Preparing For The PSAT NMSQT
Preparing for the PSAT/NMSQT is very similar to preparing for the SAT Reasoning Test. The best way to prepare for the PSAT/NMSQT is simply to start your SAT prep for the SAT Reasoning Test. Your PSAT/NMSQT score will benefit from any SAT prep you are already doing. You should, however, take the time to familiarize yourself with the structure of the PSAT/NMSQT and the type of questions that you will encounter on the test. Other than that, you should simply prepare for the SAT Reasoning Test and let your PSAT/NMSQT test score benefit from that prep.
It is important to remember that the PSAT/NMSQT is not only the Preliminary SAT. It is also the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. You can either treat the PSAT/NMSQT as the beginning of your SAT prep process with no up-front preparation, or you can do some up-front preparation with an eye to doing well for the National Merit Scholarship competition.
Why Prepare for the PSAT/NMSQT?
Doing well on the PSAT/NMSQT can earn you a National Merit Scholarship Letter of Commendation, Semifinalist standing, Finalist standing, or an actual cash scholarship. The simple answer is that preparing for the PSAT/NMSQT, and doing well on the test, can actually put money in your pocket for college.
A Quick Word on the National Merit Scholarship Program
The National Merit Scholarship Program is a program of the non-profit National Merit Scholarship Corporation. Started in 1955, the National Merit Scholarship Program is a competition for academic recognition and actual cash scholarships. The PSAT/NMSQT is the first step in the process of awarding the scholarships. Simply doing well on the test can earn a student a Letter of Commendation in recognition of their academic achievement. Doing very well can earn the student the right to continue in the competition as a semifinalist, and finalist.
Students are competing for National Merit Scholarship $2,500 awards, corporate-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards, or college-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards.
