Parents of college-bound students have many questions about the PSAT. Inspirica can help.

What is the PSAT and when will my child take it?
The PSAT is a 130 minute, 5 section test. It is designed to be a practice test taken 1-2 years prior to the SAT. While the two tests do share similar content, it is important to be aware of their differences as well: The PSAT does not include an essay, the math is not as advanced, and the entire test is a little more than half as long. As a result scores will not necessarily be comparable. The PSAT is usually given in October of 11th grade, and scores come back in December.

Some schools also offer the PSAT to 10th graders; this test is sometimes informally referred to as the "PPSAT." Should your child also take the PPSAT in 10th grade? It depends. Some students find it helpful to have early exposure to the test. Provided that parents enter into this early experience with the same approach that one might take to a scrimmage game at the beginning of a new soccer season, it can provide valuable information about a child's testing abilities. It is crucial, however, that the scores do not in any way deflate the child's confidence; remember: this test is administered about a year and a half before the real SAT! The PPSAT can be a valuable early diagnostic tool to inform decisions that will be made in the coming years. We are always happy to counsel individual families as to whether this early testing is right for an individual student.

What is the National Merit Scholarship?
Students who score exceedingly well on the PSAT may be considered for scholarships from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. It is difficult to attain these scholarships. Of the 1.4 million students who take the PSAT, 34,000 are named "commended," 16,000 of those who score even higher are named "semi-finalists", and 15,000 of those semi-finalists are eventually named "finalists." Of those finalists, only 8200 are awarded scholarships.

For further information go to nationalmerit.org.

Is it true that my child's score will automatically increase from the PSAT to the SAT just with maturity?
Not necessarily! Although your child will mature, the test-taking strategies specifically useful for the SAT are not always acquired with age or taught in school: they are learned with test preparation.

Endurance alone is a major factor in SAT scores. The PSAT is only 2 hours and 10 minutes, but the SAT is 3 hours and 45 minutes—a huge difference! When was the last time you saw your child sit quietly focused on a written task for nearly 4 hours straight? Without preparation, the intensity of this marathon exam can get the best of even the highest achieving and most focused students.

Whereas the PSAT is somewhat useful as a baseline, the best way to assess your child's SAT potential is to take an actual SAT exam. Call us now for a complimentary analysis in either our New York, Boston or Philadelphia office.

Should my child study for the PSAT?
Your child needs to take the PSAT seriously. If there is one complaint we hear consistently from new students it is that they wish they had taken the time to prepare for and to pay attention to this test. Why? Students who do not prepare often receive scores they are unhappy with and then they start the college process worried and psyched out. It's harder to succeed at the SAT under these circumstances.

How will you work with my child to get a "good" score?
We start fresh with each student. After measuring your child's baseline test scores, we carefully select just the right tutor for your child. We then custom design a curriculum based on our two-pronged approach: we teach both test content and strategies. Your child will study core math and verbal skills, learn how to eliminate careless errors, master timing and testing strategies, and develop enhanced self-confidence. Along the way, you and your child both will have regular opportunities to monitor progress. Our unique, collaborative approach means that you'll have the benefit of our whole staff to guide you through the process.

With more than 20 years of experience, we can tell you that test preparation can be tremendously worthwhile. At Inspirica, we deliver your child to the door of the exam room ready to do his or her personal best, feeling as good as possible about facing this rite of passage. To us, and to the thousands of parents who have sought us out for the past two decades, this is success.

What if my child has a learning difference?
Many students with learning disabilities have tutors to help them master various subjects and skills, but these tutors may not be knowledgeable about or trained in test preparation. At Inspirica, we have worked with hundreds of children with a wide variety of learning issues, successfully helping them to achieve their best scores. Our testing strategies are very effective for students with learning disabilities. Working one-on-one with each student allows our tutors to adapt a lesson to a student's learning style.

Starting early is the key. The sooner you call our educational consultants, the better. They can plot out a timeline for your child, custom-designed to achieve your goals. We will be delighted to advise you.

Why should we choose Inspirica?
Since 1983, Inspirica has been exceptionally successful in preparing students for standardized tests. With warmth, expertise, and even a bit of humor, an Inspirica tutor works with your child, and one of our educational consultants works with you. Years of experience have shown that our completely individualized approach, tailored to your child's particular needs and goals, is the path to success. You will feel involved and supported every step of the way. Please call us. We welcome the opportunity to answer your questions.