PSAT

The PSAT: What It Is

The “Preparatory SAT” is an opportunity for high school students to have the experience of taking a test with the types of questions that are on the SAT. The PSAT/NMSQT (National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test) is a version of the test taken in the 10th and/or 11th grade that gives high-scoring students an opportunity to win a college scholarship. Students in the 8th, 9th, and 10th grades can also take other versions of the PSAT with grade-appropriate levels of difficulty.

What It Covers

The PSAT includes the same types of questions as the SAT and consists of three parts:

Reading Test: Passage-based, multiple-choice critical reading questions that measure students’ ability to understand different aspects of the meaning of several passages.

Writing and Language Test: Passage-based, multiple-choice questions that measure students’ ability to understand how to correct and improve several pieces of writing.

Math Test: Multiple-choice and grid-in questions in two sections (with and without a calculator) covering a number of mathematics skills and problem-solving concepts.

All forms of the PSAT are shorter than the SAT and do not include the optional essay.

For details about the format of the PSAT/NMSQT and PSAT 10, see this page.

For details about the PSAT 8/9, which is slightly different from the PSAT/NMSQT and PSAT 10, refer to this page.

When It Is Given

The PSAT is usually given once a year to students in the 8th-11th grades.

Students in the 8th and 9th grades can take the PSAT 8/9 on a date determined by their school or district.

Students in the 10th grade can take the PSAT 10 in the spring on a date determined by their school or district.

Students in the 10th and 11th grades can take the PSAT/NMSQT in October. This page has dates for the current school year.

How It Is Scored

On the PSAT/NMSQT and PSAT 10, students receive an overall score of between 320 and 1520; 160-760 from the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing Section, which includes the Reading Test and the Writing and Language Test, and 160-760 from the Math Section, which comprises two parts. There are also subscores that more specifically measure various skills; see this page for details.

One the PSAT 8/9, students receive an overall score of between 240 and 1440; 120-720 from the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing Section, which includes the Reading Test and the Writing and Language Test, and 120-720 from the Math Section, which comprises two parts. There are also subscores that more specifically measure various skills; see this page for details.

Note that unlike older versions of the PSAT, the current version does not penalize incorrect guesses; the scaled score is based on the total number of correct answers, and there is no benefit to skipping questions.

PSAT Resources

What’s the Difference Between the SAT and PSAT? (College Board): A thorough discussion of all the differences between the SAT and the PSAT.

Scholarships and Recognition: Learn more about scholarship opportunities for students who take the PSAT 10 or PSAT/NMSQT.

PSAT Student Guides: These student guides contain detailed information about each test, including sample questions.

• PSAT 8/9 Student Guide (PDF)
• PSAT 10 Student Guide (PDF)
• PSAT/NMSQT Student Guide (PDF)

PSAT/NMSQT Practice Tests: The College Board has made two full-length PSAT/NMSQT tests available for practice, along with detailed answer explanations, scoring guides, and answer sheets.

PSAT 10 Practice Test: These materials are not made easily available on the College Board website, but as of this writing they can be viewed or downloaded directly from the links below:

• 2015 PSAT 10 (Practice Test #1)
• PSAT 10 Practice Test #1 Scoring Guide
• PSAT 10 Practice Answer Sheet

PSAT 8/9 Practice Test: A practice test, answer sheet, and scoring guide are available in the “Practice” section on this page, along with other resources.

See my SAT page for a thorough list of additional resources for practice.