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What is PSAT?

PSAT stands for Preliminary SAT(Scholastic Aptitude Test and Scholastic Assessment Test) and coincides with the NMSQT (National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test). By taking this test, a student not only gets practice for SAT but also have the chance to win a National Merit Scholarship.

PSAT is formatted like the actual SAT, and serves as an excellent introduction to SAT since questions are similar, containing the Critical Reading, Math, and Writing sections, but with fewer questions and shorter test time, which is two hours and ten minutes long. SAT has the essay section which tests students’ writing skills by means of multiple choice questions while PSAT does not.

When to Take PSAT?

Most students take PSAT in October of their junior year, only the scores they receive at that time will be considered for the National Merit Scholarship program. If a student takes it earlier, it will just be practice.

Test Dates and Locations

PSAT is given in October, and must be signed up and taken at a high school.

Prepare for PSAT

There are a wide variety of books, prep courses, online study guides, and sample tests to get ready for PSAT. Many of the best exam preparation techniques overlap between SAT and PSAT.

The College Board has more information and sample questions from each of the sections on the test.

PSAT Score

Usually the student will receive his or her PSAT score soon after Thanksgiving. The report includes three scores, one for each section (Critical Reading, Math, and Writing Skills). The score for each section ranges from 20 to 80. A student can get an idea of how he or she would do on the SAT by adding a zero to the end of each of his or her PSAT score.

A student’s score report will give his or her feedback about the areas he or she needs to work on to improve. PSAT scores are not part of the college admissions application. The student still has time to strengthen his or her weakness and be more prepared before taking SAT.

Merit Scholarships

If a student is one of the top 50,000 highest-scoring test takers of PSAT, he or she will be considered for the National Merit Scholarship. Semifinalists are those students who are top about 16, 000 of 50,000, representing the top scorers from every state. Among them, about 8,200 students receive National Merit Scholarships after considering their grades in high school, SAT Reasoning Test, biographical letter, and recommendation.

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