For Teachers
Preparing for the PSAT/NMSQT and understanding results
Your students take the Preliminary SAT®/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) as the first official step on the road to college. The PSAT/NMSQT prepares students for the SAT, gives them opportunities to earn scholarships, and helps them plan for college.
As a teacher, what can you do to help your students do their best on the PSAT/NMSQT?
Prepare students for the test
When students take the PSAT/NMSQT, they won't have to recall facts—even the math formulas needed are supplied to them. Instead, the PSAT/NMSQT measures reasoning skills—for instance, knowing when to choose one of those math formulas and how to use it to arrive at the correct answer.
Visit the Testing area of this site to get information on:
- Test by Section: Explanations of the critical reading, mathematics, and writing skills sections of the tests
- Approaches & Strategies: Tips on familiarizing your students with the PSAT/NMSQT before test day
- Resources & Tools: Downloads to help you prepare your students and their families for the PSAT/NMSQT
Serve as an associate supervisor or proctor on test day
The College Board depends on school staff to administer the PSAT/NMSQT according to the PSAT/NMSQT Supervisor's Manual so that all students have the same opportunity to do their best. Thank you for your efforts to ensure the test administration is efficient, secure, and fair for all students.
Visit the Testing area of this site to get information on:
Use PSAT/NMSQT results to help your students improve their academic skills
Read on to learn about the following free resources and PSAT/NMSQT reports to help analyze student performance and help students prepare for the SAT and college:
- About Scores: Get answers to your questions about PSAT/NMSQT scores and results.
- Reporting: Gain an overview of PSAT/NMSQT student and school reports.
- Student Score Reports: Learn how to get the most out of PSAT/NMSQT score reports, including advice on sharing results with students and parents.
- Summary of Answers and Skills (SOAS) : See how your students performed on every test question.
- State Summary Reports (College-Bound Sophomores and Juniors Reports): Compare your school's data to the state's and the nation's.
- Optional Reports: Read about two low-fee PSAT/NMSQT reports that may be useful for your school.