September 27, 2026
Dear Parents,
On Wednesday, Oct. 14, beginning at 8:30 a.m., all Good Hope Country Day sophomores and juniors will be taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT). The tests are a vehicle of the CollegeBoard, who produces and owns the SAT Suite of exams. The PSAT/NMSQT is particularly important for juniors, as it serves as a qualifier for three scholarships:
- The National Merit Scholarship Program (National Merit Scholarship Corp.)
- The National Hispanic Scholar Award Program (College Board) and
- The National Achievement Scholarship Program for Outstanding Black students (NMSC).
The PSAT is equally important for the sophomores, as it gives them their first introduction to the SAT, which they will take in the spring of their junior year.
The PSAT exams are administered digitally. Our students will have uploaded the necessary software (BlueBook) onto either their school-issued device or their personal computer, and will practice opening the exam to ensure they are ready for test day. The College Board offers free SAT PREP and practice digital tests on their website; I have also linked the Student Guide to the test here.
To ensure a successful test day for your child, please:
- Review the Official Student Guides to the PSAT/NMSQT with your student
- Make certain that your student gets a good night’s rest and has a healthy breakfast the day of the test (an empty stomach causes a distraction and cannot feed the brain!)
- Students must arrive at school on time. Arriving late will not only disrupt the rest of the students but will also cause undue stress to your child. This test is only offered once per year
- The scores from this test are not a part of your child’s permanent record, but encouraging them to do their best will help them perform better on future tests.
Following are the dates for the upcoming SAT tests, which are administered at GHCDS. It is recommended that students take their first SAT in May of their junior year, although some students take it in March. Students register for the tests through their College Board accounts.
If you have any questions concerning the PSAT/NMSQT, please feel free to contact me.
Sincerely,
Nancy Thatcher
College Counselor
SAT TEST AND REGISTRATION DATES
Test Date Registration Deadline
Nov. 7, 2026 Oct. 23, 2026
Dec. 5, 2026 Nov. 20, 2026
March 6, 2027 Feb. 19, 2027
May 1, 2027 April 16, 2027
June 5, 2027 May 21, 2027