By: María de los Ángeles Corral, College Board

    In thousands of high schools throughout the country, the College Board’s Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, also known as the PSAT/NMSQT, will be administered to sophomores and juniors on Oct. 13 and 16. Students may think of the PSAT/NMSQT as just another test, but schools make it possible for students to take it for very important reasons.

    The PSAT/NMSQT is a standardized test that evaluates students’ abilities in reading, writing and math in time to prepare for the SAT college entrance exam. “The feedback educators receive helps them identify skills that need improvement to create a plan for getting students on track to be college ready,” said Glenn Milewski, executive director for the PSAT/NMSQT. 

    For Magdalena Meza, a mom whose son will be taking the test this year, it was great to hear that the test delivers benefits that will help her son transition from high school to college.

    Moreover, school administrators often use the PSAT/NMSQT to determine a student’s potential for college-level AP classes. “Sometimes students don’t think they will be able to keep up with the  advanced course work involved in AP, and this exam helps us to identify and encourage students whose scores show us they are capable of succeeding in AP,” says Milewski.

    The education opportunities around the PSAT/NMSQT really extend beyond high school. The test helps students stand out on their college applications through recognition programs, enter scholarship competitions and start planning for college.  

    The PSAT/NMSQT exam measures the same skills as the SAT. It’s a great way for students to prepare for the SAT exam and it also boosts their performance. The College Board reports that students who take the PSAT/NMSQT usually perform significantly better on their SAT exams than students who don’t. 

    When students take the test, they can opt to receive information from colleges. Finding out that there are colleges interested in them that are willing to offer financial aid can help change the way many students think about college. “It’s a great motivator for students who didn’t think of college as an option or who never considered schools outside of their region,” said Ángel B. Pérez, director of admission at Pitzer College in Claremont, Calif.

    Every year, 5,000 top-scoring Latino students are chosen for the National Hispanic Recognition Program. The College Board shares these students’ names with colleges and universities that are interested in high-achieving students. “It’s another feather in a student’s cap that shows academic achievement and can qualify them for scholarships and other types of financial aid from schools,” said Pérez.

    The PSAT/NMSQT even helps teenagers explore future majors and professions. Through the online tool My College QuickStart, students take a personality test that helps them find majors and careers that fit their strengths and interests.

    Most high schools in the United States offer the PSAT/NMSQT. In the event your child’s school does not, contact a nearby school and ask to have your child take the test with that school’s students.

    For more information, contact 866-433-7728 or visit www.collegeboard.com/espanolpsat or www.nationalmerit.org.