How to Study for the PSAT
What’s Covered:
- Overview of the PSAT
- How Is the PSAT Scored?
- How Will My PSAT Score Affect My College Chances?
- Tips for Studying for the PSAT
- The Impact of Standardized Tests on Your Chances of Acceptance
Preparing for the PSAT? While this test won’t make or break your college admissions process, it’s an important one nonetheless. The PSAT serves not only as practice for the SAT, but is also your ticket into the National Merit competition, which could earn you scholarship money and recognition.
So, how do you get started? Keep reading for tips to prepare for the PSAT.
Overview of the PSAT
The PSAT/NMSQT and PSAT 10 each include two tests: Reading and Writing, and Math. The entire exam consists of 98 total questions and must be completed in 2 hours 14 minutes. It has also recently gone digital, so the entire test takes place on a computer screen, which may be an adjustment if you haven’t taken tests online before.
The Reading and Writing assessment evaluates a range of topics, including your command of textual evidence, your understanding of words in context, your ability to analyze passages on various topics in history/social studies and science, and your command of the English language.
Questions could be about a reading in one of the areas listed above, to measure your understanding of the text. Or, you could be tasked with analyzing the structure of particular sentences, understanding how information in charts should be interpreted, and fixing written mistakes.
The Reading and Writing section has 54 questions total, which are evenly divided between two modules. You’ll have 64 minutes total to answer the 54 questions, or about 1 minute and 11 seconds. To help you work efficiently, the test makers group similar questions together, and put easier questions at the beginning, so you can get in a groove before tackling harder ones.
The Math test consists of 44 questions, which are also evenly divided into two sections, of 22 questions each. You will be allowed 35 minutes for each section, or about a minute and 35 seconds for each question. Like the Reading and Writing section, the questions get harder and harder as you progress, beginning with the easiest, and ending with the most difficult.
Unlike in previous years, you will be allowed to use a calculator throughout the entire Math test. You may bring your own calculator, or use the digital graphing calculator that will be available through the testing platform.
You’ll need to be able to solve the PSAT Math problems quickly, by applying concepts and equations to complex real-world problems. In some cases, you are allowed to use a calculator but will need to evaluate whether that’s the best choice–being overly reliant on your calculator can make you less efficient on the PSAT.
How Is the PSAT Scored?
Scoring is similar to that of the SAT, although the scale for each section ranges from 160-760, as opposed to the SAT’s 200-800. That means your total score will be between 320-1520. Your score is meant to give you an idea of how you might perform on the SAT, but remember that many students improve their scores (and skills) in between taking the PSAT and SAT.
You will also receive your NMSC Selection Index. This is a number between 48 and 228, which is calculated by doubling your Reading and Writing score, adding it to your Math score, and dividing the result by 10.
The NMSC Selection Index is the initial screener for the National Merit Scholarship program, although there are many other steps to ultimately be named a National Merit Scholar–your PSAT score alone won’t lead to any scholarship money.
While the exact cutoff to be named a National Merit Semifinalist varies from year to year and state to state, last year’s data can give you a rough estimate of where you’ll need to aim. You’ll likely need to be in at least the 210-220 range, but the higher the better, of course.
How Will My PSAT Score Affect My College Chances?
Your PSAT score will not directly affect your chances of admission to college. But that doesn’t mean the test doesn’t matter.
Though colleges won’t take your PSAT scores into consideration, the PSAT is an incredible tool to help you prepare for the SAT, which will impact your odds of acceptance, (except at test-blind schools, which don’t consider standardized tests even if you submit them). It can help you identify and address your weaknesses, as well as get acclimated to the test-taking environment.
As noted above, the PSAT is also the first step in the National Merit Scholarship contest. Even if you don’t end up winning one of the awards, being a Semifinalist is a nice extra gold star to have on your application, especially at highly selective schools. However, if you don’t meet the cutoff, don’t panic–there are plenty of other ways to receive financial aid, and to show off your achievements on your applications.
Tips for Studying for the PSAT
1. Familiarize yourself with the test structure.
While we provided an overview above, you’ll want to familiarize yourself further with how the test works, the kinds of questions you’ll be asked, the time limits, and the number of questions so that there are no surprises when test day comes around. Understanding the structure of the test will help you feel more confident tackling the actual material.
It’s especially worth familiarizing yourself with the PSAT’s new, digital format, and the provided digital graphing calculator, if you’re planning on using it. As you’re practicing, try some online practice tests, to make sure that seeing and answering questions on a computer screen won’t throw you off.
2. Take practice tests.
You can find free practice tests through the College Board, along with organizations like Khan Academy. Start with a full-length practice test to get a sense of where you are and what you need to improve. Make sure to simulate real testing conditions, including time constraints and rules (no phone!), to help yourself feel more comfortable on the big day.
Take these full tests periodically to evaluate your progress and identify any new areas that are causing you trouble.
3. Prioritize.
You’re required to stick to questions within a single section during a given period, so you can’t jump back and forth between Reading and Writing and Math. But you can jump around within a particular section.
Generally speaking, each section gets progressively more difficult, but difficulty can be subjective. If you’re getting bogged down on a question early on, don’t panic–just guess, note the number of the question, and come back later if you have time. Odds are, there’s just something strange about the phrasing of that question that’s tripping you up, and you’ll find the ones immediately following it much easier.
4. Wherever possible, eliminate.
On the PSAT, you’ll often find that there is at least one obviously incorrect answer among the options. If you’re stuck, start by eliminating the responses that you know to be wrong. Comparing only the realistic options may help you see the way forward, and even if you need to guess, using process of elimination first increases your chances of guessing correctly.
5. When in doubt, guess.
If you’re running out of time and REALLY have no idea of the correct answer, just guess. There’s no guessing penalty — meaning you won’t lose points for incorrect answers — so it’s in your best interest to fill in every bubble. Do your best to follow the strategy in #4 though — even eliminating just one incorrect response will increase your odds of success.
6. Study your report.
It’s tempting to check your score and call it a day, but resist. The report you receive can give you solid tips for improving your score on the actual SAT. You’ll find feedback on your strengths and weaknesses, which can help you focus your SAT preparation.
Looking for more information and advice on how to prepare for the PSAT? We’ve got you covered. You can learn more about the PSAT, from important dates and deadlines to time management strategies here.
The Impact of Standardized Tests on Your Chances of Acceptance
Even with many colleges adopting test-optional policies, standardized test scores can still be a crucial part of your application, especially at more selective institutions. As you prep for the PSAT, and eventually the actual SAT (or ACT), you may be wondering how to set a target score for yourself—middle 50% data can only take you so far.
To get a concrete sense of what SAT/ACT score you’d need at your top-choice schools, given the rest of your profile, check out CollegeVine’s free chancing engine. This tool accounts for all quantifiable aspects of your application, including not just test scores but also grades, course rigor, extracurriculars, and so on to give you personalized odds of acceptance at 1,600+ schools around the country. You can experiment with entering various hypothetical test scores, and see how your odds change accordingly.
