How to Prepare for the PSAT/NMSQT and Why It Matters
As you approach your Junior and Senior year of high school, one of the most important aspects of that time is completing your PSAT and NMSQT. These are standardized tests to be taken before you begin applying for colleges, and they can be critical not only your acceptance, but for your future in college when it comes to finances and the classes you might be eligible to take. You might be wondering how exactly these tests will help you, and how you're supposed to prepare for a test that you haven't learned material for in a class setting. Well luckily, here at NSHSS that is what we’re going to break down for you in this article. We want to look at why these tests are so important and provide some helpful tips to guide you through them.
What Are You Getting Yourself Into?
Some of you might be more familiar with these acronyms than others, but for those of you who are new to them, the PSAT standards for Preliminary SAT, or Preliminary Standardized Aptitude Tests. The SAT is a fairly standard test for most students in the United States, and you may have even taken a few practice tests with teachers in either Freshman or Sophomore year. The second acronym, NMSQT, stands for National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, and is a bit rarer in your typical school circles.
These tests are designed to test the student’s aptitude before college to help determine which classes they might be best suited for and to see how much comprehensive knowledge they have gained already. One very crucial element of the NMSQT is its financial incentives. Students who score higher on this test can receive National Merit Scholarships, which can help significantly ease the financial burden of college. You don’t have to belong to any club, or have alumni parents from a certain school, you just have to score high on the tests and the results will speak for themselves.
How To Prep
The preparation for these tests can vary, but there are some tried and true methods that we prefer to highlight. These are listed below, but keep in mind that they are not numbered by rank. Whichever method works for you matters more than what number it falls on the list!
Read A Lot
This method is simple, yet incredibly effective. We will dig into which types of books can best help you in this process, but reading lots and reading a variety of material can help you in the long run when you are seated in front of these exam papers. See below for a list of books we recommend:
- More resources more can be found here.
Make a Schedule (And Stick to It!)
This two-fold method goes hand-in-hand, and the reason is for consistency. Making a study schedule can be very beneficial when you consider all the other work you must do for school and extracurriculars while still making time for friends and family. But you must stick with your schedule. The only true way to get the results you want, in anything from sports to academics, is by repetition. This is what the pros mean when they say “practice makes perfect.” You’ve got to really commit to your schedule and study when you said you would.
Partner Up
While this may not work for everybody, that doesn’t mean it does not work. Sometimes having one person by your side who is going through the same preparation as you can be very helpful. It may even be helpful for you and a group of friends to meet up and have group study sessions at the library or a coffee shop nearby. Learning from others who might have a better grasp on a certain topic can be very necessary, as well as teaching others a topic you feel confident in. But keep in mind, you must focus on the study aspect of it all.
Don’t Stress
This final lesson for how to prepare might seem silly, perhaps even naive. However, on the contrary, it is exactly what you need to remember—especially on the day of the exam. By giving yourself time and room to breathe, relax, and enjoy this process, you must not let the anxiety get to you. Of course, this is easier said than done. But there are, however, ways to cope with the stress of these particular exams. The first is to take breaks, whether that be walking, or watching television, or just going out to dinner with your family. The other is more of an internal way to cope, and that is to have confidence in yourself. If you have put in lots of time and effort into your preparation, come test-day, remind yourself that you are ready, you've put in the work, and you can ace this test!
But What’s The Point of it All?
These tests can be a very beneficial element of your future college. As mentioned above, not only will they help you get into school, but they can also provide you with funding for those schools. These tests can also prepare you for future tests down the road. By taking these tests now, and developing the skills needed to achieve high scores, you will learn study and time management skills which can be carried over into college, and perhaps even a graduate school.
A Final Note of Affirmation
It is important to keep in mind that while these tests can carry a lot of weight, they are not the final decision maker for your future college career. You have plenty of other important aspects of your background to bring to the table. These tests are only designed to help you succeed, not to limit you in your prospects. We hope that this article has helped you understand a lot more about why these tests matter, and how you can best prepare for them in your future.
If you are interested in some more in-depth study techniques, books on the subjects, or even just general information about how we can help you better prepare for a college education, be sure to visit NSHSS for all the helpful guides you need in the years ahead.