PSAT in 9th?

[Matryoshka]

The local high school is offering a practice PSAT free to 9th and 10th graders. However, my dd's counselor said there was no reason to take it in 9th, and dd feels like she'd be the only 9th grader there. But it was advertised as practice for either/both grades.

 

Would it be a good idea to take it both this year and next for practice, or should we just skip it and have her take it next year in 10th as the first time?

 

I do realize only the 11th grade score counts - I'm just wondering if there's any benefit for taking it for practice more than once...

[Harriet Vane]

Definitely take it in ninth. There is a LOT of scholarship money available to those with a qualifying score in 11th grade. The more practice with the test, the better. If you take it in 9th, you can compare the score with 10th, and that can help focus your direction of study for the all-important 11th grade test as well.

 

I have been to two different seminars wherein this advice was given.

 

When I went to register my daughter for the PSAT, the first private school I tried was horrified. They kept saying, "There's just no reason for a ninth grade student to take the test." I told them all I had learned at the seminar, and they just repeated themselves, even going so far as to say that it was inappropriate for my ninth grader to test. It was quite frustrating.

 

The next school I tried was completely the opposite. They were happy to have us. They applauded our foresight and planning. They had had other ninth graders choose to take the test in previous years, and thought it was a great idea.

 

As it turned out, dd was the only 9th grader taking the test, but who cares? No one knows. It's just a bunch of students in a room working. For dd this was not a big deal.

 

I did make sure she clearly understood that as a ninth grader there would definitely be things she didn't understand, but that the test was for practice. She was very calm about it.

 

I say go for it. The folks who are against it just aren't thinking it through very well. There is no penalty for taking it multiple times, and it gives practical experience.

[BakersDozen]

I wish I'd had my dc take the PSAT in 9th rather than in 10th for practice. Although the sign-ups filled up so quickly I'm sure my 9th graders would have been bumped as even 10th graders are sometimes bumped to make room for the 11th graders.

[teraberry]

I went to James Stobaugh's sessions at the convention this summer and his advice was to skip the PSAT, unless you think your child may possibly score high enough to receive a National Merit Scholarship. Instead just prepare for the SAT by taking sample tests, etc. There are SAT prep books out there. He recommends having your child do a sample test every couple months.

[BakersDozen]

I went to James Stobaugh's sessions at the convention this summer and his advice was to skip the PSAT, unless you think your child may possibly score high enough to receive a National Merit Scholarship. Instead just prepare for the SAT by taking sample tests, etc. There are SAT prep books out there. He recommends having your child do a sample test every couple months.

I'm wondering, though, if having a dc take the PSAT at least once if not twice would help them with the SAT as far as test jitters/confidence? I know my 16yo is much more confident and ready going into the PSAT this year than last because of the exposure. I don't expect any of my dc to be NMS (not being negative, just realistic) but I do like the idea of having them see where they fall as far as statistics go and increasing their test-taking confidence.

[teraberry]

I'm wondering, though, if having a dc take the PSAT at least once if not twice would help them with the SAT as far as test jitters/confidence? I know my 16yo is much more confident and ready going into the PSAT this year than last because of the exposure. I don't expect any of my dc to be NMS (not being negative, just realistic) but I do like the idea of having them see where they fall as far as statistics go and increasing their test-taking confidence.

 

You know your child and situation better than anyone else, so if you feel like they should take the PSAT, then go for it. Personally, for my kids, I'm having them do SAT prep books and taking practice SAT tests, which are still a full test, but they don't count. I figure they will take the actual test for real at least a couple of times.

[Lori D.]

I'm wondering, though, if having a dc take the PSAT at least once if not twice would help them with the SAT as far as test jitters/confidence? I know my 16yo is much more confident and ready going into the PSAT this year than last because of the exposure. I don't expect any of my dc to be NMS (not being negative, just realistic) but I do like the idea of having them see where they fall as far as statistics go and increasing their test-taking confidence.

 

 

You know, this really comes down to being a very individual decision. :)

 

For more advantages, check out the College Board web page on the PSAT. Really, I can't think of many serious "cons" against doing the PSAT at least ONCE in advance of grade 11. The only thing reason why not that I can think of is if the student has severe test anxiety and "making" them test only makes the anxiety worse. Or, if you have students like mine who hate testing and were only willing to do each of the PSAT, SAT and ACT ONCE. They were willing to do some at-home prep, and to do their best on the test -- BUT, they also were very clear they were NOT willing to do repeated testing...

 

You know your student best! :) Below is all I could come up with for pros and cons for taking the PSAT in 9th and/or 10th grade. BEST of luck, whatever you decide! Warmest regards, Lori D.

 

 

Scholarship Money

PRO = You can't win if you don't play :tongue_smilie:

CON = Go into it with your eyes open and be realistic about your odds of earning scholarship $$

 

Test Prep

PRO = PSAT is the Preliminary-SAT, so it's an accurate test for seeing what the SAT will be like

CON = the more time spent preparing is time taken from other academic endeavors

 

Expense

PRO = only costs approx. $15

CON = you may spend significantly more for prep materials

 

"Permanent Record"

PRO = the PSAT is not sent on to colleges and is not a part of the "permanent record"

 

 

Anxiety/Test-Taking

PRO = practicing with a test that "doesn't count" at this point can help a student relax for future tests

CON = too much practice and repeated test-taking can burn out a student, and scores just drop the more they test

 

 

 

Here are details on National Merit Scholarships from the website. Yes, there is the possibility of scholarship money -- BUT, that is awarded to only approx. 8300 students of the 1.5 million students taking the test nationwide. Semi-finalists (top 16,000 students) then narrowed to Finalists (top 15,000 students) as the pool from which students may receive one of three different types of merit awards:

 

1. $2500 National Merit Scholarship (one-time award)

Awarded by National Merit Program to selected students.

 

2. Corporate-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards (amounts vary; can be one-time awards or renewable)

(Funds awarded to the student, but ONLY if a corporation is willing to give the student the funding; the corporate sponsors usually award funds to children of their employees or members, for residents of a community where a company has operations, or for Finalists with career plans the sponsor wishes to encourage.) (And, there are students who qualify for these awards, but have NO corporate sponsor, so, they get no $$$.)

 

3. College-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards (amounts vary; renewable)

(Funds awarded, but ONLY if officials of each sponsor college select winners of their awards from Finalists who have been accepted for admission and have informed NMSC by the published deadlines that the sponsor college or university is their first choice.)

 

 

Special Scholarships (amounts vary; may be one-time awards or renewable)

(Funds awarded to 1,300 National Merit semi-finalists. Funds provided by corporations and business organizations. To be considered for a Special Scholarship, students must meet the sponsor's criteria and entry requirements; NMSC staff evaluates and chooses winners.)

Edited September 26, 2012 by Lori D.

[Muttichen]

I went to James Stobaugh's sessions at the convention this summer and his advice was to skip the PSAT, unless you think your child may possibly score high enough to receive a National Merit Scholarship. Instead just prepare for the SAT by taking sample tests, etc. There are SAT prep books out there. He recommends having your child do a sample test every couple months.

 

This is some of the worst advice I've ever heard! The PSAT is around $15, it doesn't go on your child's record, you get the actual test back along with the answers your child gave and the correct answers, and your child gets to experience a real testing situation. Of course your child should also prep for the SAT by doing practice tests, but why skip the PSAT????

[Pixie]

I am trying to get my 9th grader signed up. Her high school has a limited number of test so they are opening registration to 11th graders first. We have to call back next week and see if they have any openings left for 9th graders. I want her to have the experience taking it and see what she needs to work on. In her case I think she may be able to score high enough in 11th so $15 is a great investment to get her familiar with the test early and put all chances on her side.

[Sebastian (a lady)]

This is some of the worst advice I've ever heard! The PSAT is around $15, it doesn't go on your child's record, you get the actual test back along with the answers your child gave and the correct answers, and your child gets to experience a real testing situation. Of course your child should also prep for the SAT by doing practice tests, but why skip the PSAT????

 

I think this is especially the case for homeschoolers. My kids took the SAT last spring. They were in a strange building that we had to drive to; early in the morning; with kids they did not know, many of whom were far older than they were; taking a demanding test that lasted for hours.

 

Even though my kids have years of testing experience, including annual Stanford testing, Latin exams, mythology exams and AMC math tests; there was nothing in their experience that prepared them for the atmosphere of tension and importance that pervaded the beginning of the SAT.

 

There are some kids that would really fall apart in what very much feels like high stakes testing. The PSAT gives them a chance to encounter the testing environment with a bunch of other kids who are also new to the situation. And despite the fact that some will use it as a qualifying test for NMS, the vast majority are using it as a practice test for the SAT. (Admitedly there are kids that would be freaked out by the whole thing and who would not be able to use more frequent testing as a means of getting accustomed to the situation. But I think this is an exception, not the rule.)

 

BTW, even though few students will become National Merit semi-finalists and fewer still will become finalists and then earn scholarships; I think if you're at all in the running, you should prepare and give it a shot. Even just being designated a National Merit semi-finalist can help a homeschooled student quantify his or her college readiness. I personally love the individuality and ability to explore deeply. But I also don't think that I can expect college admissions offices to take my word for it that my kids are great. They are going to have to provide something that can be weighed and measured and compared with other applicants.

 

That isn't saying every homeschooler should start college at 16 or go to an Ivy or elite tech/LAC. It is saying that admissions officers are human and are sifting through thousands of applications every cycle. Give them something to work with.

[Jen the RD]

This is some of the worst advice I've ever heard! The PSAT is around $15, it doesn't go on your child's record, you get the actual test back along with the answers your child gave and the correct answers, and your child gets to experience a real testing situation. Of course your child should also prep for the SAT by doing practice tests, but why skip the PSAT????

 

I think this is especially the case for homeschoolers. My kids took the SAT last spring. They were in a strange building that we had to drive to; early in the morning; with kids they did not know, many of whom were far older than they were; taking a demanding test that lasted for hours.

 

Even though my kids have years of testing experience, including annual Stanford testing, Latin exams, mythology exams and AMC math tests; there was nothing in their experience that prepared them for the atmosphere of tension and importance that pervaded the beginning of the SAT.

 

There are some kids that would really fall apart in what very much feels like high stakes testing. The PSAT gives them a chance to encounter the testing environment with a bunch of other kids who are also new to the situation. And despite the fact that some will use it as a qualifying test for NMS, the vast majority are using it as a practice test for the SAT. (Admitedly there are kids that would be freaked out by the whole thing and who would not be able to use more frequent testing as a means of getting accustomed to the situation. But I think this is an exception, not the rule.)

 

BTW, even though few students will become National Merit semi-finalists and fewer still will become finalists and then earn scholarships; I think if you're at all in the running, you should prepare and give it a shot. Even just being designated a National Merit semi-finalist can help a homeschooled student quantify his or her college readiness. I personally love the individuality and ability to explore deeply. But I also don't think that I can expect college admissions offices to take my word for it that my kids are great. They are going to have to provide something that can be weighed and measured and compared with other applicants.

 

That isn't saying every homeschooler should start college at 16 or go to an Ivy or elite tech/LAC. It is saying that admissions officers are human and are sifting through thousands of applications every cycle. Give them something to work with.

 

I completely agree with these thoughts! I signed up my daughter and she is in 9th. She and I talked about many of the reasons why it would be an invaluable experience regardless of her scores.

 

Jennifer