PSAT/NMSQT – National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test
The Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test/National Merit Scholarship (PSAT/NMSQT) qualifying test is a multiple-choice test that measures verbal and mathematical reasoning abilities important to doing college work. There are two twenty-five-minute verbal sections, two twenty-five-minute math sections, and a thirty-minute writing skills section. As a junior, if you earn very high scores on these tests, you will qualify for the opportunity to enter scholarship competitions administered by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.
Taking the PSAT/NMSQT as a junior is the only way a student may enter competition for the National Merit Scholarships. Sophomores may take the test for practice. This scholarship program is very prestigeous and opens many doors to students who become semi-finalists and finalists. It is highly recommended that students take the PSAT/NMSQT.