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.
Jared: Cardiff PSAT course instructor
...for my church. Because of this I am now part of a Hispanic volunteer group helping children learn to read more fluently. I played rugby and football, and I love doing things outdoors, whether it be hiking, going to the lake, skiing, or backpacking. I have also traveled to many parts of the world and...
Education & Certification
- Brigham Young University-Provo - Current Undergrad, Pre-Information Systems
Subject Expertise
- PSAT
- ACT
- SAT
- Advanced Placement
- +34 subjects
Kelsey: Cardiff PSAT course instructor
...tutoring and editing background; she had worked as a lead tutor at a math-focused center for students ages 5 to 18, had individually tutored numerous students on college entrance exam preparation, and has worked professionally as an editorial assistant for research institutions. Her personal goal is to help students build a foundation of solid study...
Education & Certification
- Cornell University - Bachelor in Arts, Psychology
Subject Expertise
- PSAT
- ISEE
- SAT
- SSAT
- +79 subjects
Rebecca: Cardiff PSAT course instructor
...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
- SAT
- SSAT
- ACT
- +53 subjects
Ariela: Cardiff PSAT course instructor
...of teaching it to someone else, and that understanding someone's method of processing this information is the easiest way to get it to stick. Like I do backstage, I am excited about solving the puzzle of how someone learns best, and inspired by the idea of recognizing the specificities of each individual and treating each...
Education & Certification
- University of Chicago - Current Undergrad, Theater & Performance Studies
Subject Expertise
- PSAT
- Advanced Placement
- ISEE
- SAT
- +50 subjects
Caroline: Cardiff PSAT course instructor
...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 Subject Tests
- SAT
- SAT Subject Test in Chemistry
- +42 subjects
Zachary: Cardiff PSAT course instructor
...high school math and chemistry, but I can also tutor for standardized tests. I have tutoring experience from highschool. I enjoy tutoring because I get to see how my students develop their skills over time. Outside of school, I enjoy playing trombone and singing (I do enjoy using songs to help memorize math formulas), speedcubing...
Education & Certification
- Illinois State University - Current Undergrad, Mathematics - Actuarial Science
Subject Expertise
- PSAT
- ACT
- MAP
- ACT Science
- +19 subjects
Rebecca: Cardiff PSAT course instructor
...but the lighting of a fire." I empower my students to seek answers on their own and develop their critical thinking skills. As a tutor, I structure my teaching around the student's individual interests and needs. For example, one 6th grade student loved to perform onstage, so we wrote a play to explore theme, plot,...
Education & Certification
- Occidental College - Bachelor in Arts, English
Subject Expertise
- PSAT
- SAT
- High School Level American History
- GRE Verbal
- +31 subjects
Lee: Cardiff PSAT course instructor
...I like to push my students. I know that every student is able to do well and I really enjoy helping them along their path to success. But being laid back, I am also good at relaxing a student and helping point out what is important and what is not. In my free time, I...
Education & Certification
- Northwestern University - Bachelor of Science, Biomedical Engineering
- Northwestern University - Master of Science, Biomedical Engineering
Subject Expertise
- PSAT
- ACT
- SAT
- ASPIRE
- +41 subjects
Josh: Cardiff PSAT course instructor
...the University of Washington, and I have tutored students of all ages in school subjects ranging from biology to social studies. I especially like working through math and standardized test questions since I enjoy puzzles and problem solving though helping someone to express their feelings and opinions in writing can also be very rewarding. In...
Education & Certification
- Stanford University - Bachelor in Arts, Music, Concentration in Composition
- University of Washington-Seattle Campus - Masters, Music Composition
Subject Expertise
- PSAT
- SAT
- SAT Subject Tests
- ACT
- +42 subjects
Andrew: Cardiff PSAT course instructor
...desire to learn more of the German language through a glimpse of what is possible once one has a basis in the language. I also have taken German Diction classes because of my background in vocal performance, and this means that I am especially adept at dealing with difficulties in pronunciation, or when students are...
Education & Certification
- Oberlin College and Conservatory - Bachelors, German Studies and Voice Performance
- DePaul University - Masters, Voice Performance
Subject Expertise
- PSAT
- SAT
- ACT
- ACT Science
- +26 subjects
Ben: Cardiff PSAT course instructor
...special classes and labored through the workbooks to prepare for taking the exams myself. The trick is to learn the test and know how to beat it with the right tools, and I am eager to pass along what I have learned from years of studying for and taking standardized tests. There is nothing quite...
Education & Certification
- George Washington University - Bachelor in Arts, Psychology
- Roosevelt University - PHD, Clinical Psychology
Subject Expertise
- PSAT
- SAT
- GED
- ACT
- +50 subjects
Kyle: Cardiff PSAT course instructor
...with various subjects throughout their academic careers. There is no better feeling than watching someone have a eureka moment of understanding, and I look forward to meeting and working with new students. As a Colorado native, I love spending my free time hiking and climbing my way through the Rockies. I also enjoy playing volleyball...
Education & Certification
- University of Colorado Denver - Bachelor of Science, Biology & Psychology
Subject Expertise
- PSAT
- ACT
- SAT
- Spanish 3
- +46 subjects
Alex: Cardiff PSAT course instructor
...to be in the woods or near the beach (I am from Florida after all...). While outside, I usually find myself running (again, in the woods if possible), reading, or attempting to channel my inner-Ron Swanson by building things from wood (I am at the table- and chair-level, definitely not the canoe-level. Yet).... I like to get a sense of what the student's goals are and where they want/need to be academically within a time frame. After the first lesson, we should both have a good idea of what material we need to cover and what benchmarks we need to hit over the course of the semester/school year/other time frame.
Education & Certification
- University of Florida - Bachelor in Arts, Anthropology
- Georgetown University - Master of Arts, Conflict Resolution
Subject Expertise
- PSAT
- GED
- Advanced Placement
- ACT
- +146 subjects
Audrey: Cardiff PSAT course instructor
...at my school's writing center to assist first-year students with college-level essays. I have also captained an award-winning collegiate mock trial team for several years, which involves mentoring younger students in oral and written communication skills. In addition to my experience, standardized testing has always been a forte of mine. I am enthusiastic about sharing...
Education & Certification
- Pomona College - Bachelor in Arts, Political Science and Government
Subject Expertise
- PSAT
- ACT
- SAT
- Elementary Math
- +36 subjects
Simon: Cardiff PSAT course instructor
...accessible, especially when it can seem confusing and intimidating. I love activating students' natural curiosity and inquiry, and using that to build confidence in and mastery of a wide variety of academic topics. I graduated from Yale University with a double major in Environmental Studies and International Studies, and I love the way science and...
Education & Certification
- Yale University - Bachelors, Environmental Studies
- Yale University - Bachelor in Arts, International Relations
Subject Expertise
- PSAT
- SAT
- SAT Subject Tests
- ACT
- +43 subjects
Gabrielle: Cardiff PSAT course instructor
...prepare for college entrance exams, we always have fun determining the study method that works best for them. Everybody has a different learning style and once we hone in on the right one for you, an improvement in scores will become more than apparent. Overall, I find tutoring to be an incredibly rewarding profession and...
Education & Certification
- Arizona State University - Bachelor in Arts, Chinese Language & Global Studies
Subject Expertise
- PSAT
- SAT Subject Tests
- SAT
- TOEFL
- +29 subjects
Mei: Cardiff PSAT course instructor
...work with clients to build personalized solutions to address their unique needs. I developed a passion for teaching others how to be successful at a young age. I am the oldest child of three and have a brother (4 years younger) and a sister (8 years younger). Growing up, I excelled at math; however, my...
Education & Certification
- Northwestern University - Bachelors, Economics
Subject Expertise
- PSAT
- SAT Subject Tests
- SAT
- Pre-Algebra
- +31 subjects
Del: Cardiff PSAT course instructor
...in the ways that each student learns best. In fact, I think that is one of the most fulfilling things about tutoring: finding the learning methods innate in each student and helping shape those instincts into tools for learning any material. Outside of academics I enjoy writing, recording, and playing music in a band, acting...
Education & Certification
- University of Oklahoma Norman Campus - Bachelors, Drama, BFA
Subject Expertise
- PSAT
- SAT
- Pre-Calculus
- SAT Math
- +13 subjects
Andrew: Cardiff PSAT course instructor
...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
- ACT
- SAT
- SAT Subject Tests
- +44 subjects
Molly: Cardiff PSAT course instructor
...both subjects from Columbia University. I am highly qualified to tutor Writing at all levels - from elementary to adult professional writing - as I have written two distinguished theses as part of my academic training. As a Tutor, I can do more than simply help students with homework. My approach to aiding them is...
Education & Certification
- Columbia University in the City of New York - Bachelor in Arts, History
- Northwestern University - Masters, Elementary Education
Subject Expertise
- PSAT
- SAT
- ISAT
- SAT Subject Tests
- +111 subjects