{"id":12730,"date":"2014-01-31T21:04:54","date_gmt":"2014-01-31T21:04:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/?page_id=12730"},"modified":"2026-10-28T09:47:24","modified_gmt":"2026-10-28T14:47:24","slug":"psat-test","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/psat-test\/","title":{"rendered":"PSAT®<\/sup> Test"},"content":{"rendered":"

The PSAT\/NMSQT\u00ae (Preliminary SAT\/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test) helps students prepare for the SAT\u00ae and serves as the qualifying test for entry into the National Merit Scholarship Program. It is cosponsored by College Board and National Merit Scholarship Corporation.<\/p>\n

This page explains what the PSAT\/NMSQT covers, how the digital test works, how to register, and how to understand your scores.<\/p>\n

\nPSAT Online Course<\/a>
\nPSAT Study Guide<\/a>
\nPSAT Practice Test<\/a>\n<\/div>\n

<\/span>What is the PSAT?<\/h2>\n

The PSAT\/NMSQT measures reading, writing, and math skills and is commonly taken by 10th- and 11th-grade students. It helps you identify academic strengths and areas to improve as you prepare for the SAT.<\/p>\n

The test is taken digitally using College Board\u2019s Bluebook testing app. Each section has two modules, and your performance on the first module determines the difficulty of the second module.<\/p>\n

<\/span>PSAT Outline<\/h2>\n

The PSAT\/NMSQT contains a total of 98 questions and has a time limit of 134 minutes (2 hours and 14 minutes).<\/p>\n

\"exam<\/a><\/p>\n

The test is split into two sections:<\/p>\n

<\/span>Reading and Writing<\/h3>\n

The Reading and Writing section contains 54 multiple-choice questions divided into two modules of 27 questions each. You will have 32 minutes per module, for a total of 64 minutes.<\/p>\n

Questions use short passages or passage pairs drawn from literature, history\/social studies, the humanities, and science. Each passage or passage pair is followed by a single question. Some questions also include an informational graphic, such as a table or graph.<\/p>\n

This section will evaluate your skills in the following four categories:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Craft and Structure:<\/strong> This category focuses on your ability to analyze, comprehend, and synthesize text, as well as your reasoning skills and vocabulary knowledge.<\/li>\n
  2. Information and Ideas:<\/strong> This category focuses on your ability to evaluate central details and ideas, make inferences, and wield evidence found in tables, graphs, and texts.<\/li>\n
  3. Standard English Conventions:<\/strong> This category focuses on your text editing skills. Specifically, you will be tested on your knowledge of English sentence structure, usage, and punctuation.<\/li>\n
  4. Expression of Ideas:<\/strong> This category focuses on your ability to revise and improve the effectiveness of a text.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    <\/span>Math<\/h3>\n

    The Math section contains 44 questions, which are divided into two modules, and you will be given a time limit of 70 minutes. You will be able to use a calculator throughout the entire Math section, whether it’s the provided digital calculator or an approved physical calculator.<\/p>\n

    The questions are grouped into four domains.<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Algebra:<\/strong> This domain focuses on the mastery of linear equations, systems of linear equations, and functions. These questions will evaluate your ability to represent situations through equations and solve them, as well as make connections between different representations of linear relationships.<\/li>\n
    2. Advanced Math:<\/strong> This domain focuses on your skills and abilities regarding absolute value, equivalent expressions, and nonlinear functions.<\/li>\n
    3. Problem Solving and Data Analysis:<\/strong> This domain focuses on analyzing problems and drawing information from data. These questions include using ratios, percentages, and statistical analysis to assess a practical command of math applied to real-world situations.<\/li>\n
    4. Geometry and Trigonometry:<\/strong> This domain focuses on your ability to solve geometric problems. You will be tested on your knowledge of area, volume, circles, right triangles, and lines.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t\t

      Check Out Mometrix's PSAT Study Guide!<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t

      Get practice questions, video tutorials, and detailed study lessons.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t

      Get Your Study Guide →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

      \"<\/a><\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n

      <\/span>PSAT vs. SAT vs. ACT<\/h2>\n

      The PSAT, SAT<\/a>, and ACT<\/a> are each used to help you get into college, but there are some notable differences among them. <\/p>\n

      Wondering which test is right for you? Take a look at the details of each exam here:<\/p>\n

      \n\n\n\n\n\n\n
      Testing Time<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
      PSAT<\/th>\nSAT<\/th>\nACT<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
      \n
      2 hours and 14 minutes<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
      		\n
      2 hours and 14 minutes<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
      		\n
      2 hours and 5 minutes<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
      Question Count<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
      PSAT<\/th>\nSAT<\/th>\nACT<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
      \n
      98<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
      		\n
      98<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
      		\n
      171, including the Science section<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
      Test Structure<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
      PSAT<\/th>\nSAT<\/th>\nACT<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
      \n
      \n

      Sections:<\/strong> 2<\/p>\n

        \n
      • Reading and Writing<\/li>\n
      • Math<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
      		\n
      \n

      Sections:<\/strong> 2<\/p>\n

        \n
      • Reading and Writing<\/li>\n
      • Math<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
      		\n
      \n

      Sections:<\/strong> 3 required, plus 2 optional<\/p>\n