The Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) is a standardized test run by the College Board, the same group behind the SAT. Starting in 2026, the PSAT switched to a fully digital format to help students get ready for the Digital SAT.
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Why is PSAT Taken?
The PSAT helps you build a strong foundation for other standardized tests like the SAT and ACT. Your PSAT score does not affect your college admissions, but preparing for it can help you do better on the SAT.
Advantages of Taking the PSAT before the SAT and ACT
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- You get used to the Bluebook app’s digital interface, the types of questions, and how the SAT and ACT are structured.
- You also learn how the multistage adaptive format works.
- Taking the PSAT/NMSQT is the only way to qualify for the National Merit Scholarship Program.
- The PSAT Score Report provides helpful feedback through the BigFuture School app.
What Does PSAT Exam Test?
The PSAT is now a digital adaptive test with two main sections:
- Reading and Writing
- Math
Reading and Writing
The Reading and Writing section has short passages, each with one question. It checks your skills in understanding structure, information, standard English, and how you express ideas.
Math
This section covers Algebra, Advanced Math, Problem-Solving and Data Analysis, and Geometry or Trigonometry. You can use a calculator for the whole Math section.
The PSAT takes 2 hours and 14 minutes, just like the Digital SAT in both format and interface. It is shorter overall and skips some of the more difficult SAT math questions.
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PSAT Exam Format (2026The PSAT composite score ranges from 320 to 1520. This total comes from adding your Reading & Writing and Math scores, which are each scored between 160 and 760.–760).
How IMS Manya – The Princeton Review Can Help You Ace the PSAT: Try our PSAT ACE Achiever course, available both online and in-person, and designed for the new digital adaptive format.
- Learn from certified expert tutors. Our instructors are subject specialists who complete Princeton Review certification and have experience helping students move from paper to digital tests.
- Master the digital interface with our platform, which looks and works like the Bluebook app. It includes the Desmos graphing calculator, a timer, and mark-for-review tools, so you know what to expect on test day.
- Use our expert-designed strategies to handle the adaptive test format. These methods help you reach higher-level modules and boost your score..
- Our advanced student portal offers detailed coursework videos and online adaptive tests that match the real 2026 PSAT scoring system.
- We create a personalized course plan based on your strengths and weaknesses. Detailed feedback from mock tests helps you focus on the areas where you can improve the most.
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