test is in preparation for the SATs which is an exam that factors into college admission decisions by most colleges and universities. However, some colleges and universities have created test-optional policies where students aren’t required to submit an SAT score when applying.
Why take the PSATs at all? This is a question that we asked 10th-grade student, Sia Parekh after she took the PSATs herself, “I would say it’s helpful to get an insight of where you are in your preparation journey for the SATs and would recommend sophomores and juniors to take it if they want to take the SATs in the future”. As Parekh said, there are many proven benefits of taking this practice test. To begin, unlike an SAT score, a PSAT score is not used in college admissions. There is no pressure because the PSATs are for students, and the students alone benefit. The PSATs can help students get used to the formatting and experience of taking the SATs. This is practice for the SAT exam and can help students get a sense of their future test scores. After taking the PSATs, students can see how they scored in the two sections, reading and writing, and math. Within these sections, students can also see different subcategories that the questions fall under and how they did within those subcategories. This information can bring to light a student’s personal target areas that they can work on and practice for the SATs, and can also simply benefit any student because their results can help them find their academic strengths and weaknesses in general.
Another benefit of the PSATs is the National Merit Scholarship. National Merit Scholarships are only given out to 11th-grade test-takers. These scholarships are scored on a Selection Index, meaning that the range of test scores is from 48 to 228. To calculate a Selection Index score, students need to double their reading and writing scores, add it to their Math score, and then divide by ten. If a student scores 225-228 on the Selection Index, they are automatically guaranteed to be a National Merit Semifinalist. For Glen Rock High School 10th-grade students, the average PSAT score was 1052, which is above the national and state average. This means that when scoring into the National Merit Scholarship Program for 11th graders, it is more difficult in New Jersey than it might be in lower-scoring states. If a student is a finalist for the National Merit Program, then they can get an automatic full-ride scholarship to some schools.
The highschool journey and road to college can often feel overwhelming and almost like a race for highschool students. Many students compare test scores and grades to friends and peers. Although the PSAT can feel like just another test, it is beneficial for potential National Merit Scholarships, practice for the SATs, and for students to see their overall strengths and weaknesses.
