Should My 10th Grader Take the PSAT? PSAT vs PreACT vs CLT 10

I received this question recently from a parent:

My son is in 10th grade and his school is offering the PSAT 10. Should he take it? What about the PreACT or CLT 10?

Great question! With so many practice test options available, it can be confusing to know which ones are worth your time and energy. Let me break down your options and help you decide what makes sense for your situation.

What is the PSAT 10?

The PSAT 10 (Preliminary SAT) is a practice version of the SAT exam that's typically offered to 10th (PSAT 10) and 11th (PSAT) grade students. It's designed to give students a preview of what the actual SAT will be like. The PSAT 10 and PSAT are identical, with the PSAT 10 being offered as an option for sophomores to take to prepare for the PSAT, which when taken in their junior year enters students into the National Merit Scholarship competition (which sounds great, but less than the top 1% of students go on to earn scholarships).

The test covers Reading, Writing & Language, and Math (no essay), takes about 2 hours and 15 minutes, and is scored on a scale of 320-1520. It is only available now digitally, more information is available here.

Should you take it? Your student should primarily plan on taking the PSAT 10 if one of the following is true:

• Your teen has never taken a standardized exam before (or it has been a while), and plans on eventually taking the full SAT (rather than the ACT/CLT).
• Your teen is an extremely strong test taker, and you think they are likely to get in the top 1% for the full PSAT in their junior year and qualify as a National Merit Finalist.
• unless your teen is planning to take the SAT (versus the ACT), or they've never taken a standardized exam before (or i, the PSAT probably isn't the best use of their time.

If neither of these situations are true, then the PSAT 10 is probably not the best use of their time.

What About the PreACT and CLT 10?

If your student is leaning toward taking the ACT instead of the SAT, the PreACT might be a better option. It's a shorter version of the ACT that covers English, Math, Reading, and Science in about 2 hours. NOTE: Even though the Enhanced ACT has been adjusted to make Science Reasoning option, those changes have not been implemented to the PreACT yet (due fall of 2026), though testing centers may choose to forego the Science Reasoning section. You can find out more details here.

For families looking for a completely different approach, the CLT 10 (Classic Learning Test) is designed around classical education principles and focuses more on reasoning and critical thinking than memorized formulas. For families who are primarily just wanting some more exposure to standardized testing, this is probably the easiest route to go. You can find more details here.

My Recommendation: Skip Them (Usually)

Here's my honest take: most 10th grade students should skip these practice tests entirely and wait to focus their energy on preparing for the actual ACT, SAT, or CLT.

Why? Because I frequently see prep for these tests taking away from students meaningfully explore career paths, and your time is better spent on Phase 1 (building a solid academic foundation) and Phase 2 (exploring career paths) before diving into Phase 3 test prep.

The exception: If your teen has never taken a standardized exam and gets really nervous about testing, taking one of these practice tests might help them get familiar with the format and reduce anxiety, or if they are an extremely strong test taker they may want to prepare for the full PSAT and the National Merit Scholarship (or the CLT10 scholarships).

Better Alternatives

Instead of a practice test, I'd recommend:

• Taking a full-length practice test at home using official materials
• Starting to think about which exam (ACT, SAT, or CLT) makes the most sense for your teen
• Focusing on building strong study skills through our Study Skills Course
• Beginning career exploration with our Career Prep Challenge

Special Considerations for Homeschool Families

Homeschoolers, listen up! If you want to take the PSAT, you'll need to make arrangements with a local public or private school that offers it, as you can't register independently. You can find out more information here.

The PreACT is even harder to take as a homeschooler, and requires reaching out to your local public/private school (or a group the has specially arranged to offer the test).

However, you CAN register directly for the CLT 10 through their website, which makes it much more accessible for homeschool families.

My advice for homeschoolers: Focus on choosing which main exam your teen will take (ACT, SAT, or CLT) and start preparing for that instead. The CLT is particularly popular in the homeschool community and might be worth considering if you're looking for an alternative to traditional standardized tests.

Resources to Help You Decide

• FREE 12-page ACT Prep Guide
• ACT vs SAT: Which Should Your Teen Take?
• When Should I Take the ACT?
• Homeschool High School Resource Guide
• CLT vs ACT/SAT: Should you take the Classic Learning Test?

Want personalized guidance on your teen's college prep journey? Schedule a FREE 30-minute consultation to discuss your situation and create a strategic plan that actually makes sense for your family!

What questions do YOU have about standardized testing for your teen? Post in the comments below!