CATES Blog

What can I do for the SATs as a sophomore? Is it too early to start preparing?

In many schools both in New York and around the country the SAT process begins in the spring of students’ sophomore year. These schools have begun administering the first of two PSATs at this time to give students an early taste of the SAT. While most students won’t take the actual SAT Exam the first time for about a year, many institutions are feeling like earlier is better to get students acclimated to the exam

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For many students and parents, the PSAT is their first encounter with the SAT process and it can be very daunting. The format is foreign, the PSAT’s relationship to the SAT unknown, and thus the PSAT’s importance seems vague.  A lot of misinformation gets spread in school communities about the PSAT, so lets try and dispel the myths.

Colleges do not see the PSAT.  The PSAT, or Preliminary SAT, is a diagnostic tool for students and parents to get a sense of what the SAT is like.  Colleges have no access to your score, nor are they interested in it. It is a test that is, first and foremost, for the student.

The only practical ramification of the PSAT pertains to the National Merit Scholarship.  Students who place in the 99^th percentile (in most states) of the PSAT become eligible for a National Merit Scholarship.  A high score doesn’t guarantee that you will be awarded a scholarship, it only means you are eligible.  Basically, it’s the cherry on top, but not the real purpose of the PSAT exam.

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What is the PSAT, and why do I need to take it?

The Preliminary SAT, or PSAT, is taken by juniors during the third Thursday in October.  (Some schools actually offer the PSAT to sophomores as well, and if yours is one of them, take advantage of it.)  The test is basically a practice run for the real SAT, and since you won’t submit it to colleges, it won’t have any direct impact on whether or not you’ll be admitted.

Still, not only should you take the PSAT seriously, you should join the hundreds of students who get a jump on SAT prep by studying for the PSAT.

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