Hello, Hawks! The PSAT 2021 exam will be administered on Wednesday, October 13th, at Hickory High School and offered at no cost to all sophomores.

Benefits of taking the PSAT

The PSAT provides students information about their academic strengths and weaknesses as it pertains to future SAT testing. Through their College Board accounts, students are able to view their scores and access Khan Academy videos targeted to help them improve and prepare for the SAT as well as discover their AP potential.   In addition, students will have access to one-stop college planning tools, and they can connect with colleges that are interested in them.

The PSAT may also serve as a National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) for Grade 11 students.
Per the College Board website, “Of the 1.5 million eligible students who take the PSAT/NMSQT, only about 50,000 of the highest scoring students will receive program recognition . . . about 16,000 of the 50,000 high scorers will be notified that they have qualified as Semifinalists. Semifinalists are the highest-scoring entrants in each state. The remaining 34,000 high scorers will be named Commended Students and will receive Letters of Commendation in recognition of their outstanding academic promise, but they will not continue in the competition for National Merit Scholarships.”  Grade 10 students taking the PSAT can decide if their score merits taking the test again in Grade 11 to qualify for a National Merit Scholarship.


Grade 10 students may choose not to take the exam.  If you or your child does not wish to take the exam October 13, please complete the form below.  Please note that Grade 10 students who choose not to take the exam may be placed in the media center for Blocks 1 and 2 on October 13 as the majority of the sophomore class and teachers will be administering the PSAT test.

Please respond to the information requested below by Wednesday, October 6, 2021. The PSAT Test Coordinator will provide additional details about testing day procedures at a later date.