The PSAT explained: what parents need to know
Get tutoring help for your child →The PSAT is often a student’s first experience of a college admissions-style test. It is lower stakes than the SAT, but it gives useful practice and, for some students, a chance at National Merit recognition.
The PSAT tests
- PSAT/NMSQT is usually taken in grade 10 or 11, typically in the fall through school. The grade 11 score is the one used to enter the National Merit Scholarship Program.
- PSAT 10 is offered to grade 10 students in spring.
- PSAT 8/9 is for students in grades 8 and 9.
Like the SAT, the PSAT is taken on a device and has a Reading and Writing section and a Math section. See our SAT vs. ACT guide for how the SAT itself compares with the ACT.
How to use the results
- Look at section scores and the skill areas the report flags, not just the total.
- Use it to decide between the SAT and ACT, and to plan preparation time in grade 11.
- Remember that colleges do not see PSAT scores as part of your application.
Does a student need to prepare?
For most students, light practice is enough: one official practice test to get familiar with the format. Students aiming for National Merit recognition in grade 11 may want more focused preparation over the summer before.
Tell us your child’s grade, ZIP code and the subject that feels hardest. Wherever you live in the U.S., we’ll search for a tutoring provider near you. Families near Bay Ridge, Brooklyn can connect with Huntington Learning Center.
Start the questionnaireRelated guides
- SAT vs. ACT: a parent planning guide
- Math tutoring: what to ask at each school stage
- How much tutoring does a child need?
- All parent guides