The PSAT/NMSQT at a Glance
The PSAT/NMSQT (or National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test) is a preliminary version of the SAT. The test is 2 hours and 10 minutes long and divided into 5 sections testing your skills in Math, Critical Reading, and Writing. Each section on the PSAT has a scaled score from 20-80 points.
| Section | Length | Question Types |
| Math | Two, 25-minute sections | 28 Multiple Choice 10 Grid-Ins |
| Critical Reading | Two, 25-minute sections | 13 Sentence Completions 35 Reading Comprehension |
| Writing | One, 30-minute section | 14 Identifying Sentence Errors 20 Improving Sentences 5 Improving Paragraphs |
Not only is the PSAT great practice for taking the SAT or ACT, a great score can also open the door to National Merit Scholarships and other awards. Find out more about why you should take—and prepare for—the PSAT.
