<p>Okay so I guess my school paid for the PSAT fees of too many people (or something like that) and now they have 45 spots availible for Freshmen to take for free. I have the opportunity to take it in 3 weeks- should I? If I do, what is the best way for me to study for it in the nexy 3 weeks. (I know thats not much time, and it does't really matter what my PSAT is freshmen year, but I just found out today, and it seems like a good opportunity to see how I do.)</p>
<p>Of course it’s up to you but I’m not sure I would study. It is really just for practice if you take it your Fresh, or Soph. year. It might be nice to just see what your baseline score is and see how to study for next time. Only your Junior year score counts for National Merit.</p>
<p>There’s no harm in taking the PSAT as a freshman, I guess, but I really don’t see much value in it, either. I assume you already know how to bubble in the answers on an op scan answer sheet, right? But the test is given on a weekday morning when you’d have to be at school anyway, so it isn’t really going to cost you time or money.</p>
<p>I have never understood the benefit of taking a standardized test cold in order to “get a baseline,” but if you can really take the PSAT at no cost to you, this might at least be a rare case where there’s no down side to doing so. I don’t know what you’ll do with your baseline, but there’s no harm in it.</p>
<p>Well thanks for the advice guys, but you didn’t answer question #2, How do you recommend studying for it in the next (less than) three weeks.</p>
<p>My son is a National Merit Semifinalist. He took it for practice without studying during his sophomore year and studied before taking it his Junior year. He used old SAT tests. His score went up 12 points. I’ve heard some kids have increases of 20 or more points.</p>
<p>Just familiarize yourself with the format of the test and the types of questions on the test. The Official SAT Question of the Day ([The</a> Official SAT Question of the Day](<a href=“The SAT – SAT Suite | College Board”>SAT Practice and Preparation – SAT Suite | College Board)) and the rest of sat.collegeboard.com will do that for you.</p>
<p>Definitely take the test. It’ll give you an early, low-stress introduction to the SAT. Plus, if your school’s administration knows that you’re a proactive freshman who’s focused on doing well and going to college, that only helps your reputation.</p>
<p>My D took the PSAT Freshman year without studying, which is what I would suggest. The value in taking the test as a Freshman is not in the score but in you becoming familiar with the format of the Test.</p>
<p>Oh, I didn’t recommend a way to study because…well…what Longsx3 said.</p>
<p>If I were you, I would absolutely study for the PSAT. You are a freshman in HS, and you presumably have a relatively light courseload. Attempting to study for the PSAT in junior year isn’t very wise; many consider junior year to be the hardest year, with a ramped up courseload and college apps to contend with. </p>
<p>A good way to study for the PSAT would be getting a Gruber’s SAT book. Not the PSAT book, but the SAT book, since the Gruber’s PSAT book is a clone of the SAT book. Familiarize yourself with the format of the test, the types of questions asked, the vocabulary, and the grammar, and do your best :)! </p>
<p>I took the PSAT in freshman and sophomore years. I blew it off both times, and now I’m struggling to do well on my junior year PSAT (this is when it counts). I wish I had studied earlier.</p>
<p>^^ You have a point, but the PSAT is administered in mid October, which is almost always when the workload is still somewhat light and not as hard as it is towards the winter. </p>
<p>Definitely take the PSAT. It will introduce you to the test and reveal what you need to work on over the next 2 years before you take it for real as a junior.</p>
<p>I took it, got a so-so score. Overall, I think it was a beneficial experience for me and i’m more ready for this years. :)</p>
<p>In my son’s school all freshmen take the PSAT. I am in the don’t study at all camp because I think that gives you a purer idea of what it is you will need to study for the second and third time you take it.</p>
<p>I think it’s a good idea to take it. At my school Freshman, Sophomores, and Juniors are required to take it.</p>