If you are a junior, you should plan to take the PSAT test in October. It’s offered at your school and you should check with your school counselor for the exact date, cost, and registration process. For juniors, the PSAT is the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (NMSQT). More to come on the NMSQT in a later email.
Sophomores may also take the PSAT. You will have to take the PSAT again as a junior to be considered for the National Merit Scholarship. However, it’s not bad to practice more than once in a low-stakes setting. Just know that the PSAT will not be used by colleges for admission purposes.
You might consider taking the actual SAT or ACT this fall. Taking the tests does cost time and money so discuss whether you want to take a test in the fall or wait. You’ll do better on the math section of either test if you’ve already completed Geometry and most of Algebra II. If you decide to take the test in the fall, it’s not too early to register for SAT or ACT test.
- ACT registration is available at www.actstudent.org/
- SAT registration can be found at www.sat.collegeboard.org/register/
- Check the SAT schedule for dates for Subject tests – some colleges require them.
Take Action
Don’t stress! Keep ahead of the game by adding your tests to GuidedPath Testing schedule. GuidedPath also has all the ACT and SAT test dates, including subject test dates, for you to choose from. Test requirements, such as SAT subject tests, are listed as part of the College Information.
You will receive automatic reminders of registration dates and upcoming tests. Your parents can be included in the automatic reminders too – so they know you are on staying on top of registration dates and test dates.