Most high-schoolers know about the SAT, and spend a considerable amount of time preparing for the test. Most will take the PSAT before sitting for the SAT, without doing anything else to prepare for the test. They make the mistake of believing that the PSAT is only a worthless practice test that college admissions offices ignore when assessing applications. While it’s true that the PSAT doesn’t carry as much weight as the ACT and SAT, it’s still important. Below, you will learn why your score on the PSAT is important.
*It can get you a National Merit Scholarship: The NMS corporation uses PSAT scores to select semifinalists. If you’re recognized by the NMS program, you’ll get a monetary reward, and you’ll have a greater chance of securing more scholarships, as well as institutional grants up to the full tuition price.
*It can indicate your SAT performance: The PSAT is a great way to learn the content, structure and process of taking the SAT, and it can give you a good idea of how well you’ll do on the real test. Your PSAT score can show your “weak areas”, regardless of your performance in a particular class. For instance, your A in English may not reflect your writing skills or vocabulary needed to pass the test. However, your score on the verbal portion can tell you how prepared you are for the test.
*It can boost your confidence: If you’re afraid of the unknown or you get anxious before taking a test, you may do poorly on the SAT the first time. However, if you do well in
*psat classes
*You’ll be at an advantage. Just as a pregame practice can help you help your team, a good score on the PSAT will help you do better on the SAT.
It’s a common mistake to underestimate the importance of the PSAT, but thankfully, it’s a mistake that can easily be corrected. The PSAT is an important step to get ready for the SAT, and if you work hard and take PSAT classes, you can get a head start and possibly a lucrative scholarship.
