The PLAN Test is a pre-ACT, which is usually taken in 10th grade, and I’m pretty sure everyone in 10th grade takes it. That’s how they did it at my school, anyway! It’s just like the ACT, only maybe a bit easier; you’ll be given a score out of 32 (the actual ACT is out of 36) and a predicted score range for the ACT. The only purpose the PLAN Test serves is as practice, so the scores are more for fun and to give you an idea than anything.

The PSAT is a practice SAT, and is also called the NMSQT—National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. It is sometimes taken in 10th grade for extra practice, but is meant for 11th graders, and junior year is the only time your score can qualify you for National Merit. Freshmen only occasionally take it for practice, and by the time you’re a senior it’s too late. The test scores are given out of 240, with math, critical reading, and writing (no essay) sections; a really good score of around 220 (it depends on the state you’re in and changes each year, it may be as low as 208 or as high as 225) would qualify you as a National Merit Semifinalist.

High school sophomores and juniors take it. The juniors enter National Merit Scholarship Qualifying with their results, while the sophomores… well they gain a good idea about their level at the moment. The exam can very helpful if you’re planning on taking the SAT. The PSAT is like a shorter version (without the essay of SAT). It’s around 2 hours and 10 mins and has the three major parts of SAT: critical reading, math, and writing. Also, the highest score of PSAT is 240 and by adding a zero behind your result you get idea about your possible SAT results (for instance if you have a 192 on the PSAT expected SAT score is 1920). I’d recommend taking it, it’s very helpful.

10th and 11th graders take the PSAT. It doesn’t really count in 10th grade, but in 11th you can qualify for merit scholarships and things of that nature.