<p>Hi I wanted to know when I should take the PSAT, is it important? Do colleges look at it?</p>
<p>Most people take the PSAT in their Junior year of High School (if you feel especially ready, you can take it in your sophomore year). The only reason it could be considered important is if you are trying to become a National Merit Finalist which is given to only the top 1% of all PSAT takers (note: there are more requirements beyond a good PSAT score), and no, colleges won't see your PSAT score unless your high school puts it on your transcript. Even then, they will pretty much ignore it.</p>
<p>Is seems like the PSAT is given only one time a year in October, and is usually administered through a high school. Ask your GC if and when it is scheduled for your school. </p>
<p>Sometimes, students as early as MS will take the PSAT, if it is available at their school. Some academic talent search or summer enrichment programs will request a PSAT score from 6th-11th grade students.</p>
<p>But in all cases (well, almost all) your school counselor should be the best choice to ask about the PSAT.</p>
<p>You can always ask CC parents and students if taking the PSAT was of any benefit, how the test results were used, etc.</p>
<p>do u have to write an essay on the PAST?</p>
<p>nope... ...</p>
<p>PSAT - What's on the Test
<a href="http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/psat/about/ontest.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/psat/about/ontest.html</a></p>
<p>The PSAT/NMSQT includes five sections:</p>
<p>Two 25-minute critical reading sections
Two 25-minute math sections
One 30-minute writing skills section </p>
<p>The whole test requires two hours and 10 minutes.</p>
<p>Critical Reading
Two 25-minute critical reading sections = 48 questions</p>
<ul>
<li> 13 Sentence completions </li>
<li> 35 Critical reading questions </li>
</ul>
<p>Math
Two 25-minute math sections = 38 questions</p>
<ul>
<li>28 multiple-choice math questions </li>
<li>10 Student-produced responses or grid-ins </li>
</ul>
<p>Students are advised to bring a calculator with which they are comfortable. Students should have basic knowledge of 4 math categories:</p>
<ul>
<li>Numbers and Operation </li>
<li>Algebra and Functions (but not 3rd year level math that may appear on the new SAT) </li>
<li>Geometry and Measurement </li>
<li>Data Analysis, Statistics and Probability </li>
</ul>
<p>Writing Skills
One 30-minute writing section = 39 questions</p>
<ul>
<li>14 Identifying sentence errors </li>
<li>20 Improving sentences </li>
<li>5 Improving paragraph questions </li>
</ul>
<p>These multiple-choice questions on writing skills measure a student's ability to express ideas effectively in standard-written English, to recognize faults in usage and structure, and to use language with sensitivity to meaning.</p>
<p>About the PSAT
<a href="http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/psat/about.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/psat/about.html</a></p>