Hey folks, I'm a sophomore and wondering how early I should start preparing for the PSAT? Any tips or resources that are especially helpful at this stage in high school?
First off, it's great that you're planning ahead! As a sophomore, your preparation for the PSAT can be fairly relaxed. It's the juniors who are competing for National Merit Scholarships, so you can use this year as a no-pressure trial run. Since the real test is still a long way off, there's no need to do any hyper-concentrated studying right now, especially since you'll likely deepen your understanding of the material naturally as you advance through high school. That being said, there are still some steps you can take right now.
Start by familiarizing yourself with the test's format and question types. The College Board website offers free practice PSAT tests, and Khan Academy has a range of resources that can help you understand the types of questions you'll encounter. This is also a good time to start building on fundamental reading, writing, and math skills that the PSAT will test. This can be as simple as reading a variety of books and articles, practicing simple math problems, or brushing up on grammar. Finally, you might schedule yourself to take a practice test every few months just to gauge your progress and discover areas where you need additional study.
Remember, the best preparation at this stage isn’t cramming, but integrating skill-building into your daily routine. Best of luck!
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