08/18/2026
Dear How About Learning Families,
We know many of you recently received information from school about the PSAT/NMSQT for the 2026–27 school year, and we have started getting questions from parents asking:
“Should my student take the PSAT if they are already preparing for the ACT?”
My short answer is: If your student is interested in taking it, I generally think it is worth taking. It can give students valuable information about their testing strengths, help them determine whether the SAT or ACT is the better fit, and—especially for juniors—can serve as the qualifying test for the National Merit Scholarship Program.
First, what exactly is the PSAT?
The PSAT/NMSQT is essentially a practice and predictor for the SAT. It is not a college admissions test, and colleges do not receive your student's actual PSAT score.
That makes it a relatively low-risk opportunity. Your student gets to experience the SAT-style format, receive a score that can help identify strengths and weaknesses, and see how they perform without having to worry about sending that score to colleges.
PSAT/SAT vs. ACT: Which is better?
There is no universal answer. The best test is the one that allows your student to demonstrate their strengths.
Here are a few things I would consider:
Your student may want to explore the SAT/PSAT if:
They feel stronger in math than Reading/English.
They prefer having a larger portion of their overall score tied to math. The SAT is divided into two equally weighted sections: Reading and Writing and Math, each scored 200–800.
They are comfortable working through multi-step math problems, including some student-produced response/open-response-style math questions.
They like a digital, adaptive test where the difficulty of the second module changes based on performance in the first.
They find the ACT's reading passages and pacing particularly challenging.
They tend to do better when they have more time per question rather than having to move very quickly through a large number of questions.
Your student may want to focus on the ACT if:
They are already performing well on ACT practice tests.
They prefer a linear test, where everyone receives the same sequence of questions rather than an adaptive format.
They are comfortable with reading passages and answering questions efficiently.
They prefer the ACT's structure and pacing.
They want the option of adding the Science section, particularly if they are interested in STEM or want to demonstrate scientific reasoning.
They prefer having the flexibility of taking the ACT on paper or digitally.
One important update for families: the ACT has changed. Science is now an optional section on the national ACT, and it no longer contributes to the Composite score. However, science can still provide a separate Science score and contribute to a STEM score.
What about Illinois and the ACT Science section?
This is another reason families in Illinois may hear conflicting information about the ACT versus SAT.
Illinois transitioned from the SAT to the ACT as its statewide high school accountability assessment beginning in 2024–25. The Illinois-provided ACT includes English, Math, Reading, Science, and Writing. The ACT Science portion also fulfills the state's Grade 11 science assessment requirement, which is one reason the ACT continues to be an important test for Illinois students.
So, while students can absolutely choose the SAT for college admissions purposes, Illinois students will encounter the ACT through the state's school-day testing program.
Why are schools still offering the PSAT?
This can be confusing because Illinois used the SAT for its state assessment for many years before transitioning to the ACT.
The important distinction is that the state's ACT and a student's college-admissions testing strategy are two separate things. Students can still take the SAT/PSAT on their own even though Illinois now administers the ACT for state accountability.
That means families may still be deciding between the SAT and ACT for college applications, scholarships, and determining which test best represents their student.
My recommendation?
Don't choose based solely on what everyone else is doing. Choose based on your student's performance.
If your junior is curious about the SAT, I would take the PSAT. It gives us another data point.
If your student takes the PSAT and performs significantly better on the SAT-style test than they do on ACT practice, that tells us something.
If the ACT continues to be their stronger test, great; we have more information confirming that the ACT is likely the better path.
And if your student is already struggling with ACT timing, reading passage length, or stamina, I would especially be interested in seeing how they respond to the SAT format. The current ACT is shorter than it historically was, but the tests still have meaningful differences in structure, pacing, and question style.
The goal isn't to take every test available. The goal is to identify the test on which your student can perform at their highest level.
As always, if you received the PSAT information from your school and are wondering, “Is this actually worth it for my child?”, feel free to reach out. We are happy to look at your student's current ACT/SAT practice results, strengths, and areas of difficulty and help you determine which direction makes the most sense.
Warmly,
Dr. Marcine Adams
How About Learning
Click here for an update from How About Learning!
