Homeschooled and Away Students
Students in the U.S. who are homeschooled or who plan to take PSAT/NMSQT at a school they don't normally attend are considered away students. They won't automatically be included in the registration file the school completes and will need to reach out to participating schools or district offices at least four weeks before the testing window begins to be included. (Check the administering school district website for applicable deadlines. Some districts may need this step completed earlier.) Note: College Board strongly encourages schools to provide testing opportunities for these students when at all possible.
Use the in-school assessment search tool to find schools that are offering in-school tests. Students will need to connect with staff at participating schools to help ensure they're included in the school's list of registered test takers.
Away students will need to provide the following information to register:
- First and last name
- Date of birth
- Name/Attending Institution Code (AI) for the school you normally attend (if you're homeschooled, you'll only need to share that you're homeschooled)
- Gender
- Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) ID if you're approved to test with accommodations
On test day, away students, along with all other testing students, will receive their Bluebook™ log in information from the participating school. Before testing begins, students will review and are required to agree to the testing rules.
Practice
Since away students won't be part of the readiness activities the school will lead with their students, they can access free College Board practice by downloading the Bluebook app on an available computer to familiarize themselves with Bluebook and practice resources.
Devices
Away students must confirm with the participating school whether a testing device will be provided for them on test day by the institution, or if the school allows guests to bring their own devices to connect to the local network.
Under 13 Away Students
Away students under the age of 13 should contact College Board Customer Service to request their score reports after testing.
National Merit Scholarship Program
If you are unlikely to take the PSAT/NMSQT because of illness, an emergency, or other extenuating circumstance, you may still be able to enter the National Merit Scholarship Program. Please see the PSAT/NMSQT Student Guide or visit the National Merit Scholarship Corporation website for more information.
FAQ
If I’m homeschooled, how do I access my PSAT/NMSQT scores?
Scores will be available online. For more information, see Getting Your Scores. For more information on score release dates, see PSAT/NMSQT Score Release Dates.