PSAT Lesson Plans - Five Steps to Sign Up for Raise Me

Sep 14, 2026

Uploaded by Grenda

Lesson plans guide high school students and parents on using Raise Me alongside PSAT preparation. Students learn why the PSAT matters as the qualifying exam for the National Merit Scholarship, how scores can affect college admissions and institutional aid, and how to practice with clear routines. The plan introduces different PSAT exams, explains scoring and format basics, and links test performance to SAT/ACT readiness through preparation habits and data interpretation.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages16

Reading Time40 min

AccessFree to download

Lesson Plan Instructions

Objective

Key Points

Activities

Worksheet: PSAT and SAT Prep

The PSAT - An Overview

Preparation for the Exam

Test Scores and Admissions

Interpreting Data

College Admissions - Diving Deeper

5 6 7 8 9 P SAT Lesso n Plans High School Students: Five Steps to Sign Up for Raise Me Educators: Tips for Using Raise Me in 9th–12th Grade Raise Me for Parents: An Overview Parents: Getting Started with your Raise Me Account Parents: Tips for Supporting your Student on Raise Me LESSON PLAN INSTRUCTIONS Objective: Students will describe why it matters to try your best on the PSAT. Students will describe the ways in which test scores impact admission considerations. Students will determine the relative weight of test scores in institutional aid considerations. Key Points: 1. It’s important to take the PSAT seriously as it is the qualifying exam for the National Merit Scholarship. 2. You can earn money from Raise Me college partners just for taking the PSAT and/or for scoring well on the PSAT! 3. Setting goals, knowing what to expect when sitting for the exam, and practicing good study habits in advance will help to prime you mentally to do your best on test day. 4. Using the average SAT and ACT range of accepted students is a good initial indicator of your likelihood of acceptance at a college. 5. Looking at these numbers before taking the SAT or ACT is a great way to set goals and set your study plan to increase your chances of getting into a dream college. Activities: 1. Worksheet: PSAT and SAT Prep a. Estimated time: 20 min b. Students will internalize the structure of the PSAT exam, consider ways to physically and mentally prepare, and analyze how exam scores factor into college admissions. Requirements: 1. Printed hard copies of the worksheets Access to a [2. computer](2. computer) to reference a Raise Me account [Learn more at www.raise.me](Learn more at www.raise.me) 34 Worksheet: PSAT and SAT Prep There are 3 different PSAT exams: ● ● ● PSAT 8/9 PSAT 10 PSAT/ NMSQT The PSAT 8, 9, and 10 are preliminary SAT exams intended to be taken in the grade level corresponding with their number. The PSAT/ NMSQT is the same assessment as the PSAT 10, but counts as the official entrance exam to be considered for the National Merit Scholarship. If you score well in your junior year, you are eligible for the following awarding tiers: ● 50,000 students with the highest PSAT scores will qualify for recognition ● Two-thirds of t he highest scorers will qualify to receive a Letter of Commendation ● One-third of the highest scorers will be named semi-finalists ● Some 7,500 students will be awarded as finalists, earning as much as $2,500 in scholarship money to college Getting any level of recognition from the National Merit Scholarship Program is considered a high honor at all colleges and universities where you apply, so it’s worthwhile to try your best on the PSAT! In addition to the National Merit Scholarship, when you take the PSAT you are eligible for micro-scholarship awards at many Raise Me college partners! [Learn more at www.raise.me](Learn more at www.raise.me) 35 The PSAT-An Overview Here’s what to know about the PSAT format: ● Test Duration: 2 hours and 45 minutes ● Score Range: 320-1520 ● There is no penalty for guessing, so it’s in your best interest to answer every question! The test is broken up into the following sections: REFLECT 1.Which section are you most confident about? 2.Which section will be more of a challenge? 3.What can you do to tackle that section head on? 4.What’s a goal you want to set going in to the exam? Note: this doesn’t need to be a score! [Learn more at www.raise.me](Learn more at www.raise.me) 36 Preparation for the Exam Test taking is in many ways a performance setting—like a big game, music recital, theater production, debate, class presentation, etc. When you have a routine in place going in, you will be mentally prepared to do your best. What are some habits you can commit to leading up to test day that will set you up for success? The College Board website has official p

FAQs

Why should students take the PSAT seriously?

The PSAT serves as the qualifying exam for the National Merit Scholarship, so strong effort can lead to recognition and opportunities.

What are the different PSAT exams mentioned in the lesson plan?

The materials list PSAT 8/9, PSAT 10, and PSAT/NMSQT, noting that PSAT 8, 9, and 10 align with corresponding grade levels, while PSAT/NMSQT counts as the official entrance exam for National Merit.

How do PSAT scores relate to college admissions and SAT/ACT readiness?

The plan explains that PSAT scores help predict SAT performance, inform practice priorities for SAT/ACT, and provide a data-based indicator when reviewing college admissions statistics in Raise Me.

Sep 14, 2026

Uploaded by Grenda