<p>My son just finished his freshman year. The high school seems to suggest that students take the PSAT in their Junior Year. Is it helpful to take it a year earlier? Should you study for the PSAT? First child...can you tell? </p>
<p>Thanks!
ssmom62</p>
<p>I think it's helpful to take the PSAT as a sophomore. You get familiar with the format the year before it counts for National Merit. I wouldn't study for it, but rather use it as an indication of how much studying may be required for next year's round of PSAT and SAT.</p>
<p>Mine took her PSAT in sophomore. No studying. It probably helped her familiar with the format for Junior year.</p>
<p>I agree with the above. My son also took it as a sophomore, but did not study. That showed him areas in which he needed more work before taking it for real.</p>
<p>I can give you the student perspective. I took the PSAT as a sophomore and a junior, and found it very helpful. I originally received a 1780, but my jr. year got a 1970, without any additional studying. It gave me confidence to see that I could improve. Also, the second score qualified me for the National Merit Scholarship, which looks great on any college app, not to mention the money if you win. She should take it as a sophomore, because with the competitive college admissions these days, any little advantage is vital. It also made me aware of what I needed to focus on early. Hope this helped, and you can message me if I can be of any more assistance.</p>
<p>oh, one more thing. As soon as you take the PSAT, colleges will start sending you things in the mail. If the scores are really good, it will start flooding in. Because I took it my sophomore year, I was aware of college outreach programs and leadership forums early on, and was able to travel to unique parts of the country for a few of those experiences. She should definitely take it, it will be well worth it (those kids I know of who didn't take it felt a little left out when mail from Cornell and Penn came flying into me and my friends' mailboxes as well).</p>
<p>Welcome to CC! :)</p>
<p>I agree with the others. If he has no testing experience with the SAT, it's useful to take it in tenth grade in a low-pressure situation. No prep is needed.</p>
<p>all I would add ... taking as a sophomore can't hurt as long as the student WANTS to take it as a sophmore ... for me pushing someone to take the PSAT as a sophmore is uneeded</p>
<p>3togo has a good point.</p>
<p>If you live in an area where it is not routine for sophomores to take the PSAT, your son might interpret your suggestion to take it as pressure. Some kids aren't ready to start focusing on college admissions that early; if that's the case, let it go.</p>
<p>On the other hand, there are some school systems where everyone takes the PSAT as a sophomore, and nobody thinks twice about it.</p>
<p>Totally agree with 3tg</p>
<p>My son's hs gave the PLAN test in 10th grade--the PACT with a career inventory. That felt really useful and timely. Over-testing can become an issue for some kids.</p>
<p>I'd look at it another way...... what are arguments against taking it? Such an early test with little meaning is no worries! Later, more important tests may not seem so worrisome.</p>
<p>yes. study for it. prepare for the future. it is like AP classes. you need to "pressure them" in a good way.</p>
<p>I took the SATs at the end of 8th grade, so when it was PSAT registration time in the fall, I bowed out. All of my friends took the PSAT (as freshmen). I wish I had. I will definitely take my PSAT in the fall (sophomore). I am thinking about taking the SAT at the end of next year, too.</p>
<p>absolutely, there is nothing to lose but two hours of a morning.</p>
<p>Yes, it's good practice for the "real thing" next year as well as being good practice for standardized tests in general. I wouldn't study too much for it the sophomore year though. Why study for it when you can take it once, then know exactally what to study, then take it again.</p>
<p>yes it is a good practice</p>
<p>Depends on how you plan to approach college. Soph year is best for Psat and Junior year is best for SAT. It gets them out of the way. Most people have to make their main college choices fall of senior year. Having all your cards on the table outside of senior year grades, lets you know early what schools are going to work and what ones are not. While I don't care for the concept of a safety school, I do believe in sorting out the contenders and pretenders early in the process. This way your only spending spring efforts on schools who want you and you want.</p>
<p>Sophomore year is good for PSAT practice. Even if your student takes it sophomore year and does well (or not), they need to take it again as a junior in order to qualify for the National Merit Scholarship program, because only tests taken in Oct. of the junior year are counted.</p>
<p>Few people around here take the PSAT or SAT; ACT area. Talked to gifted/talented coordinater about sophs taking PSAT as practice for taking it as a junior for NMS purposes since son hadn't - she did recommend it.</p>
<p>Soph year is best for Psat and Junior year is best for SAT. It gets them out of the way. >></p>
<p>Well, not quite. If you hope to be eligible for National Merit Scholar you MUST take the PSAT in your junior year. Sophomore year doesn't count, unless you are graduating early.</p>
<p>That said, taking the PSAT in sophomore year can be a good diagnostic tool that can be useful in helping to devise a prep plan for the PSAT and SATs in junior year. I don't recommend studying for the sophomore year PSAT as it is helpful to have a picture of where your child stands without prepping before they actually do prep.</p>
<p>When the scores come in, don't panic. Remember - this is a test designed for juniors. Focus less on the overall scores and more on looking at areas of potential weakness. The College Board has a section where you can use your child's PSAT code to sign in and get a detailed analysis of how they did on individual questions. Use that to develop a prep plan for your child for the junior PSAT and SATs. If they're weak in certain areas of math, for example, some time with a tutor focusing on those areas can help. If they're weak in writing, talking with their tenth grade English teacher about strategies for improving grammar skills can help. The point is, the sophomore PSAT will give you time to get help if it necessary.</p>
<p>The 10th grade PSAT can also be a good baseline for getting an early start on college research because they can give you a rough estimate of where your kid might fall on the SATs. Keep in mind, however, that almost every student will see their PSAT scores rise between sophomore and junior year just from another year of school and intellectual maturity. By the same token, prepping and tutoring can only go so far. If your kid's 10th grade PSAT's are in the low 40's, you might start college research with a more realistic eye for what may be possible. If they're in the 60's or 70's, you can be pretty safe in assuming junior and senior year SAT scores might be in range of more competitive schools might be in range, especially with prepping. </p>
<p>So, if you and your child decide taking the PSAT sophomore year is right for your child, keep it light and easy. Don't pressure your child, or make them feel bad if the scores are lower than you expect. Don't make them study for it. Just look at it as a baseline. Tell them to do their best, but don't put more importance on it than that.</p>