PSAT Explained: A Complete Guide for Parents

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Why Do Students Take the PSAT?

Most parents know the SAT is a test for college admissions. What the PSAT is actually for is much less clear. PSAT stands for Preliminary SAT, or Practice SAT. Put simply, it is a practice version of the SAT.

But it was not made only for SAT practice. Students can take the PSAT from 8th through 11th grade, although it is not required. Students who take it receive a score report, and analyzing those results gives an objective measure of a student’s college readiness. If a student takes the PSAT steadily from 8th through 11th grade, you can also track their progress over time.

A strong PSAT score can also be a real help in college admissions. I will explain that in more detail below.

Types of PSAT

PSAT 8/9

This test is designed for 8th and 9th graders. It is divided into Reading and Writing and Math, and each subject is split into Module 1 and Module 2, so the test has four modules in total. Scores range from 240 to 1440, with 120–720 possible in each of the English and Math sections. Total testing time is 2 hours and 14 minutes; the details are in the chart below. Reading and Writing takes 64 minutes, split into two 32-minute modules. Math is split into two modules the same way.

Source: College Board (satsuite.collegeboard.org/psat-nmsqt/whats-on-the-test/structure)

PSAT 10

This is the PSAT designed for 10th graders. Its structure and timing are the same as the PSAT 8/9, and like the PSAT 8/9, its main focus is measuring college readiness. The difference is that each section is scored from 160 to 760 (the PSAT 8/9 was 120–720). As a result, scores on the PSAT 10 range from 320 to 1520.

PSAT/NMSQT

This test is open to 10th and 11th graders, and it is the one that matters. To be precise, the PSAT/NMSQT taken in 11th grade is the important one. That is because a high score on this test can earn a National Merit Scholarship. The scholarship itself is valuable, but having National Merit recognition on a college application is a major advantage. It sets a student apart academically among students across the country, greatly improves the chances of admission to strong colleges, and increases the likelihood of receiving financial aid from many colleges.

Both 10th and 11th graders can take this test, but 10th-grade scores cannot be used to enter the National Merit Scholarship Program. Only scores from the test taken in 11th grade count. You may be wondering how the PSAT 10 and the PSAT/NMSQT differ. Here is a comparison.

Source: College Board (satsuite.collegeboard.org/k12-educators/administration/psat-nmsqt/prepare-staff/comparison)

How to Understand PSAT Scores

The SAT is scored from 400 to 1600, while the PSAT 8/9 is scored from 240 to 1440, and the PSAT 10 and PSAT/NMSQT from 320 to 1520. It may seem needlessly complicated, but there is no need to overthink it.

Simply think of a score on the PSAT 8/9, PSAT 10, or PSAT/NMSQT as the score a student would get on the SAT. For example, if a student scores 500 in Math on the PSAT 8/9, you can expect an SAT Math score of around 500 at their current level. If that student then scores 650 on the PSAT 10, it shows they have been studying hard: their math score has grown by 150 points.