PSAT/NMSQT - Grades 10 and 11
(Preliminary Scholastic Assessment Test/National Merit Scholar-Ship Qualifying Test)

This test is administered in October each year. The PSAT/NMSQT gives students the unique opportunity to: assess their critical reading, writing, and mathematical skills; find out what the SAT is like; forecast SAT scores from their PSAT/NMSQT scores, compare forecasted SAT scores with the scores of college applicants; discover whether they would be successful in Advanced Placement courses; participate in the Student Search Service by having their names sent to colleges and government-sponsored scholarship programs that are seeking students like them; and to qualify for scholarship and enrichment programs that use PSAT/NMSQT results.  It give the student a chance to enter the National Merit Scholarship Corporation awards program for: Merit Scholarships, Achievement Scholarships, and National Hispanic Scholar Awards.

http://www.collegeboard.org/student/testing/psat/about.html