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My son will going to high school this year after summer.
The high school will take PSAT for 9th 10th 11th grade.
My question is what's different between 9th grade PSAT score or 11th grade PSAT score?

By Dolce (Dolce) on Monday, March 01, 2004 - 10:20 am: Edit

Consider his testing in 9th or 10th to be merely practice. For the National Merit Scholarships, only the 11th grade scores count. Don't make the mistake a boy I know made: he did great on his 10th grade PSAT, so figured he didn't need to bother as a junior. Big oops--wasn't able to be considered for Nat'l Merit.

By Michelle5888 (Michelle5888) on Monday, March 01, 2004 - 12:49 pm: Edit

Hi, thanks for your big help, I have more questions here.

Do you mean only 11th grade count not average 9th 10th 11th total score? or choice one good score?

If kid in 9th grade PSAT score over 220 still not help anything? or they will be select to group first?

By Northstarmom (Northstarmom) on Monday, March 01, 2004 - 03:40 pm: Edit

Only the 11th grade score counts. I know someone who scored high enough for National Merit in 10th grade, but when he took it in 11th, missed the cutoff by 1 point. Since only 11th grade counts, he did not make National Merit Scholar.

By L_J (L_J) on Monday, March 01, 2004 - 04:24 pm: Edit

must be nice to live in a schoool didtrict (or private school) that tests every year

By Boysmom (Boysmom) on Monday, March 01, 2004 - 04:33 pm: Edit

The PSAT is voluntary. Anybody can take it in 9th or 10th if they sign up and pay the fee. A few in our public school district do take that option and "practice" in the 10th. What I found amusing was of the kids I know that practiced in the 10th grade, none made NMS in the 11th. The ones I know who did make it, none practiced in the 10th. Could just be a fluke.

My nephew only took the PSAT in the 11th because I insisted that he do so. Both he and his mom claimed that he tested well and didn't "need" the practice. He is National Merit Finalist.

By Michelle5888 (Michelle5888) on Monday, March 01, 2004 - 06:30 pm: Edit

The PSAT take in 10th 11th is make sense.
I don't understand why my son's public school need to take 9th 10th and 11th if they not count score?

By Jamimom (Jamimom) on Monday, March 01, 2004 - 08:41 pm: Edit

For practice. They say practice makes perfect. For some kids like Boysmom's nephew can nail a NMF status with one take. I know kids who took the PSAT and went up each time they took it and did make NMF cutoffs at their last take. No telling if the previous tests were what brought the score up or if it was just maturity.

By Thedad (Thedad) on Monday, March 01, 2004 - 09:57 pm: Edit

As other have said, you're free to take the PSAT in 9th and 10th grade if you sign up. My D's hs actively encourages 9th- and 10th-grade students to take the test for practice. Paid off for my D...good but not great scores in 9th and 10th, NM Finalist in 11th. Only the 11th-grade score counts for the scholarship program.

By Sdrew (Sdrew) on Tuesday, March 02, 2004 - 11:02 am: Edit

My son took the test in 9th and 10th as practice. It really helps you see what areas they need to strengthen for 11th grade test. We didn't do any prepping in 9th/10th, but did get a copy of the test booklet back after the test. (Ask the counselor for a copy.) We were able to use that to see what was missed/and why. He is a NM finalist, but just made the cut-off. He prepped for about 6 weeks before the test in 11th grade, just a little each day.

By Lyralily (Lyralily) on Saturday, March 06, 2004 - 03:18 pm: Edit

Does anyone know what the point cutoffs are for National Merit? Do they differ by state? I did very well (99th percentile nationally) but I live in NJ and someone told me that the cutoff here is high or something... Does anyone have any information?

By L_J (L_J) on Saturday, March 06, 2004 - 04:11 pm: Edit

they do differ by state and as i recall new jersey is one of the highest.....220 in 1999. I called the the folks at national merit (847-866-5100) and they gave me the cut off for nebraska for the last 4 years (204 205 208 205) over the phone. you might do a serach on this board for more info....

By Ohana (Ohana) on Saturday, March 06, 2004 - 07:12 pm: Edit

I've gone to 4 different high schools, and I'm a junior. Next year I am moving again, to a different state. Will my PSAT score qualify me from the state I lived in this year, or the state I live in next year? I live in MD now, and the cutoff is pretty high. In VA (where I'm moving) the cutoff is always about 3 points lower. I may need those 3 points to make it. Does anyone have any experience with moving as a senior, and what they do in that case?

By Libroschico (Libroschico) on Saturday, March 06, 2004 - 08:38 pm: Edit

My advice is to not take it in 10th, but take the full length practice test provided in the registration bulletin before you take it in 11th. It provides the same effect without having to pay; plus, you get to see what you got wrong and why. The only reason to consider taking it in 9th/10th is for those unfamiliar with standardized testing; otherwise, it's a waste of money, and, as mentioned above, could even jinx you!