Should I take the PSAT as a sophomore?

<p>This fall, I'll be a sophomore in high school. I know some people try taking the PSAT as sophomores. A few people in my Honors Biology (I skipped a year of science, so I was in a class with sophomores) and they took it. Only two or three.</p>

<p>I've googled around, but I want to get answers from current/previous high school students. Basically, somebody from the CC community. </p>

<p>If I do take it, should I put anytime into serious studying? Or should I take it to see where I am, test wise? Should I just brush up on vocab?</p>

<p>What material will it include?</p>

<p>I heard that they include trig/algebra II on the test, but I will only be a month into learning that subject.</p>

<p>Yes. I would take it to get familiar with the PSAT which is used for National Merit your junior year.</p>

<p>I don’t think you should study for it for sophomore year, but maybe for junior year because that’s when it counts for National Merit. Or you could prepare minimally by taking a free practice PSAT before the real one. But no need to go all out.</p>

<p>It’s supposedly just a shorter SAT with somewhat easier math. (No trigonometry/advanced algebra) The writing section doesn’t have an essay.</p>

<p>I most certainly would. I took one sophomore year (it’s school policy at my HS) and I’d say it was instrumental to my qualifying for NMS status. I wouldn’t study if I were you… yet. Start studying the College Board Blue Book AFTER you see what your scores are. There is no advanced math on the test, and no colleges will see it. It’s just a gauge of where you are, and how much you need to learn about the test format.</p>