Are you ready? Do you know if your student is registered and academically prepped to take on this challenge? Let’s discuss how to ensure you are registered for this important exam, and why your PSAT scores could make a difference.
When is the PSAT?
According to College Board’s own website, the PSAT will be offered on the following dates this year:
- Primary test day: Wednesday, October 12, 2022
- Saturday test day: October 15, 2022
- Alternate test day: Tuesday, October 25, 2022
These dates are coming up quickly! The fall semester tends to fill up with academic and extracurricular activities at the drop of an autumn leaf. Instead of succumbing to a state of overwhelm, let’s take a moment to reset.
How to ensure you register for the PSAT:
Many high schools proctor the PSAT exam on campus. Eligible students are in the 10th or 11th grade of high school (in advance of the standalone SAT exam). Sometimes, you can take the test earlier—ie, 8th or 9th grade—but it will only be for informational purposes. Only your 10th and 11th-grade results can factor into the PSAT scholarship competition (more on that below).
Keep an eye out for flyers, registration forms, or news from your school about upcoming test dates. Listen to your friends to see when they sign up. Most of all, ensure you sign up in advance so your student has time to review and prepare. If you worry about missing important deadlines, consider setting up a meeting with a college counselor to guide your overall application strategy.
Why does the PSAT matter so much?
The PSAT is a practice version of the SAT exam and is very similar in content and format. In addition, it also serves as a data metric for the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. For those who don’t know, you can win scholarship funds toward your college tuition if you score well! Earning this qualification is also impressive to potential colleges. These are a few reasons why you’ll want to take advantage of preparation materials, and give the test your best shot.
What if your school doesn’t offer the PSAT?
Don’t worry; you aren’t completely excluded from the exam and scholarship competition right off the bat. There is an alternate way to enter the NMSQT, and the steps to do so are not too complicated.
According to the NMSQT website, the National Merit Scholars Corporation (NMSC) allows students who miss entering the NMSQT for any extenuating reason to submit a request for consideration “no later than April 1 following the PSAT/NMSQT administration that was missed… Upon receiving and processing the request, NMSC will provide alternate entry materials, including instructions for program entry and a form that requires the signature of a school official.”
This request should be mailed to:
- National Merit Scholarship Corporation
- 1560 Sherman Avenue, Suite 200
- Evanston, IL 60201-4897
And should include:
- Your name and address
- The name and address of your high school
- The reason for missing the NMSQT (Here you can say that the school district that you attend does not offer the NMSQT entry for students).
However…
We would suggest sending the request as soon as possible. According to the NMSQT website, “The earlier NMSC receives the written request, the greater the student’s opportunities for meeting alternate entry requirements.”
Conclusion
For more tips and grounding information like this, contact the Empowerly enrollment team. Book an exploratory call to discuss what options would help your student thrive most. From essays to extracurricular development, we can help our students become the most successful versions of themselves. Join today!
