Where can I take the PSAT if my school doesn't offer it?

Students with scheduling conflicts at their own schools and students who wouldn't otherwise have access to the tests - such as homeschooled students and international students - can look on the College Board's website (www.collegeboard.org) to find a nearby school offering the PSAT.

What happens if my school doesn't offer the PSAT?

If your child's school does not offer the PSAT to its students, your child can take the test at another local high school. Use the College Board's PSAT High School Search Tool to find a school in your area that administers the PSAT, then contact that school to inquire about test dates and procedures.

Do all schools offer PSAT?

Unfortunately, not all schools administer the PSAT.

If your high school isn't going to offer the PSAT, you may take the test at another nearby school that is offering it.

Can I take the PSAT at home?

Yes, but the test must be administered at a local high school or approved location.

Can you go to college without taking the PSAT?

The PSAT is not used directly by colleges and universities when they make their college admissions decisions. Your acceptance or rejection into college is much more dependent on the SAT or ACT , so the short answer is “no,” colleges don't care at all about the PSAT.

Ask Admissions: What if my school doesn't offer AP or IB classes?

Is it OK to skip the PSAT?

Do I (does my sophomore) need to take the PSAT? No. The PSAT (whether you're a sophomore or a junior, in fact) is not required, and deciding not to take it will not have any negative effects on your college admissions decisions.

How bad is it to miss the PSAT?

If you miss the PSAT, you may be able to take it on the alternate test day. If you miss all test days, however, you'll have to wait until the following year to take the test. If you're a junior in high school and miss the PSAT, you'll have to find other ways to prepare for the SAT or ACT.

How much does the PSAT cost?

PSAT 8/9, PSAT 10, and SAT School Day Fees

Schools pay the following fee: SAT School Day test registration: $60 each. PSAT 10 test registration: $18 each. PSAT 8/9 test registration: $14 each.

Can the PSAT be taken online?

According to College Board, the PSAT/NMSQT is being offered in a digital and adaptive format starting in the fall of 2023 “so that students who will be taking the SAT as juniors in the spring of 2024 have an opportunity to familiarize themselves with the digital testing experience before taking the digital SAT.”

Is the SAT harder than the PSAT?

The PSAT is a practice SAT, usually taken by juniors, whereas the SAT is a college entrance exam. The SAT is slightly more challenging than the PSAT. While the PSAT is scored between 320 and 1520, the SAT is scored between 400 and 1600. It may cost up to $18 to take the PSAT, whereas the fee for taking the SAT is $55.

Where can I take a PSAT?

PSAT registration takes place through local high schools, not testing centers. The College Board school search tool identifies schools offering the PSAT.

How do homeschoolers take the PSAT?

Where Do Homeschoolers Take the PSAT? Unfortunately, your student cannot take the PSAT at home. However, homeschoolers can take the PSAT at a local high school on one of several dates throughout October. To find a local school where your homeschool student can take the PSAT, visit CollegeBoard.com.

When should my child take the PSAT?

Most students take the PSAT/NMSQT once—in 11th grade. Some schools also offer it to students in 10th grade. They can take it only once per school year. Some scholarship programs only look at the junior year PSAT/NMSQT score.

What to do if you can't take the PSAT?

You may be able to take the PSAT/NMSQT on another day or at another high school. If the PSAT/NMSQT testing window has closed, write to NMSC as soon as possible but no later than April 1, 2024, to request another route of entry to the 2025 National Merit Scholarship Program.

Does the PSAT really matter?

For the vast majority of students, the PSAT is simply a dress rehearsal for the SAT. While it's true there are a tiny percentage (around 3%) of 11^th graders who will take the PSAT and qualify for the National Merit Scholarship, it's important to remember that PSAT scores are not used in the college admissions process.

Can I take the PSAT somewhere else?

If you have a scheduling conflict on the day your school is offering the exam, it might be possible for you to sit for the test at another location. Contact your counselor to make arrangements for testing at a school offering the exam on a date other than the one selected by your school.

Can PSAT be taken outside of school?

Students who are homeschooled or plan to take the PSAT 8/9 at a school they do not normally attend, are considered "away students." They will not automatically be included in the registration file the school completes and will need to reach out to participating schools or district offices as soon as possible in order ...

Can you take the PSAT anytime?

Depending on the school, a 10th grader could take either the PSAT/NMSQT in the fall or the PSAT 10 in the spring. The PSAT/NMSQT can only be taken once per school year, and schools can offer it to students in 10th or 11th grade. In fact, many schools offer it to both grades.

How rare is a 1500 PSAT?

If you're in 11th grade, anything between a 1490 and 1520 places you in the top 1%. About 1.5 million students in each grade take the PSAT each year, so the 99th percentile puts you among the top 15,000 test takers.

Is 1200 PSAT good?

A good PSAT score is between 1210 and 1520, which would put you in the top 10% of test takers. The average score earned on the PSAT is about 920, and a “perfect” score on the PSAT would be the maximum score of 1520.

Is a 1400 PSAT good?

Any PSAT score in the range of 1450-1500 is also a tremendous achievement, and an early indication that a student is academically prepared to pursue applications to top-ranked universities and colleges in the US. If you score between a 1400 and a 1450 you should also be proud.

Is it better to guess or skip on the PSAT?

While this statement was true a few years ago, it is no longer true. Older versions of the PSAT had a wrong-answer penalty so that students who guessed on questions would not have an advantage over students who left questions blank. This penalty has been removed; make sure you never leave a PSAT question blank!

Should my 10th grader take the PSAT?

Most test-takers should plan on taking the PSAT/NMSQT their sophomore year. While you can't qualify for the National Merit Scholarship in 10th grade, you can gain valuable experience to prepare for your junior year when you can qualify for the scholarship.

What happens if you are sick on PSAT day?

If you got sick during the test or if something else happened that may have negatively affected your score, speak with your counselor regarding your options. Remember that while the PSAT is important for National Merit Scholarships, it also provides terrific practice in preparing to take the SAT® or ACT® down the road.

What happens if you don't take the PSAT in 10th grade?

No. The PSAT in 9th or 10th grade is just for practice, although a high score can qualify you for some great free summer programs at top schools. However, the PSAT in October of your Junior year is also the National Merit Scholarship Qualification Test (NMSQT), and that is kind of a big deal.