Summer vacation has just begun and with time off students across the nation are looking for Tom Sawyer types of adventures. Whether its the warmer weather or longer days, summer-time brings out the inner scout in all of us. With countless hours of free-time on the horizon, give your students a summer quest that could lead them to an actual treasure.
The Motherload
$200,000 in scholarship money. Amazingly, there are numerous scholarship opportunities available from most colleges when a student’s PSAT score falls within a certain range. Taking this test seriously can help students reap great financial rewards – and that’s no tale of fiction.
The PSAT treasure chest holds all kinds of goodies for its diligent seekers. Full tuition, room, and board, unlimited laundry, cafeteria passes, study abroad stipends, honors dorms, and graduate money are some of the great benefits that are given by colleges to students who score high enough on their PSAT and qualify for a National Merit ranking.
It is a bragging right for colleges to have National Merit Scholars among their student body. These students represent the top one percent of the nation. Very often colleges will compete for these students to come to their school. These schools may even sweeten the pot by adding more benefits to entice students- like free computers or additional spending money. I.e. The PSAT is a money magnet.
Quartermaster
The correct acronym is PSAT/NMSQT, which stands for Preliminary Scholastic Assessment Test/ National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, and is administered every year by the CollegeBoard. Unlike the SAT, which the CollegeBoard administers seven times annually, the PSAT is only offered once in October, and only counts toward potential scholarships in a student’s junior year.
No prey, no pay
The key to doing well on the PSAT is preparation. Ideally, students should start studying for this test at the beginning of high school. Many people don’t realize that students, regardless of high school institution, can take the test for practice in their freshmen and sophomore years. Because the test is offered early in the fall semesters, the summer is the perfect time to get a jump start on studying. This is especially true for students who will be entering their junior years in the coming fall. The PSAT is not an easy exam. Like the digital SAT, the PSAT is comprised of two sections: Math and Reading and Writing/Language. Each section is worth a total of 760 points, with the best possible score being a 1520. For maximum preparation, students need to have completed Algebra 1,2 and Geometry before the eleventh grade.
Additional Booty
Another advantage of studying for the PSAT is that students will also be studying for the SAT. Since the College Board changed the test in 2024, the tests are very similar. If you are studying for one, you are studying for the other one. This can take a lot of pressure off juniors and seniors when it comes time to study for the SAT if they have already got the PSAT down.
Treasure Map
Finding a buried treasure is nearly impossible without the right treasure map. Similarly, it is difficult for students to do well on the PSAT without the right type of preparation. When studying for any type of standardized test it is imperative to practice with the correct type of materials. Since CollegeBoard is the maker and creator of the PSAT students should only use old or retired PSATs as practice tests. Using CollegeBoard materials is the only way to guarantee that a student is practicing with the same types of questions that will show up on the real PSAT.
Bon Voyage
Now that you know more about the PSAT and its significance, you can start your students off on a real adventure. All you need is the right map to a good scholarship. The dividends of doing well on this test could pay off tremendously and have you seeing gold.
