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.
Kaley: Waltham PSAT course instructor
...for ways to make learning fun and rewarding. I especially love teaching reading and writing and I have taught or tutored these subjects to students ranging from kindergarten through adults. I also have experience tutoring test prep subjects and focus both on the content material and test taking skills. My passion is psychology and I have been able to use my graduate training in human development to tailor my instruction to students' individual learning needs.
Education & Certification
- Brown University - Bachelors, Education and Public Policy
- Harvard Graduate School of Education - Masters, Human Development and Psychology
Subject Expertise
- PSAT
- ISEE
- SSAT
- ACT
- +35 subjects
Max: Waltham PSAT course instructor
...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 variety of age ranges on standardized test prep, middle school and high school math classes, and college-level biology courses as a volunteer, teaching assistant, and private tutor. I have spent...
Education & Certification
- Ball State University - Bachelors, Biology, General
Subject Expertise
- PSAT
- ACT
- Advanced Placement
- SAT
- +62 subjects
Katie: Waltham PSAT course instructor
...in the Program of Liberal Medical Education (PLME). I have over three years of experience working with college application consulting with a specialty in BS/MD programs and experience in tutoring with the SAT, having scored a 2400. I'm excited to work with you and your family on making the most out of the time you have to prepare for test taking, and am also open to conversations about the university application experience.
Education & Certification
- Brown University - Bachelor in Arts, Medical Anthropology
Subject Expertise
- PSAT
- SAT Subject Tests
- SAT
- AP Psychology
- +28 subjects
Ryan: Waltham PSAT course instructor
...college, I attended the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts, "one of sixteen public, residential high schools in the country specializing in the education of gifted and talented students who have an interest and aptitude for mathematics and science." For the past two years, I've served as an Honors Mentor and Resident Assistant. Additionally, I've served over 400 hours of community service in that time; I've taught English in Nicaragua and Ecuador, worked...
Education & Certification
- Northeastern University - Current Undergrad, International Affairs & Business
Subject Expertise
- PSAT
- SAT
- SAT Subject Tests
- ACT
- +30 subjects
Deirdre: Waltham PSAT course instructor
...me always. I know that Chemistry can have a particularly sharp learning curve for students and I worked through that myself, developing study and problem solving techniques that eventually led me to score a 5 on the AP Chemistry exam. History also requires a lot of time and effort, especially with memorization, synthesis, and learning how to craft an argument for historical writing. Given my own experiences with academics and tutoring, I can offer support...
Education & Certification
- Harvard University - Bachelors, History and Science, Pre-Medical Studies
- National University of Ireland-Galway - Masters, Gender, Globalisation and Rights
Subject Expertise
- PSAT
- ISEE
- SAT
- SAT Subject Tests
- +32 subjects
Henry: Waltham PSAT course instructor
Hello! I'm eager to help you in your education. I'm a recent graduate of Harvard College looking to apply to law school. My senior thesis was written on John Dewey's ideas of education, which I deeply believe has incredible power to transform individuals and society.
Education & Certification
- Harvard College - Bachelor in Arts, History
Subject Expertise
- PSAT
- SSAT
- SAT
- SAT Subject Tests
- +49 subjects
Diego: Waltham PSAT course instructor
Hi! I am an engineering student at Northeastern University who loves helping people out with all subjects. Standardized tests are just a game against the clock that we can improve in so many ways. ... I have two philosophies. 1. Practice makes perfect. 2. There's an angle to everything. I think there is always more than one way to approach a problem, and typically the test tries to make you think you need to take the harder approach.
Education & Certification
- Northeastern University - Current Undergrad, Industrial Engineering
Subject Expertise
- PSAT
- ACT
- TOEFL
- SAT Subject Tests
- +65 subjects
Jennifer: Waltham PSAT course instructor
...chemistry, biology, most math subjects, and SAT Reading and Math, but am especially confident with tutoring Mandarin Chinese, as a native Chinese speaker with experience teaching a beginning Chinese course in the middle school support program at the Wheeler School in Providence, RI. If you're interested in improving your Chinese (or just looking to start a new language!), please reach out to me! I will be working as a teaching assistant for a biology course...
Education & Certification
- Brown University - Current Undergrad Student, Biochemistry
Subject Expertise
- PSAT
- SAT Subject Tests
- SAT
- Writing
- +39 subjects
Max: Waltham PSAT course instructor
...few years to obtain a graduate degree in Clinical Psychology. While in college, I volunteered with the West Philadelphia Tutoring Project, an organization that brings Penn students into Philly's inner city to tutor low-income middle school students. I found the experience deeply rewarding and my time with WPTP nurtured an interest in working with children professionally. I tutor a wide variety of subjects including English, writing, history, SAT Reading/Writing, French and more! My favorite subject...
Education & Certification
- University of Pennsylvania - Bachelors, Psychology
Subject Expertise
- PSAT
- ACT
- SAT
- SAT Subject Tests
- +61 subjects
Daniel: Waltham PSAT course instructor
At the core, I love learning and find it fun. In teaching, I try to convey that sense of fun to my students. I use a variety of techniques depending on my student's learning style, but I always focus on the fun of learning new things.... In a first session with a student, I would introduce the basic concepts and core questions of the subject, and determine my student's learning style in order to plan future lessons better.
Education & Certification
- Tufts University - Current Undergrad, Biomedical Engineering and Mathematics
Subject Expertise
- PSAT
- SAT Subject Tests
- GED
- SSAT
- +96 subjects
Tom: Waltham PSAT course instructor
...have retained a deep interest in a variety of subjects, and have especially enjoyed helping students to master those subjects. In high school I tutored extensively in Math and English, and in high school and college I honed my teaching abilities further by serving as a musical director for various musical theater productions and singing ensembles. Additionally, I invested substantial amounts of time preparing for the SAT and many AP exams: I know the tests...
Education & Certification
- Harvard University - Bachelors, American History & Literature
- Boston University - PHD, American Studies
Subject Expertise
- PSAT
- Advanced Placement
- SAT
- SAT Subject Tests
- +52 subjects
Adithya: Waltham PSAT course instructor
...a job serving as an investment management consultant in Boston, MA. I am passionate about teaching and enjoy helping students prepare and succeed in academics. I especially enjoy helping students study for standardized tests. A lot of high school is spent prepping for college and with proper instruction anyone can get into the college of their dreams. I believe that I can help students achieve their goals. In addition to standardized test preparation my passions...
Education & Certification
- Saint Olaf College - Current Undergrad, Economics, Psychology
Subject Expertise
- PSAT
- SAT
- ACT
- ACT Writing
- +32 subjects
Abby: Waltham PSAT course instructor
...In the past I have tutored elementary school students in English and Math, middle school students in English as a second language, and helped peers in an informal context. My experiences teaching visual art and dance classes have also helped me develop creative and engaging ways to present information. While I tutor many different subjects, I am particularly excited about working with students on writing and French. I have studied French for 11 years and...
Education & Certification
- Brown University - Bachelors, Education Studies
Subject Expertise
- PSAT
- SAT Subject Tests
- ISEE
- SSAT
- +44 subjects
Nathaniel: Waltham PSAT course instructor
...MA in political science from Brandeis. I have also been a teaching assistant at Binghamton University in philosophy, where I gave one-on-one tips in both writing style and content area. My favorite subjects to tutor are history, English, literature, writing, philosophy, and SAT prep. I've always had a passion for narrative and communication, where these subjects in the humanities meet and form a core source of critical thinking skills that fuel inquiry and success in...
Education & Certification
- Brandeis University - Bachelors, History, Political Science
- Brandeis University - Masters, Political Science and Government
Subject Expertise
- PSAT
- SAT Subject Tests
- GED
- Advanced Placement
- +54 subjects
Peter: Waltham PSAT course instructor
...Swarthmore, graduating with High Honors. I have experience tutoring students in high school, community college, and students attending Swarthmore. I most enjoy tutoring math and physics, since these are the subjects I love studying most on my own time. Explaining abstract ideas as a TA, as a volunteer in local schools, and as a frequent contributor to the student science magazine were some of my most rewarding experiences in college. Outside of academia, I love...
Education & Certification
- Swarthmore College - Bachelors, Physics
Subject Expertise
- PSAT
- SAT Subject Tests
- SAT
- AP Physics 1
- +44 subjects
AJ: Waltham PSAT course instructor
...in Mathematics and Chemistry for volunteer hours and simultaneously began teaching swimming lessons to children of all ages. Ever since I started I have only grown more and more fond of helping those around me improve themselves in various disciplines. In these past nine years, I have expanded my range of tutoring to subjects such as Psychology, Neuroscience, Statistics, and even the Korean language. I earned my degree in Neuroscience, but I am currently training...
Education & Certification
- Boston University - Bachelor of Science, Neuroscience
Subject Expertise
- PSAT
- SAT
- ACT
- SAT Subject Tests
- +73 subjects
Liana: Waltham PSAT course instructor
...dad's job. I was homeschooled up until 8th grade, when I began attending Ransom Everglades middle school and subsequently Ransom Everglades high school. I graduated from Northwestern University in 2019 with a BA in Biological Sciences and a concentration in Genetics and Genomics. I currently do research in an infectious disease laboratory at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard. I tutor subjects in diverse areas, from Molecular Biology and Middle School Math to Spanish...
Education & Certification
- Northwestern University - Current Undergrad, Biological Sciences
Subject Expertise
- PSAT
- SAT Subject Tests
- UK A Level
- ACT
- +66 subjects
Allan: Waltham PSAT course instructor
...and performed well. The first time I took the SAT I actually wasn't satisfied with my score, so I spent 2 months working hard to get my score to where I wanted it to be. The second time I took the exam I saw a 200-point increase. Previously, I have had experience teaching the SSAT and the SAT. The student I tutored in SSAT successfully passed the exam is now attending a private high school...
Education & Certification
- Northwestern University - Bachelors, Biological Sciences
Subject Expertise
- PSAT
- HSPT
- SAT
- TOEFL
- +123 subjects
Shira: Waltham PSAT course instructor
...why I am pursuing both research and tutoring. I am also an avid reader, writer, and learner. I have over 5 years of experience working with students from the junior high to collegiate level and would love to use my experience and expertise to help students master new concepts and skills. I would characterize my tutoring style as positive and persistent, but above all, I like to tailor my approach to best suit the needs...
Education & Certification
- Brandeis University - Current Undergrad Student, Biochemistry
Subject Expertise
- PSAT
- SAT
- HSPT
- ISEE
- +86 subjects
Vania: Waltham PSAT course instructor
...Music. I have tutored students from the elementary school level to my current peer group. I have experience tutoring through MIT's Seminar XL and Tutorial Services Room programs in core subjects required for graduation (general chemistry, physics, calculus, multivariable calculus, and biology). I have also tutored students in SAT exam preparation for the past three years. Knowledge is an equalizer, and I firmly believe in paying my knowledge forward. I tutor a wide range of...
Education & Certification
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology - Bachelor of Science, Mechanical Engineering/Music
Subject Expertise
- PSAT
- SAT
- SAT Subject Test in United States History
- Literature
- +43 subjects