About PSAT/NMSQT
The Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) is a program cosponsored by the College Board and National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC). It's a standardized test that provides firsthand practice for the SAT®. It also gives you a chance to enter NMSC scholarship programs and gain access to college and career planning tools.
The PSAT/NMSQT measures:
The most common reasons for taking the PSAT/NMSQT are to:
What Is the PSAT Test?
The PSAT Test is a standardized pencil-and-paper test, just like the fifty you’ve taken throughout your elementary, middle and high school career. It gives students, usually juniors, an idea of how they’ll score on the SAT
When Do I Take the PSAT Test?
Why Should I Take It?
What’s on the PSAT Test?
The PSAT has the following three sections:
How is it Different from the SAT?
The Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) is a program cosponsored by the College Board and National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC). It's a standardized test that provides firsthand practice for the SAT®. It also gives you a chance to enter NMSC scholarship programs and gain access to college and career planning tools.
The PSAT/NMSQT measures:
- Critical reading skills
- Math problem-solving skills
- Writing skills
The most common reasons for taking the PSAT/NMSQT are to:
- Receive feedback on your strengths and weaknesses on skills necessary for college study. You can then focus your preparation on those areas that could most benefit from additional study or practice.
- See how your performance on an admissions test might compare with that of others applying to college.
- Enter the competition for scholarships from NMSC (grade 11).
- Help prepare for the SAT. You can become familiar with the kinds of questions and the exact directions you will see on the SAT.
- Receive information from colleges when you check "yes" to Student Search Service.
What Is the PSAT Test?
The PSAT Test is a standardized pencil-and-paper test, just like the fifty you’ve taken throughout your elementary, middle and high school career. It gives students, usually juniors, an idea of how they’ll score on the SAT
When Do I Take the PSAT Test?
- Your junior year
- In October (usually toward the middle of the month)
- PSAT Registration Dates
Why Should I Take It?
- National Merit: The PSAT is also called the NMSQT, or the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. Scoring well on the PSAT can get you a National Merit Scholarship (a.k.a. – CASH), boost that college application, and impress your mom.
- Scholarships: Speaking of cash, you can still get some from other organizations, even if you don’t qualify for the National Merit Scholarship.
- MyRoad: This online college and career planning guide, offered for free to students who take the PSAT, gives you all sorts of tools like a personality profiler so you know which career suits you best. Use it in conjunction with My College QuickStart, another planning guide from College Board.
- STAT Prep Once you’ve taken the PSAT, you’ll have a better idea of what’s coming on the SAT. Think of it as a movie trailer for the big box office hit.
- College Info: If you check yes to the Student Search Service on the PSAT, you’ll receive information from different colleges who are interested in having you apply.
What’s on the PSAT Test?
The PSAT has the following three sections:
- Critical Reading:
Tests vocabulary, main idea, fact vs. opinion, and more
Split into two 25-minute sections
Contains 48 questions total - Mathematics:
Tests basic arithmetic, algebra and geometry
Split into two 25-minute sections
Contains 39 questions total - Writing:
Tests grammar, mechanics, and word choice
Has one 30-minute section
Contains 39 questions total
How is it Different from the SAT?
- Structure: SAT has 10 sections; PSAT has 5 sections
- Length: SAT is 3 hrs. 45 mins.; PSAT is 2 hrs. 10 mins.
- Purpose: SAT is used for college admissions and scholarships; PSAT is used for National Merit Recognition and scholarships.
- Scoring: SAT has a possible score of 2400; PSAT has a possible score of 240. Obviously the scores correlate, so the PSAT helps you figure out what you’ll score on the SAT.