United States Test Preparation
PSAT/NMSQT
The Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) is administered by College Board and cosponsored by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC). The PSAT/NMSQT is a multiple-choice question (MCQ) test that introduces high school 10th and 11th grade students to the SAT format. The National Merit Scholarship Program, which started in 1955, awards scholarships to students who perform well on the PSAT/NMSQT.
Format
The PSAT/NMSQT contains four (4) multiple-choice question (MCQ) sections:
Reading Test (60 Minutes; 47 Questions; Score Range 8-38)
Writing and Language Test (35 Minutes; 44 Questions; Score Range 8-38)
Math Test-No Calculator (25 Minutes; 17 Questions; Score Range 160-760)
Math Test-Calculator (45 Minutes; 31 Questions; Score Range 160-760)
Evidence-Based Reading and Writing Section Score Range 160-760
Combined Math Section Score Range 160-760
PSAT/NMSQT Score Range 320-1520
Tips for Students
PSAT/NMSQT taken at school by 10th and 11th grade students in the fall
PSAT 10 usually offered at discretion of school in winter and spring for 10th grade students
PSAT 8/9 taken at school by 8th and 9th grade students
PSAT 8/9 usually offered in fall, winter and spring at discretion of school
National Hispanic Recognition Program for PSAT/NMSQT 11th grade students to gain academic recognition college applications; not a scholarship program
Scholarship Partners and Programs for PSAT/NMSQT and PSAT 10 students to utilize free Student Search Service to connect with college and universities offering educational and financial aid opportunities
National Merit Scholarship Program for PSAT/NMSQT students competing for academic recognition and scholarships
College Board Opportunity Scholarships for 11th grade students searching for academic scholarships
PSAT Test Score Distributions
Please click the following links for PSAT score distributions:
PSAT/NMSQT and PSAT 10 - 11th Grade Score Distributions
PSAT/NMSQT and PSAT 10—11th Grade Total Score Percentages
| Year | 1520-1400 | 1390-1200 | 1190-1000 | 990-800 | 790-600 | 590-320 | PSAT Mean Score | Global Students | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 3% | 15% | 33% | 33% | 16% | 1% | 1,004 | 1,709,277 | ||||||
| 2019 | 4% | 16% | 32% | 31% | 16% | 1% | 1,013 | 1,747,071 | ||||||
| 2018 | 4% | 16% | 33% | 33% | 15% | 1% | 1,014 | 1,798,274 | ||||||
| 2017 | Unavailable | 1,018 | 1,784,169 | |||||||||||
| Source: College Board 2017-2020 | ||||||||||||||
PSAT/NMSQT and PSAT 10—11th Grade Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (ERW) Section Score Percentages
| Year | 760-700 | 690-600 | 590-500 | 490-400 | 390-300 | 290-160 | PSAT ERW Mean Score | Global Students | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 4% | 20% | 32% | 27% | 17% | 1% | 509 | 1,709,277 | ||||||
| 2019 | 5% | 20% | 32% | 26% | 16% | 1% | 512 | 1,747,071 | ||||||
| 2018 | 4% | 19% | 33% | 27% | 16% | 1% | 512 | 1,798,274 | ||||||
| 2017 | Unavailable | 513 | 1,784,169 | |||||||||||
| Source: College Board 2017-2020 | ||||||||||||||
PSAT/NSMQT and PSAT 10—11th Grade Math Section Score Percentages
| Year | 760-700 | 690-600 | 590-500 | 490-400 | 390-300 | 290-160 | PSAT ERW Mean Score | Global Students | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 4% | 10% | 33% | 37% | 14% | 1% | 494 | 1,709,277 | ||||||
| 2019 | 6% | 13% | 29% | 35% | 15% | 2% | 501 | 1,747,071 | ||||||
| 2018 | 5% | 14% | 30% | 37% | 13% | 1% | 502 | 1,798,274 | ||||||
| 2017 | Unavailable | 505 | 1,784,169 | |||||||||||
| Source: College Board 2017-2020 | ||||||||||||||
PSAT/NMSQT and PSAT 10 - 10th Grade Score Distributions
PSAT/NMSQT and PSAT 10—10th Grade Total Score Percentages
| Year | 1520-1400 | 1390-1200 | 1190-1000 | 990-800 | 790-600 | 590-320 | PSAT Mean Score | Global Students | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 1% | 7% | 26% | 39% | 26% | 1% | 925 | 1,945,655 | ||||||
| 2019 | 1% | 8% | 26% | 37% | 26% | 1% | 932 | 2,278,505 | ||||||
| 2018 | 1% | 8% | 26% | 39% | 25% | 1% | 932 | 2,240,289 | ||||||
| 2017 | Unavailable | 936 | 2,209,759 | |||||||||||
| Source: College Board 2017-2020 | ||||||||||||||
PSAT/NMSQT and PSAT 10—10th Grade Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (ERW) Section Score Percentages
| Year | 760-700 | 690-600 | 590-500 | 490-400 | 390-300 | 290-160 | PSAT ERW Mean Score | Global Students | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 1% | 11% | 27% | 32% | 27% | 2% | 467 | 1,945,655 | ||||||
| 2019 | 1% | 11% | 28% | 31% | 26% | 2% | 470 | 2,278,505 | ||||||
| 2018 | 1% | 11% | 28% | 33% | 25% | 2% | 471 | 2,240,289 | ||||||
| 2017 | Unavailable | 471 | 2,209,759 | |||||||||||
| Source: College Board 2017-2019 | ||||||||||||||
PSAT/NSMQT and PSAT 10—10th Grade Math Section Score Percentages
| Year | 760-700 | 690-600 | 590-500 | 490-400 | 390-300 | 290-160 | PSAT ERW Mean Score | Global Students | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 1% | 5% | 26% | 44% | 22% | 2% | 458 | 1,945,655 | ||||||
| 2019 | 2% | 7% | 23% | 41% | 23% | 3% | 462 | 2,278,505 | ||||||
| 2018 | 2% | 7% | 24% | 43% | 22% | 2% | 462 | 2,240,289 | ||||||
| 2017 | Unavailable | 465 | 2,209,759 | |||||||||||
| Source: College Board 2017-2020 | ||||||||||||||
PSAT 8/9 - 9th Grade Score Distributions
PSAT 8/9—9th Grade Total Score Percentages
| Year | 1520-1400 | 1390-1200 | 1190-1000 | 990-800 | 790-600 | 590-320 | PSAT Mean Score | Global Students | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 0% | 4% | 18% | 39% | 34% | 4% | 863 | 744,756 | ||||||
| 2019 | 0% | 4% | 22% | 38% | 32% | 4% | 874 | 1,040,124 | ||||||
| 2018 | 0% | 4% | 20% | 39% | 33% | 3% | 871 | 930,334 | ||||||
| 2017 | Unavailable | 874 | 749,470 | |||||||||||
| Source: College Board 2017-2020 | ||||||||||||||
PSAT 8/9—9th Grade Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (ERW) Section Score Percentages
| Year | 760-700 | 690-600 | 590-500 | 490-400 | 390-300 | 290-160 | PSAT ERW Mean Score | Global Students | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 0% | 6% | 21% | 34% | 34% | 5% | 432 | 744,756 | ||||||
| 2019 | 0% | 6% | 23% | 34% | 33% | 4% | 440 | 1,040,124 | ||||||
| 2018 | 0% | 6% | 22% | 35% | 33% | 3% | 438 | 930,334 | ||||||
| 2017 | Unavailable | 440 | 749,470 | |||||||||||
| Source: College Board 2017-2020 | ||||||||||||||
PSAT 8/9—9th Grade Math Section Score Percentages
| Year | 760-700 | 690-600 | 590-500 | 490-400 | 390-300 | 290-160 | PSAT ERW Mean Score | Global Students | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 1% | 4% | 16% | 42% | 32% | 5% | 431 | 744,756 | ||||||
| 2019 | 1% | 4% | 22% | 40% | 28% | 7% | 434 | 1,040,124 | ||||||
| 2018 | 1% | 4% | 19% | 41% | 31% | 5% | 433 | 930,334 | ||||||
| 2017 | Unavailable | 434 | 749,470 | |||||||||||
| Source: College Board 2017-2020 | ||||||||||||||
PSAT 8/9 - 8th Grade Score Distributions
PSAT 8/9—8th Grade Total Score Percentages
| Year | 1520-1400 | 1390-1200 | 1190-1000 | 990-800 | 790-600 | 590-320 | PSAT Mean Score | Global Students | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 0% | 2% | 11% | 36% | 45% | 6% | 812 | 631,904 | ||||||
| 2019 | 0% | 2% | 13% | 36% | 43% | 6% | 815 | 690,084 | ||||||
| 2018 | 0% | 1% | 12% | 37% | 45% | 5% | 812 | 599,765 | ||||||
| 2017 | Unavailable | 818 | 510,129 | |||||||||||
| Source: College Board 2017-2020 | ||||||||||||||
PSAT 8/9—8th Grade Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (ERW) Section Score Percentages
| Year | 760-700 | 690-600 | 590-500 | 490-400 | 390-300 | 290-160 | PSAT ERW Mean Score | Global Students | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 0% | 3% | 14% | 32% | 44% | 7% | 405 | 631,904 | ||||||
| 2019 | 0% | 3% | 15% | 33% | 43% | 6% | 409 | 690,084 | ||||||
| 2018 | 0% | 3% | 14% | 33% | 44% | 6% | 408 | 599,765 | ||||||
| 2017 | Unavailable | 409 | 510,129 | |||||||||||
| Source: College Board 2017-2020 | ||||||||||||||
PSAT 8/9—8th Grade Math Section Score Percentages
| Year | 760-700 | 690-600 | 590-500 | 490-400 | 390-300 | 290-160 | PSAT ERW Mean Score | Global Students | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 0% | 2% | 10% | 41% | 42% | 6% | 406 | 631,904 | ||||||
| 2019 | 0% | 2% | 13% | 38% | 38% | 9% | 406 | 690,084 | ||||||
| 2018 | 0% | 2% | 11% | 39% | 41% | 7% | 404 | 599,765 | ||||||
| 2017 | Unavailable | 409 | 510,129 | |||||||||||
| Source: College Board 2017-2020 | ||||||||||||||