The PSAT is College Board's preliminary SAT, the in-school test that comes before the SAT. There are three versions: the PSAT/NMSQT, the PSAT 10 and the PSAT 8/9. Each one is a 2 hour 14 minute digital test with a Reading and Writing section and a Math section, 98 questions in total. Your school gives it, so you do not register on your own. Only the PSAT/NMSQT, taken in 11th grade, can qualify you for National Merit.
The three PSATs side by side
| Test | When schools give it | Score range | National Merit? |
|---|---|---|---|
| PSAT/NMSQT | Fall (October 1 to 30 in 2026) | 320 to 1520 | Yes, in 11th grade |
| PSAT 10 | Spring (March 1 to April 30, 2027) | 320 to 1520 | No |
| PSAT 8/9 | Fall and spring | 240 to 1440 | No |
| SAT (for comparison) | Weekends, plus SAT School Day | 400 to 1600 | Used to confirm a Semifinalist's PSAT |
Testing windows from College Board's 2026-27 calendar. Score ranges from College Board's score report guide. National Merit rules from NMSC.
What PSAT stands for
PSAT means Preliminary SAT. The full name of the fall test is the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, which is why you see "PSAT/NMSQT." The National Merit Scholarship Corporation uses it to screen students for its scholarship program.
What is on the PSAT
All three PSATs follow the same layout, according to College Board:
| Section | Time | Questions |
|---|---|---|
| Reading and Writing | 64 minutes | 54 |
| Math | 70 minutes | 44 |
| Total | 2 hours 14 minutes | 98 |
Most questions are multiple choice. Some math questions ask you to type in your answer instead of picking one. Reading and Writing uses short passages from literature, history and social studies, the humanities and science, with a single question per passage. It covers four domains: Craft and Structure, Information and Ideas, Standard English Conventions and Expression of Ideas. Math covers four too: Algebra, Advanced Math, Problem-Solving and Data Analysis, and Geometry and Trigonometry.
How the PSAT is scored
You get a section score for Reading and Writing and one for Math, and they add up to your total. On the PSAT/NMSQT and PSAT 10, each section runs from 160 to 760, for a total of 320 to 1520. On the PSAT 8/9, sections run from 120 to 720, for 240 to 1440.
College Board set the PSAT scale to line up with the SAT's 400 to 1600 scale (Compass Prep explains the history), so a PSAT score is a rough look at where you would land on the SAT if you tested that day. The PSAT scale stops lower, at 1520.
The PSAT/NMSQT report also shows your NMSC Selection Index: double your Reading and Writing score, add Math, and divide by 10. That number, not your total, decides National Merit. Check yours with our free PSAT score calculator. Our National Merit guide explains the cutoffs.
Is the PSAT easier than the SAT?
The two tests look the same. College Board lists the same layout for both: 64 minutes and 54 questions of Reading and Writing, then 70 minutes and 44 questions of Math. The difference shows in the scale, which stops at 1520 on the PSAT and 1600 on the SAT. If you prepare for the SAT, you are preparing for the PSAT too.
Same skills, real questions.
Practice with real Digital SAT questions sorted by skill and difficulty, or take a free full-length test to see where you stand.
Which PSAT should you take, by grade?
8th and 9th grade: the PSAT 8/9, if your school offers it. It shows which skills to build early.
10th grade: your school may give the PSAT/NMSQT in the fall or the PSAT 10 in the spring. Neither counts for National Merit at this stage, but both use the same 320 to 1520 scale as your junior-year test, so you can track your growth.
11th grade: the PSAT/NMSQT in October. This is the one that counts for National Merit. Reading and Writing doubles in the Selection Index, so give that section extra practice. Start with our 200-word PSAT vocabulary list.
Do you need to register?
No. College Board says students taking the PSAT/NMSQT, PSAT 10 or PSAT 8/9 do not register on their own. Your school or district handles it. Ask your counselor which test your school gives and when.
Frequently asked questions
What does PSAT stand for?
Preliminary SAT. The fall version is the PSAT/NMSQT, short for Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.
How long is the PSAT?
2 hours and 14 minutes: 64 minutes of Reading and Writing (54 questions) and 70 minutes of Math (44 questions).
Is the PSAT on paper or digital?
Digital. Like the SAT, it is a two-section test with Reading and Writing and Math, taken on a device at school.
Does the PSAT matter?
For juniors, yes: the PSAT/NMSQT is the entry test for National Merit. For everyone, it is practice for the SAT and a list of the skills you need to work on.
What is a good PSAT score?
It depends on your grade and goal. For National Merit, look at your Selection Index against your state's cutoff, which ran from 208 to 223 for the class of 2027.
More PSAT guides
Sources
- College Board, How the PSAT/NMSQT Is Structured, plus the PSAT 10 and PSAT 8/9 structure pages (2 hours 14 minutes, 54 and 44 questions).
- College Board, SAT Suite Test Dates and Deadlines (2026-27 in-school windows; schools handle registration).
- College Board, Understanding PSAT/NMSQT Scores (Selection Index).
- NMSC, Entry Requirements (PSAT 10 and PSAT 8/9 do not count).
Frequently Asked Questions
What does PSAT stand for?
Preliminary SAT. The fall version is the PSAT/NMSQT, short for Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.
How long is the PSAT?
2 hours and 14 minutes: 64 minutes of Reading and Writing (54 questions) and 70 minutes of Math (44 questions).
Is the PSAT easier than the SAT?
The layout is the same: 64 minutes and 54 Reading and Writing questions, then 70 minutes and 44 Math questions. The PSAT scale stops at 1520 and the SAT's at 1600.
Do you need to register for the PSAT?
No. College Board says schools or districts handle registration for the PSAT/NMSQT, PSAT 10 and PSAT 8/9.
Which PSAT counts for National Merit?
Only the PSAT/NMSQT, taken in the right year and no later than your third year of high school. The PSAT 10 and PSAT 8/9 do not count.