Is it not a good idea to take the PSAT before the SAT?

Taking the SAT has absolutely no bearing on National Merit Scholarships. They ONLY look at the PSAT. It doesn't matter whenter you've taken the SAT before. I took the the SAT in 7th and 9th grade, and when I took the PSAT in 11th grade, I was a National Merit Semfinalist. One thing has nothing to do with the other.