Additional Subject Tests for Underformers: Unusually sophisticated or accelerated underform students may be prepared to take subject tests in special areas of strength if they have studied these subjects independently. A complete listing of available tests is located on the College Board website. If a student is curious about a particular test, that student should endeavor to take a practice test to assess content familiarity and prospects for impressive results. If, however, the student is planning to take advanced year-long survey courses as a Fourth Former, such effort is unnecessary. At the end of the day, two or three outstanding scores trump multiple mediocre scores every time.
PSAT The PSAT is the Preliminary SAT and is also known as the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test/NMSQT. The PSAT is a practice test for the SAT, although it has two other main purposes. First, it is the test which determines eligibility for the National Merit Scholarship Program. Students who score above a certain threshold are eligible
for consideration for a special written citation, such as those who reach Commended, Semi-Finalist, and Finalist status, while the eventual winners receive monetary awards. Roughly 1.5 million students take the PSAT yearly, 15,000 are named finalists, and approximately 0.5% of test-takers receive an award. Companies or businesses which support the NMSQT and employ a parent may offer matching grants to a student who receives a certain status in the NMSQT and there are some colleges, usually public institutions, which give students a scholarship award if they meet a particular threshold and then matriculate at their institution. Second, the PSAT collects information on students’ academic interests as part of the registration process and sells the information to colleges along with email addresses and other contact information. Lawrenceville automatically registers all Fourth Formers to take the PSAT in early October, but please know that all other standardized test registrations are the student’s
responsibility. The College Counseling Office sends all Fourth Form students a PSAT packet in advance of the test date which contains specific directions as well as a practice test. Underformers need only be aware of three issues connected to the PSAT: Test Preparation: Formal and lengthy test preparation for the PSAT is usually unnecessary, although many students find some review helpful to allay any nervousness or test unfamiliarity. A few hours working through a published PSAT guidebook or looking at free websites offering basic test preparation and sample questions are all that’s necessary for the majority of students. Repeat Students – Please Note: The NMSQT requires that students wishing to be considered for the National Merit Scholarship competition must take the PSAT during their third academic year of high school. Lawrenceville students who have repeated the 9th or 10th grade at any high school and, therefore, will be entering their third year of high school before the Fourth Form year at Lawrenceville, should contact the
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