October 1, 2024
Dear Students and Parents/Guardians,
The 2024 PSAT/NMSQT will be offered at Joel Barlow High School on Wednesday, October 23, beginning promptly at 7:30 am to all sophomores and juniors. The testing period will end at approximately 10:30 am, after which ALL students will begin the school day with an abbreviated schedule. The regular bus schedule will be in effect for sophomores and juniors. Freshmen and seniors will be transported on a second bus run, approximately three hours, fifteen minutes later than usual pick-up times.
This is the only opportunity for students in 10th and 11th grades to take the PSAT this year.
Students in grades 10 and 11 will take the PSAT/NMSQT in a digital format using their own laptop or a school-owned Chromebook or device. Students will conduct a digital readiness check in Advisory on October 10th that requires them to bring their personal laptop or school-owned Chromebook to school on this day.
Results from the PSAT/NMSQT provide insights into academic strengths, along with areas students can work on while still in high school. If the PSAT 8/9 or the PSAT in grade 10 were taken, students will show progress from one test to the next.
Information from the PSAT/NMSQT can also help students and their counselors plan a student's education beyond high school, and be used as a practice SAT of sorts, while predicting future performance on the College Board's Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT).
The PSAT/NMSQT is the qualifying test for 11th grade students who wish to participate in the nationwide scholarship competitions conducted by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC). Although students are permitted to take the PSAT/NMSQT more than once during high school for guidance purposes, they may compete only in the junior year for scholarships offered by the National Merit Scholarship Program.
For these important reasons, the administration’s goal is that all sophomores and juniors take the test. We expect 100% participation by all grade 10 and 11 students. There is no fee to take the PSAT/NMSQT, as this cost is covered by the school. Parents who do not want their children to participate must notify the Director of School Counseling, Catherine Hilser (chilser@er9.org), prior to October 16, 2024.
If you or your child have questions about the PSAT/NMSQT or college and career planning, please reach out to your child’s school counselor.
Looking forward to supporting our sophomore and junior students for their college and career aspirations with these opportunities.
Warm regards,
J.T. Schemm
Assistant Principal
Test Coordinator for SAT Suite of Assessments
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