Blogged by College Explorations from Nancy Griesemer and Lauren Kahn from Lone Star Ed Consulting
High school sophomores and juniors who took the
PSAT
last October should be receiving their results any day now. According
to the College Board, the tests have already been scored, analyzed, and
are making their way to high school mailboxes this very minute.
And
this is great news, because unlike any other service provided by our
friends in Princeton, the PSAT offers an amazing amount of
FREE information and advice all packaged together in the materials test-takers automatically receive. So whatever you do,
don’t trash the packet!
If you’re worried about test results, keep in mind that the “P” in PSAT stands for
“preliminary” not
“predictive.”
These scores do not predict how well you will do in college and they
certainly say very little about how good a student you are. They
represent a single snapshot in time and sometimes that picture is
neither flattering nor accurate. So, do not ascribe too much value to
the scores alone.
Also, be aware that colleges do not use these
scores in the admissions process. Unless you happen to score in the
very highest percentile of test-takers, the test results have no
usefulness to anyone but you, and they will never be reported to
colleges.
So what is good about taking the PSAT?
1) Going back to what was
suggested earlier, the College Board invested considerable time,
thought, and money into developing a package of materials to be
presented along with scores. And it’s all provided
FREE of charge to test-takers only.
First, every student who takes the PSAT receives an actual copy of the test booklet along with a complete
Score Report containing
the correct answer, your answer, and the level of difficulty for each
question on the test. This information is key to pinpointing
test-taking strengths and weaknesses, and you really should go over
your results carefully.
As part of the
Score Report you
will also receive personalized feedback on academic skills and will be
directed to two or three areas that might need some improvement as
indicated by your answers on the test. If you’re thinking about signing
up for an SAT prep class, this information can be extremely helpful in
determining what kind of program or intensity level would be best for
you.
2) You might actually be able to earn some scholarship money from your test results.
Juniors (Are you a National Merit Semi-Finalist?)
Information from nationalmerit.org.
Of the 1.5 million entrants, some 50,000 with the highest
PSAT/NMSQT® Selection Index scores (critical reading + mathematics + writing skills scores) qualify for recognition in the National Merit
®
Scholarship Program. In April following the fall test administration,
high-scoring participants from every state are invited to name two
colleges or universities to which they would like to be referred by
NMSC. In September, these high scorers are notified through their
schools that they have qualified as either a Commended Student or
Semifinalist.
To qualify for the National Merit Semi-Finalist program, you need to meet the following qualifications:
- take the PSAT/NMSQT® in the specified year of the high school program and no later than the third year in grades 9 through 12, regardless of grade classification or educational pattern; score in the top 1% of all students taking the PSAT during the particular year entering in the program.
- be
enrolled as a high school student, progressing normally toward
graduation or completion of high school, and planning to enroll full
time in college no later than the fall following completion of high
school; and
- be a citizen of the United States; or be a
U.S. lawful permanent resident (or have applied for permanent
residence, the application for which has not been denied) and intend to
become a U.S. citizen at the earliest opportunity allowed by law.
Did you miss taking the PSAT as a junior? Guess what, you can still enter the competition. See below.
A
student who does not take the
PSAT/NMSQT because of illness, an
emergency, or other extenuating circumstance, but meets all other
requirements for NMSC program participation, may still be able to enter
the competitions. The student or a school official must
write to NMSC as soon as possible
after the PSAT/NMSQT administration to request information about
procedures for entry to NMSC competitions by alternate testing. The
earlier NMSC receives the written request, the greater the student's
opportunities for meeting alternate entry requirements. To be
considered, a request must be postmarked
no later than March 1 following the PSAT/NMSQT administration that was missed. NMSC will provide alternate entry materials including an entry form that requires the signature of a school official.
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