Would it be better for my son to take his PSAT during his sophomore or junior year in high school?

Sometimes you take it twice, depending on your results. Your school’s guidance counselor should be able to tell you when they look at the scores for National Merit status.

I think you usually want to take your SAT during junior year so that you have plenty of time to retake it (if you wish). That would probably mean taking your PSAT during sophmore year.

Has he taken Geometry? Completion of Geometry is considered a pre-requisite for the PSAT.

My daughter is taking it again next month as a Junior. She took it last year as a Sophomore because she took Geometry as a Freshman.

Taking the SAT as a Junior is recommended for the Spring.

Both. The more practice you can have, the better. You should buy him one of those practice test books and make him take them regularly.

I think I took it in my sophomore year. I got a national merit scholarship. However, a quick look around the national merit scholarship corporation’s website seems to indicate that the rules have changed in the six years between then and now. Apparently if he takes it in his sophomore year, he will have to retake it in his junior year in order to qualify for a national merit scholarship. But if he wants to take it as a sophomore, there’s no harm in getting a little extra practice.

I took it my Sophomore year I think. What is most important is giving yourself the opporunity to take the SAT twice, unless you happen to get an amazing score the first time. Specifically, about National Merit Scholarship, it looks like @Mariah gave a great link. It surprises me they focus on PSAT during the junior year, but it looks like they do.