Parents,

As we prepare for thePSAT/NMSQTin October, here are six important reasons whyall sophomores and juniors should take the PSAT(underlined blue font indicates a hyperlink to additional information):

  1. ​​National Merit Scholarship Program:​Students must test in the 11th grade toqualify.Testing in the 10th grade provides early feedback while there’s still time to plan and prepare to take the [qualifying] exam in 11th grade.
  1. It helps students prepare for thenew SAT, which, like thePSAT/NMSQT, was recently redesigned to measure the skills and knowledge that matter most for college and career success and to better reflect what students are learning in class. ThePSAT/NMSQTis closely aligned, both in content and format, to the new SAT, which will be first administered in March 2016. This means that students will get excellent practice for the new SAT — an important part of the college admission process.
  1. Today’s students can take advantage offree practice toolsthat have not always been available. The College Board and Khan Academy are now offering personalized, online practice for the new SAT at no cost to students. And because the SAT andPSAT/NMSQTare so closely aligned, these tools are useful for both tests. Once students get theirPSAT/NMSQTscores, they’ll be able to link them to Khan Academy for additional personalized practice recommendations.
  1. It provides valuable information about students’ progress toward college readiness.ThePSAT/NMSQTis one in aseries of assessments that measure the same skills and knowledgeat different grade levels. These assessments are scored on a common scale, so it’s easy to see the progress students are making from year to year. And when teachers have a baseline measurement of academic strengths and weaknesses before students reach 12th grade, they are better equipped to provide the individual support students need to graduate ready to succeed in college and career.
  1. It alerts students to theirpotential to succeed in college-level AP courses.When students receive theirPSAT/NMSQTresults beginning inDecember, the score report will let them, their teachers, and their counselors know which specific AP courses are a good match for them. Research shows that students who take AP Exams are more likely to graduate college on timein four years. And, students who score a 3 or higher on AP Exams can save time and money by earning college credit.

It connects students to scholarships.When students take thePSAT/NMSQT,they are automatically screened for theNational Merit®Scholarship Program,an academic competition for recognition and scholarships. Students who choose to participate in theStudent Search Serviceare connected with many other scholarship partners, including the American Indian Graduate Center, Asian & Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund, Hispanic Scholarship Fund, Jack Kent Cooke Foundation, andUnited Negro College Fund.

Exam Date: October 11th 7:40-11:55 @ ENHS.

Cost: $20 payable at the ENHS Finance window.

Registration Window: Sept. 11th – Sept. 29th

Late Registration: Oct. 2-6 $25

There is a limited quantity of PSAT exams, so register ASAP!!