Can you retake the PSAT?
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Unlike the SAT, you cannot retake the PSAT within the same testing year. The PSAT is administered only once per year, typically in October, which means if you're unsatisfied with your score, you'll need to wait until the following year to take it again. However, students can take the PSAT multiple times across different grade levels - sophomores can take it again as juniors, and some schools even allow freshmen to take it and retake it in subsequent years.

The timing of your PSAT matters significantly for National Merit Scholarship consideration. Only your junior year PSAT/NMSQT score counts for National Merit qualification, regardless of how many times you've taken the test previously. This means if you take the PSAT as a sophomore for practice and perform poorly, you still have one crucial opportunity as a junior to compete for National Merit recognition. Some students strategically take the PSAT multiple years to track their progress and build familiarity with the test format.

If you're disappointed with your PSAT score, your best strategy is to use it as a diagnostic tool for SAT preparation rather than dwelling on retaking it. The SAT can be taken multiple times throughout the year, and most colleges accept your highest scores. Focus your energy on targeted studying based on your PSAT results, then channel that preparation into achieving your best possible SAT performance when it truly counts for college admissions.

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