PSAT

PSAT District Testing

Nova Classical Academy registers and administers the PSAT/NMSQT for all 10th and 11th grade students each October. Students can use their 10th grade PSAT score as a baseline to prepare for the 11th grade test event in the case that they would like to aim for National Merit Scholarship awards (more information below). The PSAT scores can also be a predictor for how well a student might perform on the SAT in the case that they would like to use the SAT as their college entrance exam. 

PSAT/NMSQT Score report resources (how to interpret your scores)

National Merit Scholarship Program

"The PSAT/NMSQT is the only qualifying test for the National Merit® Scholarship Program, an academic competition for recognition and scholarships conducted by National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC). "

"The National Merit Scholarship Program is an annual academic competition among high school students for recognition and college undergraduate scholarships that began in 1955. The program is conducted by National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC®), a not-for-profit organization that operates without government assistance. United States high school students enter the National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®), which serves as an initial screen of over 1.3 million entrants each year, and by meeting published program entry and participation requirements."

The process for being named a National Merit Scholar Semifinalist typically follows this order:

• Student takes the PSAT/NMSQT October of 11th grade.

  • Student receives PSAT score 3-4 weeks after the test event. 

• Semifinalists are named early the following school year (their Senior year). 

  • To become a semifinalist, you need to score in the top 1% of the state you tested in. 

• Semifinalists have approximately 3-4 weeks to submit application materials to be named a Finalist. 

• Finalists are named approximately halfway into the school year, scholarships are awarded based on the scholarship match portion of the Finalist application. 

More information on the National Merit Scholarship Corporation can be found here

Nova Classical Academy students typically test well on the PSAT, and in the past three years 5-7% of our graduating classes have been named Finalists (2021-2023 test events).

PSAT Prep/Study Resources

If you are interested in preparing and studying for the PSAT, below are some resources: 

• Free online test prep from KAPLAN can be found here. 

• The College Board has some test prep options as well!