Two, it is used to select students seeking National Merit Scholarships which are awarded spring term of the senior year and to choose students for the National Assistance Scholarship Program for Outstanding Negro Students. A further side benefit of the test is that you can have your scores reported to colleges interested in students scoring in your range, and you will receive a barrage of pamphlets, catalogs, and brochures telling you about those schools. The format consist of alternating verbal and math sections. The math section covers arithmetic, algebra, and geometry. The PSAT is given only once a year. in October.
Some people take it multiple times, in their sophomore and junior years.
Taking the PSAT in the tenth grade can be good practice, but students who do so, because they are not as far along in the educational process, tend to have lower scores than those who take it in their junior year. Your school may also charge additional fees to cover administrative costs. If you cannot afford the fee, fee waivers are available. Think of the PSAT as practice, because that is what it is designed for. Your scores are not usually sent to any college unless you specifically request it.