I was never that as obsessed with college as I am now, not to the point of spending every waking hour on CC, at least. So I never heard of the PSAT 8/9 until recently, i.e. after it was too late to take it. I read in an article that those who are serious about qualifying for the NMS should take the test, which I am. I’m taking the PSAT/NMSQT in the fall, and I will do so again in my junior year to apply for the NMS, so I have some opportunity to practice, but will it hurt my chances too much to have not taken the 8/9?
Thanks!
No. I did not know PSAT 8/9 at all. Just took it 10th, got 1460, then 11th, got 1490. In my state, should be able to make NMS.
Dude. Chill.
Colleges only care about your actual SAT scores, and the only advantage of taking the PSAT in 8/9 is extra practice. You have plenty of time for more practice in 10th and then to qualify for NMS in 11th. You can’t go back in time and take the PSAT 8/9 so I would focus on learning the material in school and also studying to familiarize yourself with the test. It shouldn’t hurt your chances much as the only point for the PSAT 8/9 is extra practice and it doesn’t count at all toward being a NMS. Long story short it shouldn’t hurt your chances at all.
ok! I was just worried that I wouldn’t have gotten enough practice for the PSAT and subsequently the SAT. I know it doesn’t count toward NMS
No. Chill.
That’s what everyone keeps telling me…
So, I know it’s not a big deal that I didn’t take the 8/9, but does anyone know of any good PSAT study resources?
Honestly, any SAT prep should be pretty good for the PSAT itself. However, focus on that grade’s math (I think it’s Algebra I) to prepare you for the specific math that will be on the test. For PSAT 10, focus on Geometry. I don’t know any specific geometry study tools. But if you are in Geometry this upcoming school year, I would go ahead and skim the text book from this year so that you have an idea of what will be on the test. I know UWorld has an online SAT prep. They have both English and Math and on math you can select what kind of questions you want. I’m pretty sure they have a free 30 day trial right now. I used the program for the SAT and it was pretty close to the actual test. And the PSAT is just like the SAT for the most part, so I would think UWorld would be a good tool for the PSAT too
Thanks so much, @emmapratt! I’ll check it out.
It was not even available to my D1 at that time and that was not long ago.
I’m getting some books from my library.
So I got the books but I’m still lost. Any advice?
My tenth grader is signed up for the PSAT at our school. Would that be the PSAT 10?
UMMM you can take the PSAT 10 or PSAT/NMSQT in 10th, but the PSAT/NMSQT won’t count for NMS until jr. year.
Just study for the regular SAT when you get to the summer after 10th grade. The PSAT taken in 10th grade (if you take it) is meaningless. All it is meant to do is give you an idea of what it is like to take the PSAT the next year. If you study now, you will likely forget it all and have to re-do. Plus you haven’t even had a lot of the math. Your best prep is to (1) do well in your math classes in school & try to retain that knowledge, and (2) read A LOT. Worry about actual test prep after 10th grade before the fall PSAT in 11th.
I know that it’s meaningless until jr. year but I just want the practice like you said.
Practicing too far ahead is a waste of time. And there is an “opportunity cost”. Every minute you spend studying for something you will forget anyway because it is so far away, or fretting over college selection when you are 3 years away from applying is time you aren’t spending building interesting and amazing ECs.
I’m not interesting or amazing enough for interesting and amazing EC’s
The effort you’re putting into coming up with reasons why you can’t do anything could instead be put into pursuing something that interests you.
Nothing interests me. If I were a color I’d be beige.