Fall Sports and College Tests: Do They Mix?
Dear VYPE: I heard that kids who play fall sports don’t do well on the PSAT. Is this true? If so, what can my daughter do without giving up her sport or jeopardizing her PSAT score? She hopes to be a National Merit Semifinalist.
According to Patty Weigel, the director of Educational Resources, a test preparation service in Louisville, there is a concern for kids playing fall sports who want to score well on the PSAT, but they doesn’t necessarily have to give up their sports to do well on the test.
“Fall sports can have an impact on PSAT scores because kids who play fall sports are tired by the time they take the PSAT in October,” says Weigel. “It’s a two-edged sword because in general, kids who are playing a sport do much better because they have to stay organized, and the discipline of a sport is a good thing.”
The PSAT is the only college entrance test that does not offer flexibility in the date. The national test date for PSAT this year is October 15-18. The National Merit Scholarship Corporation selects its National Merit Semifinalists based on students’ scores on the PSAT. National Merit Scholars are announced the following September.
For other college entrance exams, such as the SAT and ACT, you have the opportunity to choose a test date that avoids the most demanding part of your sport.
“Those tests are given enough times during the year that you can avoid your season,” says Weigel. “Plan to take the test in a time when you’re not playing your sport. If you’re playing golf, take your test mid-March rather than Derby Day.”
And how do you ensure good performance on the PSAT if you play a fall sport?
Make sure your daughter gets enough rest in the week or so before the test. She should complete any test preparation well ahead of time, so she’s not trying to make up for lost time at the last minute. She may also be able to offset the effects of a heavy sport schedule by giving up a few other activities for a short period leading up to the test date.
In short, think ahead and plan. “They do much better when there is a plan in place,” says Weigel.
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