<p>Where I live, only the Junior year PSAT counts for National Merit consideration -- the earlier rounds are just practice. PSAT is taken in Oct., then many Juniors will sign up for the SATs in Jan., Mar., May, or June (in some cases depending whether they have AP exams in May; May/June is a good time to schedule an SAT II Subject Test after just completing a class that relates to the subject of the SAT II exam). Some Juniors take the SATs in Dec. but that's discouraged around here. Then Senior year, many students decide to take the SATs again in Oct. or Nov., or may need to get another SAT II Subject test into the mix.</p>
<p>If he's applying ED, he may want to take the SAT I and some SAT IIs on two test dates in the spring of his Junior year, and have the option to take it again in Oct. of his Senior year. Remember to factor in that you cannot take the SAT I and SAT II on the same test day.</p>