Every December, families receive their high school juniors’ PSAT (Preliminary SAT) scores. Suddenly, college admission is less of an abstract idea: scores are in-hand, deficits are obvious, and only six months remain in junior year to execute an effective plan. A flood of anxious questions follows:
“My scores are low. Does this mean I won’t get into college?”
No. PSAT scores are not sent to colleges nor are they necessary for admission. It’s the full-length SAT that colleges use when assessing your application.
“If I don’t get National Merit, does that hurt my chances of getting into college?”
No. We have students admitted to Harvard and Yale without any National Merit honors. The National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) recognizes students whose PSAT scores are 217 (out of a possible 240). Yet only 50,000 of the 1.4 million 11th graders who take the PSAT ever qualify—that’s only 3.5% of PSAT test takers.
Whether you’re part of this 3.5% or, more likely, part of the other 96.5%, there’s a more productive question you should ask:
“How can I use the PSAT to create a successful test prep plan?
First, use the PSAT to help you determine whether you should take the SAT or ACT.
Every year about 1.5 million students take the SAT and another 1.5 million take the ACT. Either the SAT or the ACT will be accepted at any college, so it’s really just a matter of which test features you best.
Here are a few questions that can guide your decision:
- Are you strong in mathematics and enjoyed geometry and trigonometry? If yes, the ACT’s math section will suit you well.
- Is your PSAT percentile low, as well as your enthusiasm for the test? Explore the ACT as an alternative.
- Are you an avid reader and writer and enjoy language and literature? The SAT is comprised of two-thirds verbal material, including a timed, graded essay, so perhaps the SAT will showcase your talents best.
Use the PSAT to help you identify your weakest PSAT subsections and target exactly what you should focus on to prepare for a strong SAT performance.
- Did the Sentence Completions on Critical Reading section challenge you? If so, specific emphasis on SAT vocabulary is called for.
- Did the Identifying Sentence Errors on the Writing cause you some confusion? If so, a review of SAT Grammar is necessary.
- Did the student-produced responses in the Math pose a problem? If so, a review of the most common SAT math questions is in order.
Use your PSAT to anticipate the SAT Subject Tests you might want to take in the spring of junior year.
If you’re applying to a number of selective schools, or any of the California state schools, you’ll be required to take SAT Subject Tests, one-hour academic achievement tests in a variety of subjects. There are a few assumptions you can make:
- If your PSAT math is low, then you most certainly will need to create a plan for math preparation for both the SAT and the SAT Subject Tests in math. Most competitive schools want to see you submit a Subject Test in mathematics.
- If your PSAT Critical Reading is high, then you might be a good candidate for the Literature Subject Test, a test of passage-based reading on poetry and prose passages. A strong verbal mind is required for success on this exam.
In all, the best use of the PSAT is as a diagnostic tool to identify your strengths and weaknesses. Use it to create the best study plan that addresses your needs as a college applicant. Sit. Diagnose. And plan your best approach to a successful test taking and college admission strategy.