This month, millions of high school sophomores and juniors took the PSAT, marking a significant step in their journey toward college admissions. With recent trends showing a return to standardized testing requirements at many competitive colleges—particularly as the most selective schools look for ways to differentiate applicants—navigating the PSAT and future SAT or ACT exams is more crucial than ever. The PSAT can be a valuable tool for understanding academic strengths, identifying areas for improvement, and setting clear goals. In this guide, we’ll walk you through actionable steps to maximize the benefits of the PSAT and help your student prepare for their next steps, whether that’s scholarship opportunities, future SAT/ACT tests, or the college admissions process itself.

Take the Stress Out of Test Prep: Expert Guidance for ACT/SAT Success

Feeling overwhelmed by how to help your child prep for the ACT or SAT? Our expert tutors at ESM Prep College MatchPoint are here to guide your student through a personalized test prep journey. Schedule a test prep planning session with our experts today, and we’ll create a tailored plan to help your student build confidence, develop targeted strategies, and achieve their best possible scores. Let’s work together to make test prep stress-free and set your student up for success!

National Merit Semifinalist Cutoffs

Each year, around 50,000 students are recognized by the National Merit Scholarship Program based on their PSAT scores, and 17,000 of those students advance as National Merit Semifinalists. The Selection Index score, found on your child’s PSAT score report, is key. This score is calculated by doubling the ERW score, adding the Math score, and dividing the total by 10.

Students who score at or above their state’s cutoff will move on to become Semifinalists. Even if your child narrowly misses this cutoff, they may still be recognized as a Commended Student. National Merit recognition can open doors for scholarships and further enhance college applications, so this is an excellent opportunity for students aiming for top schools.

What to Do After the PSAT: 4 Steps For Juniors and One for Sophomores

After receiving PSAT results, it’s essential to take the right steps to guide your child through the next stages of testing and college preparation. With more colleges reinstating test score requirements, being proactive now will help relieve stress later. Here are five actionable steps to set your child up for success.

1. Identify SAT or ACT Focus

One of the most critical decisions after receiving PSAT scores is whether to focus on the SAT or ACT. Both tests are accepted by virtually all colleges, but some students perform better on one than the other, based on their strengths.

Action Step: Have your child take a practice SAT and ACT to compare which test suits them better. There are free resources available online for this, or you can work with a test prep service to arrange practice tests. After evaluating their results, select the test where your child feels more comfortable and has the potential to score higher. By narrowing their focus to one exam, you can streamline their prep and maximize results.

With colleges increasingly requiring test scores for admission again, especially at more selective institutions, it’s important to make this decision early to ensure adequate preparation time.

2. Create a Preliminary College List with Target Scores as Motivation

Juniors should begin creating a preliminary college list by the end of their first semester. This list should not just be a list of dream schools but should serve as a tool to set specific, actionable goals for standardized test scores.

Action Step: Research the middle 50% SAT/ACT score ranges for the colleges on your child’s list. This range represents where most admitted students’ scores fall. For example, if your child’s PSAT score translates to a 1200 SAT, but their dream school’s middle range is 1300-1450, you now have a target for improvement. These score ranges will help your child see how close they are to their goal and give them a clear path for preparing.

Using these target scores as motivation can help keep your child focused and driven. Additionally, knowing the expectations for their target schools early will help them plan test retakes and avoid surprises down the road.

3. Select Test Dates and Build a Preparation Timeline

Once your child has decided whether to focus on the SAT or ACT, the next step is to select test dates and build a timeline for preparation. Junior year is busy, with AP exams, extracurricular commitments, and schoolwork, so planning test dates early will reduce stress.

Action Step: Look at the upcoming SAT and ACT test dates, and select two to three dates that work well with your child’s schedule. It’s best to complete testing by the end of junior year, allowing the summer before senior year for any last-minute test retakes if needed. Be sure to account for busy periods like finals, AP exams, or major extracurricular events.

Bonus Tip: Register early for the first test date to secure a preferred testing location and avoid last-minute stress. Many students perform better on their second or third attempt, so it’s wise to plan for multiple testing opportunities.

As more colleges resume test score requirements, a well-planned timeline is key to ensuring your child is fully prepared without feeling overwhelmed.

4. Set Clear, Measurable Goals and Deadlines

Managing the college admissions process requires clear goals and deadlines. Time management will help your child avoid last-minute cramming and maintain balance between test prep, school, and extracurriculars.

Action Step: : Work with your child to set specific goals for improving their test scores. For example, if they scored 1150 on the PSAT and need a 1350 to be competitive for their target schools, break that into monthly or weekly improvement goals. Set deadlines for test registration, research deadlines for colleges, and start early on college application materials like personal essays.

Having a clear timeline will reduce stress for both you and your child, making the process more manageable while keeping them on track.

5. Tailored Advice for Sophomores

If your child took the PSAT as a sophomore, they can use the test as a diagnostic tool to guide their future efforts. While sophomore PSAT scores aren’t used for college admissions, they provide a valuable baseline.

Action Step: Review the PSAT score report with your child and focus on areas where they may need improvement. Since sophomores still have a year before their scores will count toward National Merit or college admissions, this is a great time to strengthen their academic foundation and build strong study habits. Focusing on these areas now will make junior year testing far less stressful.

Sophomores should also take the time to explore which test (SAT or ACT) is the better fit, so they can begin targeted preparation next year.