Homeschooling is a great learning setting for some students, but since they’re not around a traditional school setting where the PSAT is promoted, they probably have questions about the test and how it benefits them.
If you’re a homeschool student who’s not sure whether or not you should take the PSAT, the short answer is “yes.” There are lots of great reasons why homeschoolers should also take the PSAT. Here are 3 key benefits of the PSAT explained:
- It prepares you for college.
Plenty of homeschoolers go to college, and if you’re thinking along those lines, then the PSAT is a must. The test will help you understand and prepare for the SAT and ACT, which are required by most colleges for entrance. PSAT test prep can be done at home by reviewing what you’ve learned in your lessons and with free online PSAT prep classes (check out the ones we’re offering!).
- It helps you understand where you stand compared to other students.
Even if you’re involved with a local homeschool co-op, you probably don’t come in contact with many other students in your area. It’s hard to know where you stand in your knowledge and test-taking skills compared to them, or even compared to the national average. The PSAT will give you percentile scores for your critical reading, math, and writing sections so you know how well you’re doing compared to these other students and what areas you might need to focus on improving before you take the SAT or ACT.
- There’s no real reason not to take the PSAT.
Yes, it might seem like taking this test is a pain, but it’s really not. You only have to do it once, and it tells you loads about your learning progress in high school and the potential you have for learning and improving in college. There’s no drawback to taking the PSAT, either; your high school grades aren’t affected by it, and the only time the PSAT score matters is when you apply for a National Merit Scholarship.
As a homeschool student, you’ll be required to take the test under the administration of your local school so make sure you know when they’re hosting it (it’s only given once a year). Also, you can still enter your state’s homeschool code when you take the PSAT, so you’ll be registered as a homeschooler.
Taking the PSAT as a homeschooler is always a good idea. Not only will it help you prepare for college, but it’ll give you a good idea of where you stand compared to the rest of the nation’s students and it’ll help you better understand your high school learning up to that point. Now that you know the benefits, make sure to sign up for our PSAT test prep classes so you’re ready to succeed on the test!
