Timing of the PSAT - When to take it?

Hey everyone, I'm overwhelmed with all the testing happening and just wanted to clarify when I should be taking the PSAT. Is it best in junior year or sophomore year? Does it matter?

Hi there! The PSAT/NMSQT is offered each year in October, and many high school students take it in both their sophomore and junior years.

Taking the PSAT in your sophomore year serves more as a practice run for the SAT and future PSAT, allowing you to familiarize yourself with the format, content, and types of questions you'll encounter on the test. Although the score you receive as a sophomore doesn't count for National Merit Scholarship eligibility, it provides valuable insight on where you can improve.

However, the PSAT taken in the junior year holds more significance because it's the score from this test that qualifies you for the National Merit Scholarship Program. Anyone can take the test, but only scores from juniors are used to determine eligibility for the scholarship program.

So to answer your question – it's beneficial to take the test in both sophomore and junior years. As a sophomore, it helps you navigate through the testing process and prepare better. As a junior, it provides you an opportunity potentially to earn a National Merit Scholarship.