Breaking Down the PSAT, SAT and ACT
If your homeschooled child is aiming for college, stadardized tests may be a requirement.
Even for those colleges and universities who don't require the scores but instead hold a test optional policy, taking the test and providing the score may help your child's application to be more competitive.
But which test should your child take and when? Let's break it down.
The PSAT
PSAT stands for Preliminary SAT. The test is often taken as a practice round for the SAT and includes math, reading, and writing.
The PSAT is available in multiple levels that correspod to the grade level of your child, including the PSAT 8/9, the PSAT 10, and the PSAT/NMSQT. All levels will give your child 2 hours and 14 minutes to complete the test.
The PSAT 8/9 is the earliest test you can take and will give you early feedback on the areas they might need more work on. The PSAT 10 is more similar to the SAT with more challenging sections for Math, Reading, Writing, and Language.
The PSAT/ NMSQT is often taken during a child's junior year (11th grade) and is the closest test to the SAT. If your child earns a high score on this version of the test, they can also qualify your for a National Merit Scholarship to use towards college later on.
All PSAT options can only be taken through a local high school and you will need to make an appointment to have your child sit for the test. They can also take free practice tests online through the college board website.
The SAT
The SAT is a standardized test that helps colleges an universities see if your child is ready for college. It's usually taken during a child's junior year of high school.
Sections of the SAT include Math, Reading and Writing. Most of the questions are multiple choice but sometimes they will need to write in their answers as well. Your child will have 64 minutes to complete the reading and writing section and 70 minutes to complete the math section.
You can view a detailed breakdown of the SAT sections and take practice tests online by visiting The College Board website.
Preparing for the SAT is highly recommended and can include taking the PSAT, joining an SAT prep course, studying from a SAT prep book, or hiring a specialized test prep tutor. Khan Academy also offers free SAT prep completely online.
Like the PSAT, the SAT can only be taken through a local highschool or official testing center.
The ACT
Similar to the SAT, the ACT is used by universities to determine college readiness. Many colleges only require either the SAT or ACT score but some ask for both.
The ACT tests children in the areas of english, reading, writing, math, and science. Each subject are is broken down into timed blocks ranging from 35 minites to 60 minutes to complete each section.
To prepare for the ACT, children can work through prep books, prep courses, or take one of the many free practice options available on the ACT website.
To register for an ACT exam, find a local testing center online.