Taking October SAT a week before PSAT to improve NMSF chances?

Test Preparation SAT Preparation
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<p>I saw the great thread by mom2collegekids on the NMSF process and am wondering about the advice in this post:</p>

<p>15) What can I do to improve my chances of making NMSF?
Use a College Board SAT practice book and practice during the summer.
Sign up for the October SAT. It’s given about a week before the PSAT.
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/national-merit-scholarships/1365011-faq-psat-sat-nmsf-nmf-process.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/national-merit-scholarships/1365011-faq-psat-sat-nmsf-nmf-process.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Any comments on this advice?
Pros: I can see that the early SAT would work as a warm-up or practice test for the PSAT and it might take some of the pressure off since the score wouldn’t really count that much–I assume that the SAT would be taken again in Spring of Jr year or Fall of Senior year.
But are there disadvantages, like maybe a student could feel burnt out when the time came for the PSAT, or discouraged if they felt they didn’t do too well on the SAT? Would it be a good investment of $51 or would the student do just as well with a full-length SAT practice test at home?</p>