Last Updated: November 26, 2023

What is PSAT?

PSAT means Preliminary SAT, which checks the understanding of subjects and evaluates the strengths and weaknesses of the students in the U.S. It is according to the grades achieved in this test that students can measure the prospect of appearing for the official SAT exam and find whether they have the expertise required for higher studies in colleges/ universities. It is also known as the PSAT/NMSQT, the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. Primarily, it is a precursor to the SAT and has two sections: Math and Reading and Writing.

The College Board of the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) conducts the test, and a student may take PSAT/NMSQT, PSAT 10, or PSAT 8/9, depending on their grade level. Students who take the tests can qualify for scholarships based on their scores. The test is very effective for students, and a good number of practice sessions help determine how the test can be given and what courses of action the student might take to crack the test with decent marks. The test, though, does not influence a student's university admission.

Digital access to PSAT is available as of autumn 2023. While several changes will benefit educators and students due to the shift to digital testing, many significant aspects of the SAT and PSAT-related exams have not changed.

Types of PSAT

There are three types of PSAT. These are as follows:

PSAT 8/9-The 8th and 9th-grade� students can take the PSAT 8/9, the first test in the College Board's "SAT Suite of Assessments." The test has a score range of 240�"1440. The content of the test is similar to the SAT but easier.
PSAT 10-PSAT 10 is a practice SAT exam that was introduced for the academic year 2015�"16. The PSAT 10 is intended exclusively for sophomores in high school, in contrast to the SAT, designed for juniors and seniors. Its questions are thus easier than those on the SAT. Because it corresponds with the SAT, it shares sections for the Math section and the Reading and Writing section. The total� range of scores is 320�"1520.
PSAT-The College Board administers the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (NMSQT), also known as the PSAT, to US students in grades 10 and 11, to prepare them for the SAT and help them obtain a National Merit Scholarship.

Who Can Apply for PSAT?

The PSAT test is generally taken by 10th or 11th graders who wish to take the SAT examination eventually. Though the exam can provide experience for SAT aspirants, it is mainly taken by students who want to receive the National Merit Scholarship based on the marks they receive for the PSAT examination.

Eligibility Requirements for PSAT

Undergraduate students can apply for the PSAT. Students can take the test once a year. Most prefer to take the test in their 10th and 11th-grade levels since earning a relatively high score in the junior year makes one qualify for the National Merit Scholarship. The primary reasons for opting for the tests are generally as follows-

To gain insights and feedback about areas where the student can show improvement. This enables the student to work on their weak areas and prepare to avail admission to a college of their choice.
To compete for scholarships from NMSC.
To understand what to expect for the official SAT exam and how to approach the SAT effectively.

Cost of Taking PSAT

PSAT 10 and PSAT/NMSQT cost $18 each, while PSAT 8/9 cost $14 each. The PSAT cost is to be paid to the school that conducts the test to complete the registration process for the test. Sometimes, the schools might cover part of the cost that the student has to pay, which will result in a relatively low amount. Some other schools might charge additional amounts for administering the test on their premises. Kindly contact one’s school for further information. The fee waiver facility is also available for 11th-grade students from low-income families. However, this has to be sought after by the student through the counselor or the administrative departments within the school.

How to Register/Apply for PSAT?

Students who wish to take the PSAT test will have to enquire whether the institution they are studying in provides the PSAT test. If their school does not provide the PSAT, they will have to persuade the administration to register for the same to take the test. If their institution provides the test, they can find the PSAT Registration Deadline and Test Date from its administration.

Candidates will now also have the option of signing up for the test by paying the fee for PSAT test books. Some institutions charge an additional fee for administering the test.

Test Dates for PSAT

The PSAT test is administered by the institution where the student is studying, not the College Board. Institutions offer the test in October on the dates that are convenient for them. The dates are generally termed primary test day, Saturday test day, and alternate test day. For 2024, the Saturday test dates are Saturday, October 12, 2024, and Saturday, October 26, 2024.

Syllabus and Test Structure for PSAT

The test conducted within 2 hours (including breaks) has a total of 2 sections: the Reading and Writing Section and the Math Section. This structure is similar to the SAT, giving the student an exact idea of how the official test works.

Reading and Writing Section- The goal of the digital PSAT's Reading and Writing section is to assess students' progress in developing the literacy skills necessary for a college education and a successful career. Students will respond to multiple-choice questions in this section that test their ability to read, understand, and apply concepts and information found in texts to evaluate the composition and organization of texts and to edit texts to enhance their rhetorical expression.
Math Section- The purpose of the math portion of the digital PSAT is to assess students' progress in acquiring essential math knowledge and skills for college and careers. It emphasizes geometry and trigonometry, advanced math, problem-solving and data analysis, and crucial components of algebra. Throughout the Math section, students will respond to multiple-choice and student-produced response questions to assess their proficiency with, comprehension of, and application of the most crucial math concepts, skills, and practices.

Test Duration for PSAT

The total time allotted for the test is 2 hours and 14 minutes, excluding a 10-minute break. Each section has a specific time stipulated within which the section ought to be completed. This depends on the number of questions each section contains and the weightage of marks for the problems in question.

There are 54 questions in the Reading and Writing section, split equally between the two modules. Students have 32 minutes to respond to the questions in each module.

The Math section has 44 questions, split equally between two modules. Students must answer each module's questions within 35 minutes.

Calculate PSAT Score

PSAT Scoring is extremely similar to SAT scores. Since no negative marking exists, every correct answer adds up to the candidate’s raw score. This is exactly why guessing is promoted instead of leaving unattended questions. The raw score is converted into a scaled score, which ranges between 160 and 760 in every section.

Understand PSAT score
The composite score will be calculated as a combination of these scaled scores and somewhere between 320 and 1520. They will also add two percentile ranks, comparing them to the other test-takers during the same year. The percentile demarcating one’s score will imply that they have performed better than that percentage of test-takers. For instance, if the percentile awarded is 65%, it implies that the candidate has outperformed 65% of people who have taken the test along with them.

Test scores, cross-test scores, and subscores will accompany the scaled scores. Here, the test scores will be between 8 and 38 depending on the performance in the Reading, Writing, and Language sections. This score will be considered for the National Merit Scholarship Program. The cross-test scores represent the candidate's score for analyzing Social Science and Science skills. This will also range from 8 to 38. The subscores will depend on the candidate’s language prowess and knowledge of Mathematics. This will be graded between 1 and 15.

Retake PSAT

Since the PSAT is mainly taken by students who wish to receive the National Merit Scholarship, students generally take it just once in their 11th grade. However, students who want to retake the test can do so three times as long as they take it only once a year.

Preparing for PSAT

Students can do several practice tests to get the experience of a PSAT test and to check their understanding. They can use sample test papers from the previous year's test, prep books, or tutorial courses. "The Official Student Guide to the PSAT/NMSQT" is considered the best source to practice for this test.

Students can also prepare for the PSAT/NMSQT and /or PSAT 10 by taking challenging courses, focusing on following tests and quizzes, and being curious about key concepts enough to ask the right questions. Even something as basic as doing one’s homework on time will benefit aspirants of the PSAT.

BigFuture Application

PSAT and NMSQT U.S. test-takers aged 13 and up can view their results and personalized career information and advice on planning and budgeting for college via the BigFuture School smartphone app. Students can hear directly from nonprofit colleges and scholarship programs that might be a good fit through the BigFuture School app's Connections feature, all without divulging personal information.

PSAT Test Day Essentials

Before downloading the Bluebook testing application, students must ascertain which device they will be using for the digital PSAT and any technical specifications or requirements. Students can use an iPad, a Mac laptop, a Windows laptop or tablet, or a Chromebook that the school manages to use Bluebook. It cannot be used on a mobile device.

Students will finish a brief exam setup one to five days before the test. After verifying that the device satisfies all requirements, the application will download the students' test and produce their admission tickets.

Apart from their testing devices, other things students should bring on the test day are as follows:

An electronic or printed copy of their admission ticket for the digital SAT (given to them after they've finished exam setup).
Acceptable photo ID.
A fully charged personal testing device or a school-owned Chromebook configured for an exam. On test day, students who have borrowed a device from the College Board will pick it up at the testing location.
A power cord and a portable charger.
An external mouse or keyboard, if candidates use one.
Pens or pencils for makeshift work.
An approved calculator to utilize in the math portion of the test.
If a student requires an epinephrine auto-injector (such as an EpiPen), they may bring them in a clear plastic bag.
An authorized picture ID if the candidate is homeschooled or takes the test at a different school than their regular one.

Tips to Crack PSAT

Try answering the easy questions first. Students can attempt the easier questions before striving for the difficult ones.
It is crucial to read the instructions carefully and to follow all the directions.
Check the attempted answers. Make sure the writing is legible, as the test is machine-scored. If one is hesitant about certain multiple-choice questions, make an educated guess.
Most importantly, practice! Practice is a must to crack a PSAT test with decent marks.

Strategize smartly on how to finish the test on time so you will have time to review the answers and check for mistakes. Remember�"218 is the average cut-off mark for entering the NMSC competition, and one should give one’s best to achieve over and beyond 218 (the cut-off varies for each state). These tips and strategies, despite sounding common-sensical, will aid you immensely in cracking the PSAT.