Despite the prominence of the SAT as a cultural institution, I find that the PSAT doesn’t seem to get quite as much attention (unlike the SAT, for example, there certainly haven’t been any movies made about the PSAT).  When I first heard I was required to take the PSAT, I responded in a characteristically mature and scholarly way:  “Aw man, do I HAVE to?” But as I found out, the PSAT is a fairly significant part of the college prep process.  Most importantly, the PSAT provides a fantastic opportunity for students to achieve their academic—and financial—goals!

Designed as a joint project between the College Board, makers of the SAT, and the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, the PSAT—or Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test—acts a precursor to the actual SAT.  Just like the SAT, the PSAT tests critical reading skills, math problem-solving skills, and writing skills; they’re even in the same basic format.  Fortunately for test takers, the PSAT is half as long as its four hour sibling, the SAT, and doesn’t count towards college admission.  In this sense, the PSAT provides the perfect opportunity for a high school student to engage the SAT material directly, without the potential pressure of affecting admission to his or her college or university of choice.  As many high school students anxiously anticipate the SAT and its bearing on their future, the PSAT seems to be the best of both worlds: less pressure on the test taker while still providing rewards for achievement and excellent practice for the real thing.  It turns out that this practice is demonstrably important: studies show that PSAT test takers score on average 233 points more on their SATs than those who fail to take the PSAT.

Not only does the PSAT provide low-stress, firsthand academic practice for the SAT, it also qualifies students for National Merit Scholarships based on their performance. The National Merit Scholarship Corporation selects the top 50,000 PSAT test-takers to compete for their tiered scholarship program, and even those who don’t end up as finalists are still considered by a number of other scholarship-giving entities.  To add to the excitement, more than 30,000 of those selected receive letters of commendation to include along with their college applications! With college tuition rising consistently across the nation, the PSAT provides a critical opportunity for students to get the additional financial aid and assistance that so many college-bound students need.

Between the potential for effective SAT preparation, the enhancement of students’ applications and the opportunity for scholarships, the PSAT provides an excellent opportunity for high school students to help themselves on the road to getting into their dream college.  Kaplan makes prepping for the PSAT a no-brainer by providing it for free through the combo PSAT/SAT or PSAT/ACT course!  The combo class provides early SAT prep while covering all the basics for the PSAT.  Prepping for the PSAT lessens the stress of the SAT and the PSAT is almost fun to take! (Okay, maybe not exactly.  It’s still a standardized test, but compared to the SAT, it’s a trip to the beach! Heck, I would even bring sunglasses and an umbrella.)*

* Please consult the testing location for the permissibility of sunglasses and an umbrella.