PSAT Junior Year benefits?

Parents Forum
1

My S took the PSAT in 10th grade. His score was good enough to get African American College Board Recognition (which I think is automatic if you filled out the form they sent people with qualifying scores and have at least a 3.5 GPA.) His score will for sure go up if he takes it again, but I can’t see it hitting National Merit level. Is there any reason for him to take it again in October (junior year) that I am missing?

2

Has he done/will he do any additional test prep between now and October? (On the theory that this might help him get “over the hump”.)

The National Merit Scholarship Corporation’s website states that “[a]lthough Commended Students [i.e., students who are not NMSF] do not continue in the competition for National Merit Scholarships, some of these students do become candidates for Special Scholarships sponsored by corporations and businesses.” So I guess the question is whether your son might qualify for a scholarship if he is a Commended Student vs. NMSF/NMF.

3

I can’t quite figure out what the levels are. Is there a selection index for Commended? My guess is he doesn’t have time to study and ends up with an index of 200.

4

I don’t know whether this link might help give you an idea:

5

Here is an updated link:

6

I am so right on the line. He has a conflict the day of the test, so unless there is some benefit I am missing, I don’t think its worth it. Are there benefits if you do not get commended?

7

Mostly just the experience of taking a standardized test in the actual test environment, preparing for the SAT.

8

Probably not. And, depending on the schools you are applying to, even being NMF may not confer any benefits; it is sort of an ad hoc situation with respect to scholarships.

I think that @RichinPitt probably has a good take on it.

9

One last thought (and not directly on topic, but it came to mind): In my/my children’s experience, students usually do better on either the SAT or the ACT. If your son hasn’t taken the ACT (or done any test prep involving the ACT), it might be worth thinking about, if you can swing it.