Free PSAT Practice Test (2025) 45 Questions by Mometrix

Every year, thousands of high school students across the country prepare for the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT). But before they take the SAT, students prepare throughout their high school years by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT).

Click the “Start Test” above to begin your free PSAT practice test! These practice questions will give you a better idea of what to study for your exam.

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PSAT/NMSQT Practice Tests by Subject

If you need some extra practice in a specific subject, click one of the subjects below to get started on a subject-specific PSAT/NMSQT practice test.

PSAT/NMSQT Reading Practice Test PSAT/NMSQT Writing Practice Test

PSAT/NMSQT Math Practice Test

Exam Outline

The PSAT/NMSQT contains a total of 98 questions/tasks and has a time limit of 134 minutes (2 hours and 14 minutes).

Here’s a quick look at what’s on the test:

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How to Pass

Though the PSAT is often considered to be a practice run for the SAT, scoring high enough on the PSAT can qualify you for the National Merit Scholarship Program. Some of these scholarships include full college tuition. Because of the potential reward of scoring well on the PSAT, you want to be adequately prepared for this important exam. Using quality study materials is crucial.

It is also helpful to verify your readiness for the test by taking PSAT practice tests. You don’t have to spend a lot of money on quality PSAT study materials, they are available for free, from Mometrix Academy. The links above give you access to practice test study guides that cover all the subjects included on the PSAT: Reading, Mathematics, and Writing.

There are also links to free practice tests. The PSAT practice tests will assess your knowledge and indicate how prepared you are for the actual PSAT test. A practice test will also pinpoint which subject areas need further study and understanding. You may want to consider taking a PSAT practice test for the first time and designate next to each question which of the subsequent statements is true.

I confidently knew the correct answer
I chose the correct answer but was unsure of my choice
I had no idea which option was the correct answer

Approaching the practice test in this way will help you determine strengths and weaknesses so that you can allocate your study time appropriately. The questions that you confidently answered correctly won’t require much study, but you may want to briefly review this material anyway to verify that you have a thorough understanding of why that was the correct answer. The questions that you answered correctly but were not confident about will need a little more time and focus. Of course, the majority of your study time will be focused on the last set of questions of which you had no idea as to the correct answer. Don’t be disheartened about these questions! Mometrix has all you need to successfully prepare for the PSAT.

Top 5 Most Challenging PSAT Questions

Now that you know how to approach practice tests, try your hand at some targeted practice on your own!

Over the last year, we’ve compiled the data from about 16,000 test-takers who tried their hand at the practice test at the top of this page. According to the data, around 85% of people answered these five questions incorrectly.

Answer each question and read through the answer explanation, whether you got the answer right or wrong. This will help you ensure you’ve got the topic mastered.

Whether you struggled with these questions or aced them on your first try, be sure to take the full practice test to get a better idea of how prepared you really are!

1. The half-life of caffeine in the human body is 5 hours. If Rafe drinks a cup of coffee at 7:00 a.m., what percentage of the caffeine is still in his system at 2:00 p.m.? Round your answer to the nearest whole percent.

We start with the formula $y (t) = a e^{k t}$ where $a$ is the starting amount and $t$ is the time in hours. Since the half-life is 5, we can write $0.5 = 1 e^{k 5}$ . We then solve by taking the natural logarithm of each side:

$\ln (0.5) = \ln (e^{5 k})$
$\ln (0.5) = 5 k$
$k = \frac{\ln (0.5)}{5}$

At 2:00 p.m., it has been 7 hours since Rafe drank the cup of coffee, so we can put that into the equation:

$y (7) = 1 e^{k 7} \approx 0.379$

This translates to 37.9%, or approximately 38%.

2. In triangle ABC below, side $A B = 4 x$ and side $B C = 6 x - 2 \sqrt{2}$ . What is the length of $A C$ ?

Since angles A and C are each 45°, we know that angle B must be 90°

180 - 45 - 45 = 90

. So, this is a 45-45-90 special triangle. The short legs are equal to each other, and the length of the hypotenuse is the length of a short leg times

\sqrt{2}

. To find the short legs, set AB and BC equal to each other:

$4 x = 6 x - 2 \sqrt{2}$

Subtract

6 x

from both sides:

$- 2 x = - 2 \sqrt{2}$

Finally, divide each side by

- 2

$x = \sqrt{2}$

We can plug this value into the equation for either leg to find that

AB = 4 \sqrt{2}

. To find AC, we multiply this by

\sqrt{2}

$4 \sqrt{2} \times \sqrt{2} = 4 (2) = 8$

Therefore, the length of AC is 8.

3. Which choice completes the text below with the most logical transition?

Florence stood as a shining star in the Italian Renaissance from the 14th century to the 17th century. Thinkers like Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Galileo Galilei found a home here, and their groundbreaking contributions became foundations of art and science. __________ the Medici family, well-known supporters of the arts, nurtured an atmosphere where creativity flourished, backing works that would influence art, science, and human thought for years to come.

A. Consequently, thanks to B. In contrast, C. For instance, D. Moreover,

The correct answer is “Moreover,” because it indicates a continuation of the discussion about Florence, its great thinkers, and its significance during the Italian Renaissance. The passage discusses the influence of certain individuals on art and science, and the word moreover connects the Medici family to these other figures. Choice A would not be the best fit, as “Consequently, thanks to” implies a cause-and-effect relationship, which is not present in the sentence. Additionally, “thanks to” doesn’t create a smooth transition in this context. Choice B is inappropriate because “In contrast” introduces a comparison between contrasting ideas, which is not the purpose here. The focus of the passage is on the positive contributions of the Medici family and other important figures in Florence during the Italian Renaissance, and “In contrast” would go against this. Choice C is not ideal, as “For instance” is used when providing specific examples to support an idea, which is not relevant here.

4. Read the selections below before answering the question:

Read Passage

Text 1

Banning books on the basis of what is deemed appropriate by conservative individuals is an injustice to students. The contents of a library should not only reflect the population that the library serves, they should be more diverse. This exposes readers to the lived experiences of others, through which they may develop a sense of empathy and understanding. A diverse collection of books also allows for all patrons to see themselves reflected in the collection. Removing books that may be seen as controversial or inappropriate removes the validation and support that students need to flourish. Students should, instead, be taught the skills needed to think critically and to make appropriate book selections based on their own needs and desires. While parents have the right to decide what is appropriate for their own children, they do not reserve the right to decide for all.

Text 2

As adults, it is our responsibility to protect children from inappropriate topics, graphic content, offensive language, sexual themes, and other unsavory content. Making this content inaccessible to children is the easiest way to protect them and allow them to remain innocent for as long as possible. Books should represent an ideal world of which our children may strive to be an integral part. Perverse topics will only lead children to believe the portrayed lifestyles are acceptable.

Based on the texts, what would the author of the first text most likely say in response to the claims made by the author of the second text?

A. A compromise may be made so that parents must approve of the books selected by their children. B. Controversial books should not be made available to students until they have reached a designated age. C. Books containing graphic or offensive material should be withheld from shelving but made available on request from individual students. D. The ideal world that they wish their children to be part of excludes many individuals based on their differences.

The author of the first text believes that diversity in books is a critical part of developing empathy for others, while the author of the second text believes that books should portray an “ideal world.” Implying that controversial topics cannot be part of an ideal world implies that the individuals represented are not part of any ideal world, leading them to be excluded. Choice A is incorrect because the author of the first text has made it clear that he or she believes the ability to appropriately select a book must be developed by the child. Choice B is incorrect, as the author of the first text feels that book selection through critical thinking is a skill that is developed over time--not reached at a particular age. Choice C is also incorrect, as this would also remove individual student autonomy and the opportunity for children to use the aforementioned skills.

5. Which of the following is the solution to the following inequality:

$2 | x + 3 | - 9 \geq - 1$

$- 1 \leq x \leq 7$

$- 7 \leq x \leq 1$

$x \leq - 1$ and $x \geq 7$

$x \leq - 7$ and $x \geq 1$

Solve the inequality using inverse operations. Start by adding 9 to both sides of the inequality.

2 |x + 3| - 9 \geq - 1

2 |x + 3| \geq 8

Then, divide both sides by 2.

|x + 3| \geq 4

From here, separate the inequality into two inequalities to remove the absolute value, and solve each inequality.

x + 3 \geq 4

x \geq 1

- (x + 3) \geq 4

x + 3 \leq - 4

x \leq - 7

Therefore, the solution to the inequality is $x \leq - 7$ and $x \geq 1$ .

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PSAT Online Prep Course

If you want to be fully prepared, Mometrix offers an online PSAT prep course designed to give you everything you need to succeed!

Here’s what you’ll find in the PSAT course:

60+ Review Lessons Covering Every Topic
Over 950 PSAT Practice Questions
240+ Video Tutorials
450+ Digital Flashcards
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Mobile Access

Everyone learns differently, so we’ve tailored the PSAT online prep course to ensure every learner has what they need to prepare for the PSAT exam.

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By Peter Rench

Peter Rench joined Mometrix in 2009 and serves as Vice President of Product Development, responsible for overseeing all new product development and quality improvements. Mr. Rench, a National Merit Scholar, graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and a minor in mathematics from Texas A&M University.

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