Our school counselor mentioned that 8th graders can take the PSAT as practice, but I'm wondering if it's really worthwhile? Does it give a decent measure of where you stand or is it too early to be thinking about these kinds of tests in 8th grade?
Taking the PSAT as an 8th grader can be a useful step, mostly for exposure and practice. At this stage, the primary benefit is familiarizing yourself with the testing format and types of questions you'll encounter later on. It's less about measuring where you stand academically, as there's plenty of growth and learning that happens between 8th grade and junior year, when the scores start to matter for National Merit Scholarships.
Keep in mind, the content on the PSAT is geared toward high school students, so it's normal for younger students not to score as high. If you decide to take it, use it as a low-pressure experience to understand the test without worrying about the outcome. Instead, focus on identifying areas that may need improvement and use it to steer your academic preparations over the next few years.
If you're someone who gets anxious about tests, early exposure like this could also help alleviate some of that stress by the time you take the PSAT/NMSQT or even the SAT. However, it's also perfectly fine to wait until later in high school to begin standardized test prep. Balance is key, and you don't want to burn out on testing before it's actually time to start thinking about college admissions.
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