PSAT

Overview

The PSAT/NMSQT (Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test) is a digital, adaptive assessment from the College Board, co-sponsored with the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC). It measures the same reading, writing and math skills as the SAT, at a level suited to grades 10 and 11, and is administered in US high schools during a fall testing window. It also serves as the only qualifying test for entry into the National Merit Scholarship Program, screening more than a million students a year.

Who can take it

The PSAT/NMSQT is designed for students in grades 10 and 11 and is given at school, not at an individual testing centre. Some schools also allow ninth graders to sit it, though the College Board's grade-appropriate alternative for younger students is the PSAT 8/9. Students who are homeschooled or want to test away from their usual school are not automatically included in a school's registration file and must arrange, through a participating school or district office, to be added before the testing window opens.

Exam pattern

The test runs on the College Board's Bluebook digital testing app and takes 2 hours 14 minutes in total. Like the digital SAT, it uses a multistage adaptive design: each section is split into two modules, and performance on the first module determines the difficulty of the second.

Each module also includes a small number of unscored pretest questions mixed in with the scored ones, so students cannot tell which questions count.

Marking and results

Reading and Writing and Math are each reported on a 160–760 scale, combining into a total composite score of 320–1520. For the National Merit Scholarship Program, NMSC does not use the composite score directly; it calculates a Selection Index by doubling the Reading and Writing score, adding the Math score, and dividing by 10, giving a range of 48–228. Only PSAT/NMSQT scores count for National Merit entry — scores from the PSAT 10 or PSAT 8/9 are not accepted. Students view their scores online through their College Board student score report account; students aged 13 and older who gave a mobile number at testing can also see scores in the BigFuture School app.

Important dates

For 2026, the PSAT/NMSQT is offered as an in-school assessment during a fall testing window of October 1–30, 2026; each school picks its own test day within that window. Scores are generally made available online in December 2026, a few weeks after the testing window closes.

Fees

For 2026, the base PSAT/NMSQT registration fee that schools pay is $18 per student. Many schools cover all or part of this cost or build it into other student fees, so students are often not billed directly; talk to a school counsellor about the local arrangement. Schools with a higher share of low-income students qualify for a price reduction, which can lower the per-student cost to as little as$4.

How to apply

Students register for the PSAT/NMSQT through their high school, not directly with the College Board — there is no individual sign-up. Schools order the test and open registration through the College Board's SAT Suite Ordering and Registration system, then upload a student roster. Students should talk to their school counsellor, typically in September, to learn their school's registration process and deadline.

After the exam

Scores become available online through the student's College Board account a few weeks after the testing window. Juniors (grade 11) whose Selection Index places them among the highest scorers in their state are the pool from which NMSC later names Commended Students, Semifinalists and, eventually, Finalists and Scholars in the National Merit Scholarship Program; this process continues into senior year. High-scoring students in grades 10 and 11 may also qualify for the College Board's National Recognition Programs, separate academic honours that can be noted on college applications.

Preparation tips

The College Board's Bluebook app offers a free, full-length adaptive PSAT/NMSQT practice test that mirrors the real digital format, along with a question bank. Starting with one practice test to get a baseline score makes it easier to target weak areas before test day. Khan Academy offers free official SAT Suite practice, including personalised recommendations based on practice-test performance, and is a reasonable supplement since the PSAT/NMSQT and SAT share the same skills and question types.