Questions Regarding Testing

Hi Lee,

I homeschool my children and have a question about my daughter.  She is soon to be 15 and doing tenth grade work.  She has also been going through cancer treatment since May.  I noticed that most Sophmores take the PSAT in the fall, but she wasn’t able to do this due to being in the hospital.  Are we still on track for her to take it next October?  How will this affect her taking of the ACT/SAT?  Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

God Bless,
Judy in Ohio

Hi Judy,
Taking the PSAT as a freshman is completely optional – just frosting on the cake, really!  You are not at a disadvantage at ALL for not taking the test as a sophomore.  I don’t even think that “most” sophomores take the test.  Many do, but I don’t think “most” take it.  Did you get a chance to read my article about the PSAT in my September newsletter?  Maybe that will explain it better, since it’s a nice long article.  The article is called “Take the PSAT for Fun and Profit.”

Missing the PSAT in 10th grade will have absolutely NO impact on her ability to take the ACT and SAT next year.  You can have her sign up for the PSAT next October, if she is well.  In some school districts, you register in June.  In other districts, you register for the PSAT in September.  Put both dates on the calendar,  so you are covered either way.

Even if your daughter misses the PSAT next year, it still won’t harm her ability to take the ACT or SAT in her Junior Year.  The PSAT is mostly about practice for the SAT.  You can practice for the SAT at home if you need to.

I’m sorry that you and your daughter have had a hard time because of cancer treatments.  I’m actually a registered nurse, and when I read that sentence, I thought about all the different issues you must have been going through.  Tough times happen, even to homeschoolers.  That was the kind of thing I was thinking about when I wrote my article in June, called “What If?  Homeschool High School Without Fear.”    It’s about “what if” there is family trauma.  It may not apply to your situation, but I thought I should include it just in case you needed something within the article to encourage you.

Anyway, you didn’t miss a thing when you missed the PSAT as a 10th grader, and the love you are giving your daughter can provide a covering for any “gaps” that all adults end up having in their education.

God bless you and your daughter.  Take care!

I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving.  Keep praying for those in India.

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