For many high school students, the PSAT can seem like just another test on an already busy school calendar. But taking the PSAT can serve several purposes beyond simply producing a score.
The PSAT/NMSQT can give students an early look at their college-readiness skills, provide experience with the SAT format, identify areas for improvement, and—under the appropriate eligibility rules—serve as the qualifying assessment for the National Merit Scholarship Program.
Academic research also provides evidence that PSAT performance is meaningfully related to later educational outcomes. That makes the test potentially useful as an early academic benchmark rather than simply a rehearsal for the SAT.
1. The PSAT Provides an Early Academic Benchmark
One of the most useful aspects of the PSAT is timing. Students take it before they have completed high school, giving them an opportunity to see how their reading, writing, and math skills compare with the expectations measured by the SAT Suite.
Research on the PSAT/NMSQT has examined its relationship with later academic performance. A College Board study by Marini, Mattern, and Shaw specifically investigated the relationship between PSAT/NMSQT scores and first-year college GPA. The researchers examined whether the relationship remained meaningful across different score levels rather than only distinguishing students at the lowest end of performance.
View the study through Google Scholar
The important takeaway is that a PSAT score can provide information about academic preparation well before a student actually arrives at college.
2. It Can Help Students Identify Areas for Improvement
A test is most useful when its results lead to action.
PSAT results can show students how they performed in areas such as Reading and Writing and Math. That information can help students decide where additional studying or practice could be worthwhile.
This is particularly valuable because students who take the PSAT still have time to improve their skills. Instead of waiting until the SAT or college applications to discover an academic weakness, students can use their results as an early signal.
College Board research on the PSAT 8/9, the earlier assessment in the SAT Suite, similarly found positive relationships between PSAT 8/9 scores and later measures including PSAT/NMSQT and SAT scores, high school GPA, and AP Exam performance.
3. The PSAT Provides Experience With the Digital SAT Environment
The modern PSAT/NMSQT and SAT are part of the same digital SAT Suite of Assessments. Taking the PSAT therefore gives students experience with the general testing environment before they take the SAT.
College Board describes the PSAT/NMSQT as providing practice and benchmarking for the SAT, with students becoming familiar with the same digital platform used for the SAT and AP Exams.
That familiarity can have practical value. Students can learn how they manage timed sections, how they approach unfamiliar questions, and which study strategies work best for them.
The PSAT is not a guarantee of SAT success, but it gives students an opportunity to gain experience before a test that may be used in their college-planning process.
4. PSAT Performance Is Connected to Later Academic Measures
Researchers have studied relationships between PSAT performance and later academic outcomes.
For example, research examining the PSAT/NMSQT has specifically investigated its relationship with first-year college GPA.
Research on the broader SAT Suite also finds relationships among scores on the different assessments. College Board research reports that digital SAT scores have meaningful relationships with PSAT/NMSQT scores, high school GPA, and AP Exam performance.
It is important, however, not to interpret these findings as saying that a PSAT score determines a student's future. Academic performance is influenced by many factors, including coursework, grades, educational opportunities, study habits, and personal circumstances.
Instead, the research suggests that standardized-test results can provide one additional source of information about academic preparation.
5. It Can Open the Door to National Merit Recognition
For eligible students, the PSAT/NMSQT has another important distinction: it is connected to the National Merit Scholarship Program.
The PSAT/NMSQT is the qualifying assessment used for students seeking consideration in the National Merit Scholarship Program. Eligibility and selection involve specific program requirements, so students should consult the official National Merit Scholarship Corporation information rather than assuming that a particular score automatically results in recognition or a scholarship.
For students who meet the relevant criteria, however, performing well on the PSAT/NMSQT can make the test more consequential than a typical practice assessment.
6. It Can Help Students Start Preparing Earlier
College preparation is a process rather than a single event.
Taking the PSAT can encourage students to begin thinking about standardized testing earlier. A student who discovers a weakness in algebra, reading comprehension, grammar, or another tested area has an opportunity to address that weakness before taking additional assessments.
Early preparation can also help students determine whether they need additional resources, such as tutoring, practice tests, review materials, or a structured test-preparation program.
7. The PSAT Should Be Viewed as One Piece of the Bigger Picture
While the PSAT can be valuable, students should avoid treating one test score as a complete measurement of their academic potential.
Research on standardized testing consistently considers test scores alongside other measures. For example, a large national study of the SAT found that combining SAT scores with high school GPA provided more information about first-year college performance than either measure alone.
That principle is important when thinking about the PSAT as well. Grades, coursework, extracurricular activities, interests, goals, and other aspects of a student's educational experience all matter.
The PSAT is best understood as a tool: it can provide information, identify opportunities for improvement, and help students become familiar with standardized testing.
The Bottom Line
Taking the PSAT can be worthwhile for several reasons. It provides an early academic benchmark, gives students experience with the digital SAT environment, helps identify areas for improvement, and can provide access to National Merit consideration for eligible students.
Research has also examined meaningful relationships between PSAT performance and later academic outcomes, while broader SAT Suite research provides additional evidence about how these assessments relate to measures of academic preparation.
Ultimately, the value of the PSAT is not simply the number that appears on the score report. The greater value may come from what students do with the information: identifying their strengths, addressing weaknesses, becoming more familiar with standardized testing, and using the experience to make informed decisions about their academic future.
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