The PSAT is a 2hr 45min long exam taken by high school juniors. It is offered in mid-October, either on a Wednesday or a Saturday. Registration and administration of the test is run by your school. Your test results are typically available in December and you will be able to review every question in detail online. So, if you are committed to taking the SAT, then you should definitely take the PSAT. Although the current format is the traditional paper-and-pencil format, the PSAT will undergo its most drastic change in 2023 and switch to a computer-only format, as will the SAT in 2024.
So, what’s the point of taking the PSAT if it’s really the SAT scores that schools look at? The PSAT simply serves as practice for the SAT: the scores you get are for your eyes only and will NOT affect your college admissions. However, if you score in the top 1%, you may qualify to participate in the National Merit Scholarship program. This could lead to recognition by many colleges as well as potential scholarship money.
Whereas the SAT or ACT is taken to get into college, the SSAT is taken to get into a private secondary school. The test is available in 3 levels: Elementary Level for students currently in grades 3-4, Middle Level for students currently in grades 5-7, and Upper Level for students currently in grades 8-11. All three tests are similar in format but the content gets more advanced as the level increases. Students typically take the SSAT between September and January. It can be taken on multiple occasions. You can also take the traditional paper-and-pencil version or the online in-home version.
Whereas the SAT or ACT is taken to get into college, the ISEE is taken to get into a private secondary school. The test is available in 4 levels: Primary Level for students applying to grades 2-4, Lower Level for students applying to grades 5-6, Middle Level for students applying to grades 7-8, and Upper Level for students applying to grades 9-12. The Lower, Middle, and Upper Level tests are similar in format, but the content gets more advanced as the level increases. Students can take the ISEE only once per testing season. The ISEE is available in the traditional paper-and-pencil version or the online in-home version.
The GRE (Graduate Record Examinations) typically refers to the GRE General Test, which is taken by college graduates seeking an advanced degree. It is an adaptive computer based test comprising three sections: analytical writing, verbal reasoning, and quantitative reasoning. As a point of interest, the GRE test questions are created by ETS, the same company that creates the SAT test questions. The GRE is an adaptive exam, which means the question difficulty level is adjusted based on your performance. Therefore, your score is not only based on how many questions you answer correctly, but also on the difficulty of those questions. You have the option of taking the test online or at a test center, and you can take the test on multiple occasions to improve your score. You will need to create an account and register for the test by going to the official GRE website. There you will find additional information about the test and plenty of resources, including free practice tests as well as the option to purchase additional practice tests and study materials.
Note: The GRE also has four separate Subject Tests: Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics, and Psychology. You can learn more about these tests here.
The GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) is a computer-based test taken by students seeking a degree in graduate-level management studies. The test is divided into four sections: Analytical Writing, Integrated Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, and Quantitative Reasoning. The GMAT is an adaptive exam, which means the question difficulty level is adjusted based on your performance. Therefore, your score is not only based on how many questions you answer correctly, but also on the difficulty of those questions. You have the option of taking the test online or at a test center, and you can take the test on multiple occasions to improve your score. You will need to create an account and register for the test by going to the official GMAT website. There you will find additional information about the test and plenty of resources, including free practice tests as well as the option to purchase additional practice tests and study materials.