Guidance Center

What is the PSAT?

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 proves 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

You have developed these skills over many years, both in and out of school.  This test doesn’t require you to recall specific facts from your classes. 

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’s on the Test

The PSAT/NMSQT includes five sections:

• Two 25-minute critical reading sections

• Two 25-minute math sections

• One 30-minuete writing skills section

• The whole test requires two hours and 10 minutes

Critical Reading

• Two 25-minute math sections=38 questions

  • 13 multiple-choice math questions

  • 35 Critical reading questions

Math

• Two 25-minute math sections=38 questions

  • 28 multiple-choice math questions

  • 10 student-produced responses or grid-ins

Students are advised to bring a calculator with which they are comfortable.  Students should have basic knowledge of 4 math categories:

• Numbers and Operation

• Algebra and Functions (but not 3rd year level math that may appear on the new SAT)

• Geometry and Measurement

• Data Analysis, Statistics and Probability