Taken
October, grades 10–11
Format
Digital, adaptive
Score range
320–1520
For most students the PSAT/NMSQT is a practice SAT. In junior year it is also the qualifying test for the National Merit Scholarship Program, so for a student near the cutoff a few points on the PSAT can matter more than the same points on the SAT.
Who should prepare
Sophomores rarely need dedicated PSAT preparation; for them the test is most useful as a free diagnostic. The students for whom preparation pays off are juniors with strong grades whose earlier scores sit close to their state's National Merit cutoff.
What National Merit uses
- The Selection Index, calculated from the junior-year PSAT section scores
- Semifinalist cutoffs that differ by state and change every year
- A national cutoff for Commended Student recognition
A head start on the SAT
The PSAT shares the digital SAT's structure, so preparing for one prepares for the other. We use the PSAT window to begin SAT preparation early, with the October test as the first checkpoint.
Talk to us about psat prep
Tell us the subject, the year group, and what you have tried already. We will tell you what we would actually recommend.