Approximately 1.3 million students take the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (NMSQT) every year. This year marks one of the most successful National Merit results in the school’s history, with a record-breaking 35 Marksmen being named semi-finalists. In addition to the 35 semi-finalists, 31 were named Commended Scholars.  

Unlike the SAT, which students are allowed to take an unlimited number of times, the PSAT is a one-and-done exam. However, college counselor Joshua Shandera believes Marksmen have historically done well with this examination because of experience with similar forms of standardized testing. 

“One, our students are just good at standardized test taking, as well as test-taking in general and I think they excel at that in particular,” Shandera said. “Two, the content they’re being tested they’ve already absolutely mastered, so it’s not like they’re being tested on anything they learned recently.”

While most students do not study specifically for the PSAT/NMSQT, the studying they do for the SAT often carries over, allowing them to perform incredibly well on the examination. 

“Because the PSAT is just an easier version of the SAT, there was no reason to study for the PSAT, you would just study for the SAT,” senior Eric Zhang said.

While now applying to be named a finalist, Zhang looks forward to the college scholarship capabilities afforded by being named one.

“Students that are named semi-finalists will apply to be named a National Merit finalist,” Shandera said. “And if they are, they can receive a scholarship through the National Merit Foundation. Some colleges will also have special recognitions for semi-finalists and finalists.”