Hello,
I know that 11th grade PSAT serves as a qualifying test for National Merit. Are the results for 9th and 10th grade PSAT used anywhere? Do they get reported anywhere?
Currently thinking whether my child should try PSAT in 9th grade (just for practice) or should he refrain from it because poor score may show up whenever we least expect it… Our tutor recommended to start taking PSAT in 9th grade to practice, but I want to make sure that poor scores won’t hurt my child later…
Any advice?
Thank you!
Only shared with your high school - no one else will ever see them.
Thank you for your fast reply!
Another words, it won’t hurt to take PSAT in 9th and 10th grades?
Nobody in future will ever request all PSAT scores?
Only psat taking at 11th grade is used to gauge for NM scholarship. My DS’ school require all students to take psat 9, 10, and 11 to help them assess their readiness for SAT. Poor PSAT scores have no impact on college admissions.
It doesn’t hurt anything! Take it - it’s great practice for when the test really counts.
One thing to note - our school puts every test score on the high school transcript. My student did the 10th grade practice test, and it showed up on his transcript. I asked the school to remove it which they did. Even if it had been left on the transcript, the colleges don’t care about a 9th or 10th grade PSAT. His transcript was so full, I thought removing it would make the valid scores easier to view.
Ouch! I am pretty sure my child will score poorly in 9th/10th grade. I definitely do not want the results to go on the transcript. Who in school will know that for sure?
Makemesmart, thank you. Yes, I know that only 11 grade score matters for NM. That is why I thought that extra practice in 9th and 10th grade would be good.
The registrar and/or counselor at the high school should know. Honestly, the colleges won’t care. My student had every year’s end exam and all ACT/SAT/PSAT scores listed. The transcript was 2 pages and just too long which is why I asked for it removed.
I don’t think it’s common to report PSAT on transcript.
^ I agree. I think our school was unusual in that respect.
I will double check with the school - to make sure.
Thank you!
It usually isn’t listed on the transcript - many schools don’t list test scores at all.
That said, even if a poor score from 9th grade is listed, if the scores improve over the next two years, there really is no hard - it shows progress made. I would actually be more concerned about a great score in 9th grade showing up if there is little to now improvement by 11th grade.
Also check what test your 9th grader is offered. There is a PSAT 8/9 designed specifically for 8th and 9th graders, with a top score of 72 on each section, and is offered at various times depending on the school. PSAT 10/NMSQT has a top score of 76 on each section.
I think a practice test for a practice test - which is what the PSAT 8/9 and 10 feel like - are super silly. They ARE used sometimes, though, for admissions to competitive academic programs. For example, some colleges use them as qualifying tests for high school scholars programs where high school students take college classes in HS or for competitive summer camps. If you don’t think your child would qualify or be interested in anything like that, there is no reason to take them. They required them at my daughter’s old school which I hated. I never managed to get it together to opt out.
These tests are teachable though, and the more students practice, the better they’ll do on the real one. And, the 11th grade one has money attached for those who seek it. Even if you’re not going for the full ride NMF schools, some more selective schools (eg, USC) give tuition breaks to NMF they admit. The pre-psat gives a student the information he/she needs to prep for the 11th grade PSAT.
We absolutely did the 10th grade practice test. It helps just understanding the testing environment and knowing what to expect for the 11th grade test. The possibility of winning a full-ride scholarship to college was worth sitting a few hours for a practice test.
@havenoidea you are right but it still kills me that the College Board has made a fortune from practice tests designed to prepare you for a practice test! The height of absurdity! And the kids hate it. My daughter was telling me how all of her friends saw their PSAT scores drop by as much as 100 points from their PSAT 10 scores which was a real kick in the face. Her did not go down from PSAT 10 but it was lover than her old SAT she took at the end of 9th grade. Her reading score was a full 100 points lower than her SAT score.
That’s because the PSAT10 is easier.
Our school takes the PSAT/NMQT in 10th and 11th; as did our prior HS. I don’t know anyone who didn’t have significant score growth.
I mean her actual SAT that she took early was 100 points higher than her PSAT which should have been harder than the PSAT. But I wonder what happened to her friends whose PSAT 10 was so much higher than their PSAT 11. Hers went up but I can’t remember by how much but dropping 100 points from 10th to 11th is a lot. They should be doing better or the same if they are learning more in school.
@CCtoAlaska I hear you. And, for the first time, since seeing how one of our twins who we know is incredibly bright did on the 10th grade psat, I see that these tests do not a accurately reflect intelligence. They definitely favor kids with good memories who think and work fast under time pressure. And, yes, most kids hate them (I have one who sees it as just another competition they’re going to win!). But, we’re stuck with them, so, there it is…,
I was told the “curve” (equating method used by CB) is tougher for PSAT taken on 10/24 (as compared to 10/10 testing date), missing one math could drop your score from 760 to 710 and similarly for EBRW.
Also, since the full score of PSAT is 1520 while SAT is 1600, it is quite common to have higher scores on SAT than on PSAT.