This post has been fully updated for the digital PSAT.
Maybe you’ve realized that you’re taking the PSAT next week, or maybe the exam’s still a few months away and you’re hoping to score a National Merit Scholarship. In either case, welcome! Whether you need PSAT practice stat (AKA cramming for the PSAT) or want to set up a PSAT study plan, we’ll take a look at all the info you need to make sure you get the score you want on test day, from PSAT questions to PSAT tips.
What, exactly, will we look at in this post? First, we’ll start out with some PSAT basics: what, when, why. Then, we’ll take a deep dive into PSAT tips for prep: what you’ll see on the test and how to set yourself up for a great score. We’ll finish up with some PSAT questions and PSAT tips.
Ready? Let’s go!
Table of Contents
PSAT Tips: Mastering the Basics
What Is the PSAT?
The Preliminary SAT, or PSAT, is a test administered by the College Board, creator of the SAT, that most students take in October during their junior year of high school, and possibly during freshmen or sophomore year.
When Do I Take the PSAT?
Usually, the PSAT is offered on a Wednesday in October. Individual schools determine what day they will offer the test and it may be on a weekday or a Saturday.
The PSAT is also the qualifying test for the National Merit Scholarship, one of the more prestigious scholarships in the United States. (For this reason, the PSAT is also sometimes called The National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.)
For aspiring national Merit Scholarship winners, qualifying PSAT scores are only taken from third-year high school PSAT scores. So PSATs must be taken during junior year of high school for the purposes of the scholarship. If you’re planning to apply for the National Merit Scholarship, it can still be helpful to do a practice run in your sophomore year (and maybe freshman year as well) to see how close you’re getting to the score you’ll need when you apply for Merit as a junior.
What Does the PSAT Test?
The PSAT has a “Reading and Writing” section and a “Math” section. The PSAT mirrors the digital SAT. This means that PSAT questions are really similar to SAT questions: there are the same number of questions on the PSAT as on the SAT and the test is section-adaptive, meaning that the questions you are given in the second module of each subject depends on how you performed on the first module.
The Official College Board PSAT/NMSQT Student Guide and Official PSAT Practice Tests are your best resources (in addition to Magoosh!) to get ready for the PSAT.
Here’s an overview of the questions you’ll see on the test:
Reading and Writing Questions on the PSAT
Reading and Writing questions include very short passages and only one question per passage. Reading questions are designed to measure how well you can read, comprehend, and use information and ideas in texts. Writing questions ask you to analyze the structure of texts, revise them and edit them to follow correct grammatical conventions.
Math Questions on the PSAT
Math questions on the PSAT are all multiple choice and you are allowed to use a calculator on all of them (either your own or a provided on-screen calculator). About 30% of math questions are word problems.
On Algebra questions, expect to see a linear expression or an equation with one variable. You will also be asked to work with linear inequalities with one variable. You’ll build a linear function to show the relationship between two quantities. You’ll do similar work then with a variety of other equations, some of which may have two variables or include two linear variables.
Problem Solving and Data Analysis questions will include an entirely different set of topics. These include: ratios, rates, proportions, percentages, measurements, units, unit conversions, scatterplots, relationships between two variables linear versus exponential growth, two-way tables, making inferences from data and statistics (this might include mean, media, mode, range, and/or standard deviation), and evaluating data collection methods. Whew!
Advanced Math will have questions about quadratic/exponential functions, equivalent expressions with rational exponents and radicals, showing algebraic equivalencies, quadratic equations, working with polynomial expressions, one-variable equations with radicals, systems of equations, simple rational expressions, parts of nonlinear expressions, the relationship between zeros and factors of polynomials, nonlinear relationships, function notation, and isolating a quantity of interest in an equation.
Geometry and Trigonometry questions cover area and volume, lines, angles and triangles, and right triangle trigonometry (the most basic trigonometry questions there are). If you haven’t studied trigonometry yet in school, don’t worry, the trigonometry tested on the PSAT and SAT is very learnable.
How Is the PSAT Different from the SAT?
The PSAT is basically an SAT with smaller teeth and a less overwhelming purpose (it can get you scholarships, but it doesn’t get you acceptance into college). All of the same basic SAT topics show up in PSAT questions, but the questions are a little easier. Because of this, the PSAT is scored differently:
While the maximum total score you can get on the SAT is 1600, the maximum total score you can get on the PSAT/NMSQT or PSAT 10 (for 11th and 10th graders) is 1520.
The maximum total score you can get on the PSAT 8/9 (for 8th and 9th graders) is 1440.
How Hard Is the PSAT?
The PSAT is a tad easier than its big brother, but the difference is pretty minimal. It’s all toned down slightly, though. Questions that would be on the easy end of SAT math show up more frequently on the PSAT. You might get 5 questions on PSAT math that are as easy as the first 2 questions of an SAT math test, for example. And the most difficult PSAT questions don’t quite reach the difficulty of the hardest SAT math questions.
The higher end of SAT math topics might still show up on the PSAT, but they’ll be more straightforward. You’ll see easier “Advanced Math” questions, for example, and you may see only one very basic trig question. Or you might get a graph of a parabola that simply asks for an intercept and requires no algebra.
So don’t freak out if you’re going to take the PSAT and are just taking Geometry 1: the test mostly asks for basic number skills, algebra, and basic geometry, nothing more.
PSAT Tips for Prep
PSAT Tips for Prep 1: Evaluate Whether You Need to Prep
The PSAT is a preliminary SAT—it isn’t used in college admission—so you might be wondering: is it even worth prepping for the test? What’s the point of studying for a test that colleges won’t even look at?
There are actually two really important reasons to study for the PSAT! First of all, remember that it’s not just the PSAT—it’s also the NMSQT, or the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. If you’re a junior, prepping for the test can set up you for a far higher score, putting you in the running for more money for college.
If you’re a sophomore, that’s still a great reason to prepare! Think about it this way: your scores on the PSAT this year will help you get a better idea of what prep you’ll need to do within the next year to reach that qualifying range. If you prep beforehand, it’ll not only set you up for greater success as a junior, but you can also tailor your study this coming year to really focus on your weaker areas, now that you’ve mastered PSAT tips.
Even if you’re not aiming for a National Merit Scholarship, studying for the PSAT will give you an incredible baseline for your SAT prep. By reviewing the more basic concepts you’ll find on the SAT and picking up PSAT tips and tricks, you can then focus your SAT prep on the higher-level areas you’ll see on the real SAT. Win-win!
PSAT Tips for Prep 2: Set Up Your Practice Schedule
Ideally, your practice will consist of a mixture of fundamentals and practice questions, with some test strategy (PSAT tips and tricks) thrown in. For instance, you’ll want to revisit algebra concepts you learned a year back, or are maybe learning right now before you tackle actual test questions.
You don’t want to spend too much time on fundamentals, however. Throw yourself into practice questions to get a feel for the way the test works. Often a good idea is when you miss a PSAT question to review the fundamentals at work, assuming you didn’t make a careless error. That’s better than trying to memorize a bunch of fundamentals but then waiting an indefinite period before actually reviewing them.
Here is a great SAT one-month study plan that you can use, tailoring it to your schedule.
PSAT Tips for Prep 3: Work with the Correct Timing
Our biggest PSAT tip if you’re studying with SAT materials? Make sure you get the timing right!
How long is the PSAT? 2 hours and 14 minutes overall. This means that the PSAT is the same length as the SAT, so you’ll need to bring the same level of stamina to the PSAT as you will to the SAT. Pacing on both tests (in terms of the amount of time you have to answer each question) is comparable as well, so you aren’t going to get more time to answer questions on the PSAT.
PSAT Tips for Prep 4: Use Great Materials
Make sure to do your research on practice materials. The best bet is to use SAT practice materials since the questions that pop up on each test are indistinguishable. It is the ordering of the difficulty of the questions that differs between the two tests.
While you should definitely check out the College Board official resources for the PSAT, because the content is so similar, using SAT study materials is also a perfectly good way to study for the PSAT.
The PSAT will give you a leg-up on test day (and probably a Wednesday morning you don’t have to spend in class). And if you think you can score in the top range, you can also benefit from the Student Search Service (colleges will come looking for you and your awesome test scores) and the National Merit and other scholarship programs, which can earn you some scholarship money along with a pretty sweet feather in your cap. So give it your all!
How Can I Cram for the PSAT?
First of all, it’s almost impossible to “cram” for the PSAT…but if you have limited practice time, here are our top PSAT tips to get the most out of your prep!
PSAT Cramming Tip #1: Take Practice Test(s)
Take a PSAT practice test. Take two, if you can. Use the practice tests provided by the College Board or a free SAT practice test.
That’s not groundbreaking advice by itself, though. The important part (the part you might be tempted to skip, too) is reviewing the answers. Take the time to figure out what you did wrong, and how you can avoid it. Even if you’ve only got a few days, that’s enough time to learn from your mistakes.
PSAT Cramming Tip #2: Know Your Grammar Rules
Most high-school teachers don’t spend much time on grammar, which is a shame because A) it will affect everything you ever write (seriously) and B) standardized tests like the PSAT love grammar.
You don’t have to diagram sentences, but you do have to know the common errors. There’s a limited number of them, so it’s pretty manageable to just read up on them and come away with an improved test score—provided you do a bit of practice along the way.
PSAT Cramming Tip #3: Review Math Formulas
I would never suggest that a student with ample time to study and practice instead memorize a bunch of formulas. Actually getting better at PSAT math means training and learning from mistakes (as I mentioned in #1, above). But if you’re running on a tight schedule, this is the fastest way to review what’s in the PSAT math sections.
So take this with a grain of salt, but here’s even more stuff to memorize. Pair this with at least one practice test, please! Just reading a bunch of formulas and not learning to apply them is pretty much useless.
How Can I Practice for the PSAT Over the Summer?
School’s out for summer! And by now, you’re several weeks into your summer break. If you haven’t started some summer PSAT studying, you should. Here are a few reasons summer is a great time for both fun and a little bit of test prep.
Why is the PSAT’s Fall date a good reason for PSAT summer study? Because summer leads into fall! If you start studying for the PSAT at some point in the summer, you’ll have weeks or months of study time before Fall arrives and it’s time to take the PSAT.
And yes, I did say weeks or months. The best part about summer PSAT studying is that you don’t have to study all summer. You could choose to really focus on your PSAT study in the month of August. Or you start your PSAT study earlier in June or July, if stretching your studies over the whole summer works better for you.
Here’s one of our key PSAT tips: it’s easier to focus on test practice if you don’t have other homework. Summer is a time of minimal academic stress. And when you’re less stressed out, it’s easier to focus on mastering an exam.
During the school year, anytime you’re studying for a test, you have to balance your test practice with homework from other classes. But in the summer, you don’t even have to attend other classes, much less do other homework. This gives you a unique opportunity to just focus on the PSAT, with no other stressful distractions.
And bear in mind that preparing for the PSAT is not as time-consuming as regular high school studies. You’ll still have plenty of time for summer fun between your PSAT practice sessions. And that summer fun can keep you energized and focused when you study.
Unique PSAT study opportunities are available in the summer. Speaking of classes, it’s much easier to enroll in a PSAT practice course in the summer. Private tutoring centers and test practice academies keep longer hours in the summer. And you have more chances to go to these places for test practice during the day, instead of later in the evening when you’re more tired and less able to concentrate on your studies. Not only that, but there are also a lot of summer camps for PSAT and SAT prep.
Other FAQs about the PSAT
Can I take the PSAT if I’m not in the United States?
If you’re living outside of the United States, you may still be able to find a nearby school that offers the test. The school search on the College Board website can help you figure out where to go and who to contact. Many countries have several schools in different cities offer the exam.
Do it early, though: the College Board recommends making preparations at least four months in advance of the exam—that’s July (although there’s no harm in asking later if you didn’t know you could take the exam as an international student)!
Can I take the PSAT if I’m home-schooled?
Yes! Like international students, students who have been home schooled should identify a local school through the College Board school search. Similarly, the College Board recommends getting in touch with the school at least four months in advance—this way, the school can be sure to have materials, like a test booklet, ready for you.
I need special accommodations to take the test. How should I set those up?
If you have a disability that requires special accommodation, make sure you get approval from the College Board at least seven weeks before the test date. You should make sure that you talk to a guidance counselor or the person in charge of the test at your school, as well, around this date, to ensure that the requirements are met on test day.
I’m planning on taking the ACT. Does the ACT have a similar test like the PSAT?
It does, actually! It’s called the PreACT—check out our complete guide to the PreACT to learn more.
A Final Word
After all of the PSAT tips in this post, here’s one final tip: because the PSAT is not offered as often as the SAT, it’s important to create your study plan with the October test date in mind. Unlike the SAT, the PSAT tends to be an exam that students take just once.
It’s a significant test—after all, National Merit Scholarships ride on it—so make sure that you start preparing early! The preparation that you do now will definitely help you in the future, as you prepare for the SAT and finish your high school career.
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