"Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated." – R Collier
Get to Know The PSAT
The PSAT/NMSQT is administered annually to a cohort of chosen 8th graders and high school students.
Beyond serving as a practice assessment for the SAT, the PSAT/NMSQT holds a principal role in identifying a high school junior's qualification for the esteemed National Merit Scholarship Program.
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The acronym "PSAT/NMSQT" signifies the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, which is reserved for junior-year students. Achieving an exceptional score on the PSAT/NMSQT in one's junior year can significantly enhance the likelihood of receiving a coveted National Merit Scholarship for college.
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Understanding the test:
Test Length: PSAT 8/9: 2 hours 25 mins. & PSAT/NMSQT: 2 hours 45 mins.
Cost: Varies
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Highest 8/9 PSAT Score:
1440 & PSAT/NMSQT: 1520
National Average 8/9 PSAT Score: 835 & PSAT/NMSQT: 920
How is the PSAT scored?
All editions of the PSAT scores are built on two sections: evidence-based reading and writing, and math. The final score is computed by a combination of the reading and writing section and the math section.
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PSAT 8/9: the score range is 240-1440.
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PSAT/NMSQT: The score range is 320-1520
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How do I register for the SAT?
Unfortunately, not all schools automatically administer the PSAT. Find out if your school offers the test. If so, please follow their guidance.
The PSAT/NMSQT is offered once a year to selected 8th graders and high school students.
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Aside from being used by many students as a practice test for the SAT, the primary purpose of the PSAT/NMSQT is to determine a sophomore or high school junior's eligibility for the National Merit Scholarship Program.
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Reading:
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​47 multiple-choice questions
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​60 Mins.
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Passages or pairs of passages (literature, historical documents, social sciences, and natural sciences)
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Writing & Language:
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44 multiple-choice questions
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35 minutes
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Grammar, vocabulary in context, and editing skills
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Math:
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44 multiple-choice questions (broken up into a 20-question ‘no calculator’ section and a 38-question ‘calculator allowed’ section)
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70 minutes (divided into a ‘no calculator’ section and a ‘calculator allowed’ section)
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Algebra I and II, geometry, and some trigonometry
National Merit Scholarship Opportunities
Achieving a National Merit Scholarship is a challenging endeavor. According to 2022 numbers from the College Board, more than 2 million students took the PSAT/NMSQT or PSAT 10 in the 2021-2022 school year. However, only around 7,500 of those test-takers will be chosen to receive a National Merit Scholarship or corporate/college-sponsored merit award in 2023.
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What Merit Scholarships Are Granted? Roughly 7,500 Merit Scholarships are divided among three classifications.
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First, is the National Merit $2,500 Scholarship with the winners decided by college admissions officers and high school counselors. This is a one-time payment of $2,500.
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Next, there are roughly 1,000 corporate-sponsored merit and special scholarships, which are decided by the National Merit Scholarship Corp. The amount and period of the award vary by individual corporate sponsors and range up to $10,000 per year.
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Lastly, there are about 4,000 renewable college-subsidized merit scholarships. The winners are selected by the individual colleges with sums varying from $500 to $2,000 a year.
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Is there Value in taking the PSAT?
The value of the PSAT can be weighed in two ways.
1. It is a route to one of the scholarships mentioned above.
2. It is a test prep barometer for the SAT.