The EDUFAX Educational FAQ

Question #68:

Can I take the SAT before junior year, or should I take the PSAT first?

Answer #68:

You can take the SATs whenever you like, and, in fact, some gifted students take them in the seventh or eighth grade. The reason most students take them in junior year, however, is that by then you have taken the required Math and English courses which form the foundation of the test. Ideally, you should take the PSAT in sophomore year to see how you fare at standardized testing and to determine which are your areas of strength and which are your areas of weakness. Then you have time to improve before taking the PSAT in junior year, when it counts for consideration towards a National Merit Scholarship. It is wise to take the SAT II Subject Tests at the end of the sophomore year if you have completed a subject that year, such as Biology. SAT tests taken in the Spring of junior year or Fall of senior year are generally most indicative of a student's ability. You will be ahead of the game, however, if you start studying vocabulary and strategy long before your final testing date. You can find a listing of test prep books and CD-ROMs available on the Internet and compare their prices, on the EDUFAX site. EDUFAX provides Verbal Test Prep Tutorials (PSAT/SAT I/SAT II/ACT).

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