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PSAT/NMSQT

MRHS Administration of the PSAT/NMSQT

The PSAT/NMSQT is the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test

Basic Information Regarding the PSAT Administration Day/Date:

  • Friday, October 17, 2025 (Grade 11/Class of 2027 - all students)
  • Friday, October 24, 2025 (Grade 10/Class of 2028 - students who sign up)
  • There are no make-up days.
  • The administration will begin promptly at 8:45 a.m.
  • Note: The PSAT is a standardized test. No student is allowed to leave the exam before the end of the fully allotted time. Students taking the standardized test are typically in the exam room for 3.5 hours but may vary based on start time.
  • MRHS offers this exam to students free of cost for all juniors and for sophomores wishing to sign up.

Registration:

  • Grade 11 students who wish to take the exam do not need to do anything to register except attend a pre-registration session with the counselors. All students in Grade 11 will participate in the PSAT/NMSQT unless you opt-out by speaking to your counselor.
  • Grade 10 who wish to take the exam may sign up in the guidance suite or through this link.

Why take the PSAT?

The PSAT is a very useful tool for students who plan to continue their education after high school. The exam measures skills related to reading, mathematics, and writing. MRHS recommends that all students in the Class of 2027 take the exam.The experience of taking the exam and the results will help students prepare for the SAT. Information related to a student’s results are detailed and personalized. Once results are received (typically in November), students can access free exam preparation tools offered by the College Board and its partner, Khan Academy. While it is difficult to give “one size fits all” advice, in general, it is recommended that juniors take the SAT for the first time in the spring (i.e., March, May or June) of their junior year. In addition, any junior who performs extremely well on the PSAT may qualify for the initial round of the National Merit Scholarship Competition. Please note that any student in the Class of 2028 may also take the exam. This administration serves as an “extra practice” for them. Whether to take the exam as a sophomore for “extra practice” is a personal decision; therefore, if a sophomore and parents/guardians decide that waiting one more year to take the PSAT would be best, it is perfectly fine. Students who take the PSAT as sophomores are not considered part of the National Merit Scholarship Competition.

What to bring on exam day?

There are only a few things you really need to bring on test day, and a lot of things you'll be better off leaving at home. Be sure to bring:

  • Your fully charged district-issued Chromebook. You should already have the Bluebook App installed on your Chromebook. If you do not see this, please put in a request through IncidentIQ. You must have the app installed before test day and attend a pre-registration session with the counseling department.
  • A power cord. We cannot guarantee you’ll have access to an outlet during testing. Your device should be able to hold a charge for 3–4 hours.
  • A pencil or pen.
  • An approved calculator. There’s a graphing calculator built into the Bluebook app, but you can bring your own if you like.
  • Mobile phones will be collected before the exam and may not be accessed until the exam administration has concluded.

For more information and for practice information, please refer to the College Board website and the PSAT/NMSQT website.