Whether your student is in the 8th or 9th grade or is a sophomore or junior, they can benefit from a PSAT class offered by Varsity Tutors. Working with a tutor in PSAT prep classes can be helpful to your student if they are preparing to take the PSAT 8/9, PSAT 10, or PSAT/NMSQT. If you're interested in a PSAT course for your student, feel free to contact Varsity Tutors for more details.
The PSAT/NMSQT serves as the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. It was designed to be administered to high school sophomores and juniors during the fall. The PSAT 10 is offered in the Spring. However, this exam would not make your student eligible to become a National Merit Scholar. The PSAT 8/9 is designed for eighth and ninth grade students to identify areas where they may need more academic focus for any college readiness exams they'll take in the future.
The PSAT was designed to help students prepare for taking the SAT by completing preliminary practice exams. Being tutored one-on-one in a distraction-free environment can provide your child with the ideal learning situation for their PSAT class. They won't have to compete for the tutor's attention as they would in a classroom setting. When your child asks any questions, they can receive a timely answer from the tutor.
At the start of the first session in PSAT courses, an assessment of your child's academic skills can be completed. The tutor can ascertain any weak or strong areas so the right lesson plan can be implemented in the PSAT classes. This baseline can be instrumental in helping the tutor establish benchmarks for the study sessions. Tutors want to optimize each lesson so that your student can get the most out of the process and increase their confidence level for taking the PSAT.
There are some variations among the PSAT 8/9, PSAT 10, and PSAT/NMSQT. The chart below shows the differences between these PSAT exams. A PSAT prep course tutor can help your child understand the differences and prepare them for the proper test:
PSAT Exam | PSAT 8/9 | PSAT 10 | PSAT/NMSQT |
Who takes it? | 8th and 9th Grade Students | 10th Grade Students | 10th and 11th Grade Students |
When is the test available? | Fall through Spring | Spring | Fall |
Is the exam National Merit Scholarship eligible? | No | No | Yes |
Are students eligible for other scholarships by taking this test? | No | Yes | Yes |
Both you and your child's time is valuable. We can connect you with a tutor who is flexible with your busy schedule. PSAT prep courses can be taken online through our Live Learning Platform. All you need is a laptop, tablet, or even a smartphone, along with an internet connection for these classes.
Your student will need to have a competency in Reading, Writing and Language, and Math in order to do well on the PSAT. When they take PSAT prep classes, they can learn how to study more effectively so they can retain more of the material. Some students may get nervous when taking standardized tests. This could keep students from performing at their level of potential, but if your student has this issue, a tutor can work with them in the PSAT course to learn relaxation exercises, which can help them calm down and focus on the exam day. Staying calm is important if they want to be able to recall information that they've learned.
Each student has a different learning style. A tutor can work with your student's specific learning needs and abilities to customize lessons that help students learn in ways that work for them. This kind of training helps students comprehend ideas more efficiently.
Kyle: PSAT course instructor
...up as the oldest of five kids, I've spent a large part of my life being a tutor for my siblings. This helped me develop my teaching skills at a young age, and served me well when I became a recitation instructor at University of Colorado Denver, teaching upper-division genetics. My year-long tenure there only deepened my love of teaching and helped me strengthen my abilities to educate many different styles of learners. I also...
Education & Certification
- University of Colorado Denver - Bachelor of Science, Biology & Psychology
Subject Expertise
- PSAT
- ACT
- SAT
- General Biology
- +46 subjects
Travis: PSAT course instructor
...my time as a student, teacher, and mentor has taught me anything over the years, it is that simply checking the boxes and getting the right answer is not success. What I value far more is not just telling students the answers to their problems, but providing them with the resources and strategies to arrive at the correct answer themselves. Not only does this empower students, but it also gives them a framework to understand...
Education & Certification
- University of Southern California - Bachelor in Arts, Political Science and Government
- University of Southern California Sol Price School of Public Policy - Master in Public Health Administration, Master of Public Administration
Subject Expertise
- PSAT
- SAT
- ACT
- Algebra 2
- +34 subjects
Josh: PSAT course instructor
...SAT or the GRE, you likely had to learn how to infer tone and meaning using limited information. These skills are valuable and likely what you will retain throughout your life. This is why I care about helping people think about problems not just solve them. I care about showing them the paths to solving problems or writing essays so that they can walk them themselves rather than rummaging around in their memories for disconnected...
Education & Certification
- Stanford University - Bachelor in Arts, Music, Concentration in Composition
- University of Washington-Seattle Campus - Masters, Music Composition
Subject Expertise
- PSAT
- SAT Subject Tests
- ACT
- SAT
- +42 subjects
Rebecca: PSAT course instructor
...am a graduate of Northwestern University where I received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Religious Studies. I am currently pursuing a masters degree in social work at the University of Chicago's School of Social Service Administration. I am passionate about tutoring because I want everyone to be able to perform academically at their highest possible level. I also think it is important that learning is not just for one assignment...
Education & Certification
- Northwestern University - Bachelors, Psychology
- University of Chicago SSA - Masters, Social Work
Subject Expertise
- PSAT
- ACT
- SAT
- SSAT
- +53 subjects
Matt: PSAT course instructor
...2014 I graduated from Johns Hopkins University as a Public Health major with a concentration in Immunology and Infectious Diseases. I then went on to complete a Masters program at Georgetown University in human physiology. Given the amount of schooling I have gone through myself, I have taken a wide range of subjects and more standardized tests than I would like to admit. I have taught students of almost every age in various fields such...
Education & Certification
- Johns Hopkins University - Bachelors, Public Health concentration in Immunology and Infectious Disease
- Georgetown University - Masters, Biophysics and Human Physiology
Subject Expertise
- PSAT
- SSAT
- SAT Subject Tests
- SAT
- +85 subjects
Caroline: PSAT course instructor
...I am a graduate of the University of California at Berkeley with a Bachelors degree in Molecular and Cellular Biology. During my four years of college, I guided K-12 students of the Oakland area in Language Arts and Mathematics and served as a mentor for many high school students. I have also been an undergraduate student instructor for the General Biology lab course offered at U.C. Berkeley, a prerequisite for students wishing to pursue Biology...
Education & Certification
- University of California-Berkeley - Bachelor of Science, Molecular Biology
Subject Expertise
- PSAT
- SAT
- SAT Subject Tests
- Mandarin Chinese 1
- +42 subjects
Tessa: PSAT course instructor
...I'm an undergraduate student at Yale University, with a prospective double major in Mathematics and History. I strive to bring students toward their lightbulb moments not by repeating facts until they're drilled in, but by helping my students understand precisely why the laws of science, the rules of grammar, and the events of history are the way they are, and by lifting the curtain on the intricacies of the subject matter. I believe that learning...
Education & Certification
- Yale University - Current Undergrad, Mathematics and History
Subject Expertise
- PSAT
- SAT
- Advanced Placement
- SAT Subject Tests
- +106 subjects
Andrew: PSAT course instructor
...have been tutoring since high school, when I tutored students in Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, and Chemistry. Since then, I have tutored for four years at the college level in both German and Music Theory/Aural Skills. I have also twice co-taught an intensive one-month long German 101 course, where I designed the lesson plans, and graded homework, quizzes and tests. I am a great tutor because of my broad experience in tutoring many different subjects, so...
Education & Certification
- Oberlin College and Conservatory - Bachelors, German Studies and Voice Performance
- DePaul University - Masters, Voice Performance
Subject Expertise
- PSAT
- ACT
- SAT
- Geometry
- +26 subjects
Rebecca: PSAT course instructor
...graduated from Occidental College with a Bachelor of Arts in English and Comparative Literature, emphasizing critical theory. My tutoring spans a diverse range of experiences: I tutored math at an inner-city school in Los Angeles, English to students in Hyderabad, India, and reading to rehabilitated refugee children in Arizona. After graduating, I instructed reading programs for the Institute of Reading Development, where I saw that, as my students' reading skills improved, their overall confidence skyrocketed....
Education & Certification
- Occidental College - Bachelor in Arts, English
Subject Expertise
- PSAT
- SAT
- Test Prep
- English Grammar and Syntax
- +31 subjects
Ajay: PSAT course instructor
...high school, I spent my lunch hour tutoring students who were struggling in their classes. Initially, I found this difficult; it was a challenge determining exactly where a student's understanding of a topic was faulty. Over time, however, I developed a keener sense for the hurdles that students sometimes face when learning, as well as the most efficient ways to overcome them. I also developed more patience and empathy through tutoring - I often remembered...
Education & Certification
- Arizona State University - Bachelors, Electrical Engineering
Subject Expertise
- PSAT
- AIMS
- SAT
- ACT
- +85 subjects
Brianna: PSAT course instructor
...am a currently a high school mathematics teacher. I graduated from the University of Richmond majoring in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing Analytics and a minor in Mathematics. I have worked with kids of all ages, ranging from elementary school to college students through various subjects. I have also worked extensively with special needs children, doing everything from teaching special education to one-on-one in-home mentoring. Through my experiences, I have continued to carry...
Education & Certification
- University of Richmond - Current Undergrad, Business Administration and Management
Subject Expertise
- PSAT
- ACT 8-Week Prep Class
- SAT 4-Week Prep Class
- Advanced Placement
- +217 subjects
Gabriela: PSAT course instructor
I'm a rising junior at Harvard College. I study African American Studies with a secondary in Women's Studies and I am pursuing a language citation in Spanish. I aspire to one day go to business school. When I am not doing work, I can typically be found reading, writing, or dancing.
Education & Certification
- Harvard University - Current Undergrad, African American Studies
Subject Expertise
- PSAT
- SAT
- TACHS
- SHSAT
- +66 subjects
Miguel: PSAT course instructor
...name is Miguel. Thank you for browsing my profile. I hope to inspire confidence in whatever subject matter we approach together, boosting student confidence in academic areas and beyond. My teaching philosophy is to use extensive questioning to help students forge their own pathway. Naturally, questions from students are encouraged and valued during all of my sessions. I emphasize a strategy based approach to studying, and keep an updated list of strategies that my students...
Education & Certification
- The University of Texas at Austin - Bachelors, Computer Science / English
Subject Expertise
- PSAT
- TOEFL
- SAT
- SAT Subject Tests
- +176 subjects
Max: PSAT course instructor
...is Max - I'm a senior at Yale College where I study Economics. I'm originally from Millburn, NJ. This year, I'm taking two semesters off from school to sing and travel the entire world with the Yale Whiffenpoofs, America's oldest collegiate a cappella singing group. Apart from singing, I'm is passionate about education, particularly in helping high school students achieve their academic goals as they work their way towards college. I volunteer in New Haven...
Education & Certification
- Yale University - Current Undergrad, Economics
Subject Expertise
- PSAT
- ACT
- SAT Subject Tests
- Advanced Placement
- +104 subjects
Alex: PSAT course instructor
...in this fashion, I try to make my lessons focus on principles and processes, creating a deeper understanding of the facts presented in class or in the textbook. I find that this technique works very well with math and physics, where understanding the theory is often the key to being able to see a problem and find the right path to a solution. I also try to apply this method to test preparation, so that...
Education & Certification
- University of Florida - Bachelor in Arts, Anthropology
- Georgetown University - Master of Arts, Conflict Resolution
Subject Expertise
- PSAT
- SAT Subject Tests
- GED
- Advanced Placement
- +146 subjects
Jaimie: PSAT course instructor
...name is Jaimie and I am a recent graduate of Northeastern University with my Bachelor's of Science degree in Chemical Engineering. I am currently working in the lab of Professor Robert Langer at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology working on novel drug delivery systems for the gastrointestinal tract. I am hoping to attend medical school in pursuit of becoming a physician. I am currently interested in pediatrics and psychiatry but I am looking forward to...
Education & Certification
- Northeastern University - Bachelors, Chemical Engineering
Subject Expertise
- PSAT
- REGENTS
- SSAT
- ACT
- +93 subjects
Ariela: PSAT course instructor
...of my strengths, and one of the reasons that I am good at test taking, is my ability to organize information. It's a skill I use both in my academic life, as well as professionally; as a stage manager, it is often my job to take in complicated and conflicting pieces of information (the blocking, a quick change in costumes, changes in a script) and quickly organize that information so that I can convey it...
Education & Certification
- University of Chicago - Current Undergrad, Theater & Performance Studies
Subject Expertise
- PSAT
- ISEE
- SAT
- Advanced Placement
- +50 subjects
Max: PSAT course instructor
...received my Bachelor of Science in Biology from Ball State University in the summer of 2014 and have been taking a break from academia since then. I am in the process now of applying for PhD programs in Computational Biology. I have done research in the field of freshwater ecology and am anticipating the publication of a paper I co-authored in the next several months. In the past I have worked with students of a...
Education & Certification
- Ball State University - Bachelors, Biology, General
Subject Expertise
- PSAT
- SAT
- Advanced Placement
- ACT
- +62 subjects
John: PSAT course instructor
I graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in NYC in 2008, the oldest English speaking acting conservatory in the world. I graduated Summa from University of St Thomas with a BA in English, and just wrapped up a MS in Data Science from Northwestern. I'm a huge Red Sox fan and love watching detective shows when I have free time.... Positivity. Always. I believe that if a student is given positive tools and is allowed to understand the material rather than be lectured at, they're more likely to do well in the future.
Education & Certification
- American Academy of Dramatic Arts - Associates, Acting
- University of St. Thomas - Bachelor of Fine Arts, English/Drama
Subject Expertise
- PSAT
- CLEP
- ACT
- SAT Subject Tests
- +110 subjects
Andrew: PSAT course instructor
...am a PhD student in Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience at the George Washington University and have an extensive background in math, science, and writing. As a tutor, I will be able to work with you across a broad range of topics. In terms of hobbies and interests, I enjoy discovering new music and collecting records. In the past, I have even hosted my own radio show. I also enjoy kayaking and playing sports including basketball...
Education & Certification
- Bucknell University - Bachelor of Science, Neuroscience
- George Washington University - PHD, Cognitive Neuroscience
Subject Expertise
- PSAT
- SAT
- SAT Subject Tests
- ACT
- +44 subjects