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Junior Year
September: Register for the PSAT/NMSQT
The Preliminary SAT®/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test is a co-sponsored program by the College Board and National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC).
PSAT/NMSQT stands for Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. It's a standardized test that provides firsthand practice for the SAT Reasoning Test™. It also gives you a chance to enter National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) scholarship programs.
The PSAT/NMSQT measures:
- Critical reading skills
- Math problem-solving skills
- Writing skills
You have developed these skills over many years, both in and out of school. This test doesn't require you to recall specific facts from your classes.
The most common reasons for taking the PSAT/NMSQT are:
- To receive feedback on your strengths and weaknesses on skills necessary for college study. You can then focus your preparation on those areas that could most benefit from additional study or practice.
- To see how your performance on an admissions test might compare with that of others applying to college.
- To enter the competition for scholarships from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (grade 11).
- To help prepare for the SAT. You can become familiar with the kinds of questions and the exact directions you will see on the SAT.
- To receive information from colleges when you check "yes" to Student Search Service.
September - October Test Date: Review
If you plan to take the PSAT/NMSQT in the fall, pick up the Official Student Guide to the PSAT/NMSQT from your guidance office in September.
The Student Guide has three main sections:
- Test taking help
- Information about National Merit Scholarship Corporation scholarship competitions
- A full-length practice test
Use the Student Guide to do your best.
- Review the section about scholarships with your parents.
- Practice now with sample critical reading, math, and writing skills questions.
- Get familiar with the instructions for each type of test question.
- Take the practice test like it's the real thing.
PSAT Prep
Spending your school years taking challenging academic courses and reading widely is the best way to get ready for the PSAT/NMSQT.
The PSAT/NMSQT includes the same types of critical reading, math, and writing skills multiple choice questions as the SAT® Reasoning Test.
Ready to give the questions a test run? Pick a section below, and you'll find tips and practice questions with answers and explanations for each type of question.
Critical Reading
Sentence Completion questions measure your knowledge of the meanings of words and ability to understand how the different parts of a sentence logically fit together. Practice now
Passage-Based Reading questions measure your ability to read and think carefully about a single reading passage or a pair of related passages. Practice now.
Math
The math section of the PSAT/NMSQT requires a basic knowledge of number and operation; algebra and functions (though not content covered in third-year math classes--content that will appear on the new SAT); geometry and measurement; and data analysis, statistics, and probability. You can use a calculator to answer math questions, but no question on the test requires a calculator.
Multiple Choice questions ask you to decide which is the best of the five choices given. Practice now
Grid-ins, or student-produced response questions, require you to solve a problem and enter your answer. Practice now.
Writing Skills
The multiple-choice questions on writing skills measure your ability to express ideas effectively in standard-written English, to recognize faults in usage and structure, and to use language with sensitivity to meaning.
Identifying Sentence Errors questions test your knowledge of grammar, usage, word choice, and idiom. You are required to find errors in sentences or indicate that there is no error. Practice now
Improving Sentences questions ask you to choose the best, most effective form of an underlined portion of a given sentence. Practice now
Improving Paragraphs questions require you to make choices about improving the logic, coherence, or organization in a flawed passage. Practice now
Additional Information concerning the PSAT Exam can be found at www.collegeboard.com.
October: Take the PSAT and attend College Fair.
During the last two weeks of October most of the area school districts sponsor a college fair where admission office representatives from various colleges will be able to answer general questions about their school as well provide you with literature about what the college has to offer. Gather as much information as you can while attending this event. Get on as many he college mailing lists as you can.
November - December: Review your PSAT Scores
Once you receive your scores review them and identify areas of weakness that you need to address/concentrate on in preparing for taking the SAT in May. Following the receipt of your scores sit with your guidance counselor and get the necessary information for signing up for the May SAT and sign up early so you can get your study guide for that test ASAP!
January - May: Prepare for the SAT and plan to college visits.
Visit www.collegeboard.com for study guides and practice tests.
- Make time to prepare for the exam. In January and February find 1-2 hours each week to focus on Increasing Vocabulary; Make 3 x 5 flash cards; buy a pocket dictionary; Increase reading of news articles and editorials. For example, spend time reading Time Magazine cover to cover and the Express-News Editorial Page, this will help improve vocabulary and aid in skill development for writing.
- March-April, 8-10 weeks prior to test: Increase time review time to 2-4 hrs each week. Focus on writing skills. Know how to form paragraphs, proper structure of sentences, use of correct grammar and punctuation. Take an SAT Prep Course if possible. Utilize SAT study guides.
- March: Spring Break-Plan a family trip to visit a few colleges you have an interest in. A great time for parents and students to get a feeling of a college campus. The vast majority of colleges offer tours year-round. Contact the school in advance about getting a tour of the school.
- January-May: Research potential colleges. Start completing prospective student athlete forms online or mail them to the school as soon as possible.
May:
- Study for Semester / Final Exams
- Take the SAT and report your scores to colleges of interest.
- Enroll in NCAA Clearinghouses
Enroll in the NCAA Initial Eligibility Clearinghouse and the NCAA Amateurism Certification Clearinghouse. Your school will be required to submit official transcripts to the Initial Eligibility Clearinghouse. Please follow-up with your counselors immediately following the last day of school to make sure transcripts are sent.
June - August:
- Find a summer job or internship/volunteer in a potential major field. Log as many community service hours as you can during the summer. This will become more important when applying to colleges and for scholarships.
- Summer Training: Most Division I colleges will be looking to make decisions on whether to recruit you off the results of your Long Course season after your Junior year. If you are considered one of their top prospects the college coaches goal will be to sign you in November.
- Narrowing the field and visiting schools: From October-June you should start receiving mail from the various colleges. When mail arrives begin sorting the information into: Colleges of High Interest, Colleges of Moderate Interest, Colleges of Little Interest. Summer is great time to make visiting colleges a family vacation. However, try not to plan long trips away from training since most colleges coaches are looking at your Long Course performance as an indicator for recruiting. Try to narrow your schools of interest down to 10-12 schools and if possible try to visit about half of them during the summer.
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