Every year, over 3.5 million high schoolers take the PSAT/NMSQT, typically during their junior or sophomore year. The PSAT is a great opportunity for students to test the standardized-testing waters and get an idea of how the SAT is formatted and what score they would get when they take it during state-mandated testing in the spring. Juniors take it for the added benefit of qualifying for the National Merit Scholarship Test, which could give students a scholarship of $2500 from the National Merit Corporation and other awards from colleges who accept NMSQT scores. Scholarships are given by the National Merit Corporation, other corporations, or colleges. 50,000 juniors with the high PSAT/NMSQT Selection Index scores in the nation qualify for the NMS.

The following five Fossil Ridge High School seniors qualified as National Merit Scholars after taking the test in 2015:

John Lammons
Nick Lin
David Perkins
Maddie Pettine
Lucas Ray

Any sophomores or juniors wishing to take the PSAT/NMSQT in 2016 can sign up for $20 at the fees window by October 5. The test will be administered Wednesday, October 19 at 8 am in Fossil’s main gym. Students are to bring two #2 pencils and a calculator and should arrive about fifteen minutes before the testing time is set to begin.

[socialpoll id=”2390421″]