Preparing for the PSAT / NMSQT Exam
Getting Started
By Matthew Bullington
One of the earliest efforts you can make to towards the completion of a successful college application is to prepare for and take the PSAT. The Preliminary SAT, or PSAT, not only serves to prepare you to take the SAT, but also is the qualifying exam for the National Merit Scholarship (hence the exam’s secondary name, the National Merit Scholarship
Qualifying Test, or NMSQT). There are a large number of scholarship dollars riding on the results of this test (especially if you consider it in conjunction with the SAT) so this is an important exam to know about and prepare for, so let’s get started!
First off, you have to understand an exam in order to adequately prepare for it. So what is the structure of the PSAT? The PSAT is designed to closely resemble the full SAT in both content and structure. It is a multiple choice test consisting of three parts on mathematics, critical reading, and writing. Each part is individually scored on a scale ranging from 20 (lowest) to 80 (highest), for a maximum combined score of 240 (compared to the SAT’s 2400). To see a layout of the individual section topics and number of questions, click here. The exam is also shorter in length than the standard SAT exam, with a five sections that are to be complete in two hours and 10 minutes (compared to the ten sections on the SAT that are to be completed in three hours and 45 minutes). Note that these times do not include breaks or registration, so you should count on the PSAT taking a total of three hours.
You can take the PSAT any year of high-school, however it only qualifies you for the National Merit Scholarship competition when taken your Junior year. It is only offered in October of every year, and is only offered through public and private high-schools. For homeschoolers, this means you will have to contact the principal or a counselor at a local school that administers the exam and arrange to take the test at that high-school. Because of this it is recommended that you make these arrangements well in advance of the test date, preferably in the spring of your sophomore year (at the latest by June). To find a searchable list of schools offering the PSAT near you, click here.
So how do you study for the exam? Like most standardized exams, a substantial amount of your performance is unfortunately due to your test-taking abilities. This means that while you might be a proficient reader, you may not score well on the critical reading section. The PSAT is a test to see how well you take the PSAT. This means that, for most individuals, active preparation will be necessary to succeed. Fortunately there are plenty of materials out there to help you with this. My recommendation would be that you primarily purchase SAT study guides, stretching your resources as far as possible by studying for two tests with the same materials (this is, after all, the Preliminary SAT). Purchase a couple of good books on the SAT, and possibly one book on the PSAT, and complete them!
There are also several websites with free, full length exams, as well as free questions to study from each section. I have put together a List of Recommended PSAT Resources, which you should look into. The important thing is to start early and make test preparation a habit. Incorporate it into your daily school routine throughout your Sophomore (and even Freshman) year, and you will be able to approach this first, important step towards a successful college application adequately prepared and with the proper attitude! You can do this!
Matthew
