An estimated 3.6 million high school students were expected to take the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test last week, about 100,000 more than last year, according to the College Board.
Generally, students pay a $14 exam fee, but a growing number of states and districts are covering the cost for all students. Fee waivers are available for low-income students, and nearly 150,000 qualified last year.
On average, students who took the PSAT scored 136 points more on the SAT than those who did not, according to the most recent report from the College Board.
