I’m a freshman and I'm seeing a lot of sophomores and juniors preparing for the PSAT. Should I be taking it this early too? What's the normal practice for freshmen regarding this test?
Hello! As a freshman, it's quite common to see many of your upperclassmen peers getting ready for the PSAT, and it's natural to wonder if you should be joining them. It's typical for students to take the PSAT in their sophomore or junior year. The junior year PSAT is particularly significant because it qualifies students for the National Merit Scholarship Program.
However, some ambitious students opt to take the exam as freshmen for practice. Taking the PSAT early can give you a sense of the test format and the types of questions you'll encounter, which can be invaluable when you take the test again in later years.
If you feel ready and would like to get early exposure, there's certainly no harm in taking the PSAT as a freshman. Just ensure that your study efforts don't conflict with your other academic responsibilities. If you choose to wait, that's completely okay too. You'll have plenty of opportunities to prepare for the PSAT and SAT in the future.
Make sure to discuss your plan with your family and maybe seek advice from a teacher or counselor to help guide your decision. Good luck!
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