I'm in my junior year and was wondering how often the PSAT is offered. Is it just once a year, or can I take it multiple times to improve scores before it 'counts' for National Merit consideration?
Greetings! The PSAT, also known as the PSAT/NMSQT (Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test), is offered only once a year, typically in October. Many students take it in their sophomore year as well, but that score is just for practice—the score from your junior year is the one that counts for National Merit consideration.
Unfortunately, you don't have the option to retake the exam multiple times during your junior year to improve your score for National Merit consideration. However, if you take the test sophomore year, that can give you a baseline to work from and practicing using SAT prep materials can be quite beneficial, since the PSAT is similar in content and format to the SAT. Best of luck with your preparations!
CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.