ACT, Definition and PSAT - New Student Pulse

Helping Students Level Up with PSAT Prep

Peterson's Blog

JANUARY 16, 2025

As one of the first high school standardized tests a student takes, the PSAT can set the stage for teenagers’ expectations of themselves and future exams. How have you helped prepare and bolster their abilities, contributing to PSAT test day success? The PSAT/NMSQT test is considered a practice test for the SAT exam.

PSAT

PSAT Standardized Testing Test Prep Scholarships

A Simplified College Application Timeline Every High Schooler Needs

AdmissionSight

NOVEMBER 19, 2024

Junior Year – Fall (September to November) Take the PSAT. The PSAT, or Preliminary SAT, is a standardized test that gives you a sneak peek at what the SAT will be like. Plus, taking the PSAT puts you in the running for the National Merit Scholarship Program , which could help you earn some serious scholarship money for college.

Financial Aid

Financial Aid Applications Early Decision PSAT

Standardized Testing Guide for First Gen and/or Low Income Students

College Essay Guy

JUNE 23, 2025

This probably won’t come as a surprise to you, but standardized testing (as in, the SAT and ACT) can have disparate negative impacts on first generation and/or low income (FGLI) students compared with wealthier students. so definitely don't stress about perfection. Nice to have, but definitely not the main dish!

Standardized Testing

Standardized Testing Testing SAT PSAT

Anson L. Clark Scholars Program: A Complete Guide

AdmissionSight

JANUARY 18, 2025

Youll need to submit at least one score reportPSAT, PACT, SAT, or ACT all work. If you havent taken the SAT or ACT before the deadline, PSAT or PACT scores are fine. Standardized test scores arent everything, but they can definitely give you an edge. If youre submitting SAT or ACT scores, aim for the 99th percentile: SAT.

Programs

Programs Mentorships Mentorship PSAT

2025 Timeline for Almost Rising Juniors and Seniors

Admissions Mom

MAY 14, 2025

TESTING PRACTICE AND PREP FOR THE PSAT: You take it in October, and it helps you qualify for National Merit if you score high enough. PRACTICE AND PREP FOR THE ACT and SAT: Take a couple of practice tests and see which one feels better to you and which one you score higher on. SAT/ACT TESTS: Finish up any testing you have left to do.

Letters of Recommendation

Letters of Recommendation Financial Aid Admissions Testing

What Is a Good PSAT Score? The Definitive Guide

Shemmassian Academic Consulting

NOVEMBER 14, 2022

What is the PSAT? If you’re the parent of a high school senior, your child is likely focusing on the ACT or SAT , the standardized tests that are a crucial part of college admissions. But if you’re the parent of a freshman, sophomore or junior, there’s another standardized test on the horizon: the PSAT (Preliminary SAT).

PSAT

PSAT Standardized Testing Scholarships SAT

To Test or Not to Test?

Admissions Village

FEBRUARY 25, 2024

This week, Yale announced that they will require testing but that they are flexible on which type of testing, SAT, ACT, AP, or IB exam score. This is a new definition of the testing required and one we would love to see more widely implemented. Perhaps not surprisingly, demand for SAT and ACT testing has been rising.

Testing

Testing Standardized Testing SAT PSAT

College Admissions Glossary of Terms

Admissions Village

JUNE 19, 2024

Historically Black College or University (HBCU): In Title III of the Higher Education Act of 1965, Congress officially defined HBCUs as institutions of higher learning that were accredited and established before 1964, and whose principal mission is the education of Black Americans. To understand more about this please read our blog.

Admissions

Admissions Financial Aid Waitlist Standardized Testing

Does the PSAT Matter? Should You Prepare?

Brand College Consulting

SEPTEMBER 5, 2022

The PSAT will be given to area high school juniors (and younger students in some districts) on Wednesday, October 16. Do Colleges Care About the PSAT? The PSAT is not used directly by colleges and universities when they make their college admissions decisions. But does this test really matter? Should you take it seriously?

PSAT

PSAT SAT ACT Scholarships

PSAT Scores Are In! Now What?

CTK College Coach

DECEMBER 10, 2021

Did Your Student Just Receive PSAT Scores? This One’s for You: Everyone has questions about PSAT scores when they come out each December, and I am here with answers for you. What Is the PSAT? Most high schools offer the PSAT to juniors as part of the National Merit Scholar (NMS) search process. How Is the PSAT Scored?

PSAT

PSAT Ivy League SAT Letters of Recommendation

PSAT Scores Are In! Now What?

CTK College Coach

DECEMBER 6, 2022

Updated December 2022 Did Your Student Just Receive PSAT Scores? This One’s for You: Everyone has questions about PSAT scores when they come out each December, and I am here with answers for you. What Is the PSAT? Most high schools offer the PSAT to juniors as part of the National Merit Scholar (NMS) search process.

PSAT

PSAT Ivy League SAT Out-of-State

Digital SAT Tips

ACM College Consulting

MARCH 21, 2023

The digital format will be implemented in the US starting Fall 2023 for PSAT and Spring 2024 for SAT. NEW TOOLS: There are a few tools available within the digital format that can definitely help students. When searching for a test prep company, I definitely recommend asking them how they have adapted their materials.

SAT

SAT Test Prep PSAT International Students

7 Best MIT Summer Programs for High School Students

AdmissionSight

APRIL 16, 2025

This includes everything from the PSAT, SAT, and ACT to any AP exams youve taken. If you’re planning to apply to RSI, taking the PSAT is highly recommendedit gives your application a boost. For 2025, SSP is not looking at test scores like the PSAT, SAT, ACT, or AP exams. Who can recommend you?

High School

High School PSAT Programs Transcripts

Pepsi Scholarship

College Essay Guy

JULY 6, 2023

If you’re looking for help paying for college (and since most applicants probably are— here's some helpful info about that ) and have started to check into scholarships (because you definitely should), chances are you’ve come across some of the famous ones ( The National Merit Scholarship or the Gates Scholarship , for example).

Scholarships

Scholarships Financial Aid Transfer Honor Society

MITES: A complete guide to MIT's Summer program

College Essay Guy

JULY 14, 2024

The MITES Summer program is definitely worth consideration. Hoping to spend your summer diving deep into science, technology, engineering, and mathematics ( STEM ) at one of the world's leading universities?

Programs

Programs Semester PSAT High School

Tips and Examples for UT-Austin “Please share background on events or special circumstances that you feel may have impacted your high school academic performance, including COVID-19.”

Tex Admissions

MARCH 20, 2022

If you choose not to submit an ACT/SAT, you still need to have most or all A’s on the honors/AP track to be competitive, especially for majors that are in high demand. A lot of applicants will be unable to retake the ACT/SAT and attempt to improve. I brought my Sophomore 960 PSAT to a 1320 SAT. I slacked off.

High School

High School Accommodations PSAT SAT

Weekly Update: December 9

DC College Counseling

DECEMBER 9, 2022

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK A NEW TOOL FOR COMPARING SAT AND ACT SCORES Students who received their PSAT scores this week should take a few minutes to check out the concordance widget. This is definitely not the case in other parts of the country! area to have so many diverse school choices.

Financial Aid

Financial Aid PSAT Test Prep Internship

Rising Junior and Senior Admissions Journey Timeline (2023 Updates)

Admissions Mom

JUNE 22, 2023

TESTING PRACTICE AND PREP FOR THE PSAT: You take it in October, and it helps you qualify for National Merit if you score high enough. PRACTICE AND PREP FOR THE ACT and SAT: Take a couple of practice tests and see which one feels better to you and which one you score higher on. SAT/ACT TESTS: Finish up any testing you have left to do.

Admissions

Admissions Financial Aid Letters of Recommendation Internship

Do My Test Scores Matter?

Great College Advice

AUGUST 23, 2023

Definitely. So from a dollars and cents perspective, spending a bit of money to raise your SAT or ACT score a few points higher may mean thousands more dollars in scholarships from certain universities. These tests loom large in the college admissions process. On the one hand, you should not tress too much about your scores.

Testing

Testing Ivy League Financial Aid Standardized Testing

New Student Pulse

Helping Students Level Up with PSAT Prep

A Simplified College Application Timeline Every High Schooler Needs

Trending Sources

Standardized Testing Guide for First Gen and/or Low Income Students

Anson L. Clark Scholars Program: A Complete Guide

2025 Timeline for Almost Rising Juniors and Seniors

What Is a Good PSAT Score? The Definitive Guide

To Test or Not to Test?

College Admissions Glossary of Terms

Does the PSAT Matter? Should You Prepare?

PSAT Scores Are In! Now What?

PSAT Scores Are In! Now What?

Digital SAT Tips

7 Best MIT Summer Programs for High School Students

Pepsi Scholarship

MITES: A complete guide to MIT's Summer program

Tips and Examples for UT-Austin “Please share background on events or special circumstances that you feel may have impacted your high school academic performance, including COVID-19.”

Weekly Update: December 9

Rising Junior and Senior Admissions Journey Timeline (2023 Updates)

Do My Test Scores Matter?

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