PSAT’s (Preliminary SAT’s) will be given tomorrow to all freshmen, sophomores, and juniors.  This test is a shorter version of the SAT.  It is important for the students to give their best effort because they can translate the score they earn on the PSAT to an equivalent SAT score.  Their results will also identify areas that they need to work on for future testing.

In addition to helping students identify their strengths and areas for improvement, junior PSAT scores may qualify them as commended students or semi-finalists for the National Merit Scholarship Competition. These designations are most impressive and desirable from a college’s perspective and it is a benefit to St. Rose to have commended students and semi-finalists.  Certainly we know that we have many students who are more than capable of accomplishing these distinctions.

Especially important for all students is that their score index is used to help determine whether they have the potential to handle an AP course.  Often, a student may qualify for AP with their grade, but not with the PSAT score index.

Freshman parents in particular often wonder how much this PSAT matters for their students right now.  Consider this first PSAT as a practice test and a basic measure that you can use to compare future scores.  Many high school students do not have the opportunity to take the PSAT until their junior year and then only get one chance to perform well on this exam.  St. Rose students are blessed to have the opportunity to take the PSAT for three years.  The practice afforded by taking the PSAT each year helps our students learn how to take this exam, be more familiar with the format and the questions of the SAT, and gain some confidence in their ability before taking the SAT.

Whether your child is a freshman, sophomore, or junior, please stress the importance of taking the PSAT seriously.  Practice is one of the key factors in successfully navigating the SAT.  Taking the PSAT in the first three years of high school is valuable experience for our St. Rose students and we want them to see as much benefit for their effort as they can.