This Wednesday, October 22, 2025, freshmen, sophomores, and juniors will sit down to take the PSAT. For many of us, hearing the word “test” can bring a wave of anxiety. Between managing time, remembering formulas, and trying not to overthink every question, it’s easy to feel stressed. But with the right prep and mindset, the PSAT can be a really helpful experience. Whether you’re a freshman taking it for practice or a junior aiming for National Merit Recognition, the PSAT is an important step in your academic journey.
The PSAT isn’t just another standardized test. For juniors, it can qualify them for the National Merit Scholarship Program, making them eligible for major scholarship opportunities and a boost in your college resume. The PSAT also prepares students for the SAT and can build confidence in your test-taking skills.
When the PSAT Counts:
- Freshmen and Sophomores: Scores from the PSAT don’t qualify for National Merit, but they’re a great way to establish a baseline and identify areas to focus on before the SAT and ACT.
- Juniors: This is the year your PSAT score can qualify you for the National Merit Scholarship Program.
How to Prepare for the PSAT:
- Take a practice test in the Bluebook app on your iPad. This will make you more familiar with the format of questions and of the tools you can use while testing.
- Identify and work on your weaknesses. Based on the questions you got wrong in the practice test, use free resources online like Khan Academy’s Official Digital SAT prep to target the areas you struggle with.
- Practice test-taking skills. For example, if you tend to run out of time, focus on getting the questions right instead of rushing and making errors.
- The night before the test, do some light studying to review your weaknesses, but don’t cram.
- On test day, get a full night’s sleep, eat a light breakfast, and review any last minute notes on your weakest areas if you feel it helps you be prepared.
What to Bring:
- iPad (fully charged)
- Two No. 2 Pencils
- A calculator you’re comfortable using
- A snack for the break
- A water bottle
During the Test:
- Manage your time: pace yourself. If you are taking too long on a question, guess an answer choice, mark the question and come back to it later.
- Read the question carefully.
- Use the tools available to you: scratch paper for the math, the Desmos calculator in the app to solve problems, the “mark for review” to flag questions, and the answer eliminator.
- Answer every question, even if you have to guess. The PSAT doesn’t remove points for wrong answers.
How to Deal with Test Anxiety:
- Before beginning the test, project yourself into your place of greatest test-taking strength. This is the place where you focus and perform the best: it could be your desk in your room, the library where you study, or your dining room table. Imagine that THAT is where you are when you take this test.
- Stay present during the test and avoid letting yourself get distracted thinking about other things.
- Remember that while test scores are important for college, they are not the only factor in your admission.
