PSAT/NMSQT
The Arkansas State Board of Education approved providing districts the option to administer the PSAT/NMSQT at grade 10 per Act 989. This opportunity is funded by the Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) and open to all Arkansas districts and charter schools. All participating districts must agree to administer the PSAT/NMSQT to all qualifying 10th grade students.
Home school students in 10th grade also have access to this opportunity. Parents must mark the request on the Notice of Intent (NOI) to Home School that is due to the DESE Home School office in August of each year. The Assessment unit and the Home School office will provide a list of participating districts/schools to parents. Homeschool parents will reach out to a participating district with necessary information needed to reserve a testing seat before the given deadline. (Students who are homeschooled or plan to take the PSAT/NMSQT at a school they do not normally attend, are considered away students. They will not automatically be included in the registration file the school completes and will need to reach out to participating schools or district offices as soon as possible in order to be registered. For directions on how to register visit: Homeschooled and Away Students)
Most students take the PSAT/NMSQT once in 11th grade to qualify for National Merit scholarships, but students may take the PSAT/NMSQT once a year for three years. Taking the PSAT/NMSQT in 10th grade is an excellent practice prior to 11th grade PSAT/NMSQT administration.
For more information, please contact:
JJ Walker, Program Advisor
Arkansas Department of Education
Division of Elementary and Secondary Education
Public School Accountability | Assessment
One Capitol Mall Ave., Suite 4C-300
Little Rock, AR 72201
Phone: (501) 683-0910
Email: jj.walker@ade.arkansas.gov