The Official SAT Practice at Khan Academy is effective, personalized to your needs, and it’s 100% free. Check it out today! Free Official SAT Practice on Khan Academy^®, which gives you daily practice that’s personalized for you. (khanacademy.org/sat) 

On October 12^th, almost every high school student in junior year will take the PSAT. At Columbus, sophomores and freshmen will also take the PSAT to get a feel for the test. Still, you may be wondering why this test is important and why students are asked to take it.

1. If a student scores well on the PSAT in junior year, they can become a National Merit Scholar, a highly prestigious recognition. Nearly 7,250 National Merit Scholarships are awarded annually; these awards have a combined value of more than $35 million. 

2. Use it as practice for the SAT. The PSAT is created by the College Board (the same company that makes the SAT), and it tests the same set of skills as the SAT: Math and Evidence-Based Reading and Writing. The types of questions and the test directions are almost identical to the SAT, so taking the PSAT is the perfect way to prep for future tests. You can use your PSAT test results and free help through Khan Academy and IXL to focus on the specific areas and types of questions you need to improve.

3. Receive information from colleges, universities, scholarship programs, and educational opportunity organizations. There is a question on the pre-registration portion of the PSAT that asks if a student is willing to share their information with colleges, universities, scholarships, and educational organizations. If a student answers yes, schools and organizations will send brochures and other college-related mail to their home and their email. It’s a great way to learn about all the options available to high school students after graduation.

Now is the time to prepare! Remember that students who start studying earlier do better on the PSAT and have more confidence taking the test. Please see your grade-level counselor and English and Math teachers if you have any questions.  Take ownership of your learning and your future! Go to: https://www.khanacademy.org/sat and begin today!