Test Preparation: PSAT®
Our approach
We recommend students who are preparing for the PSAT to take our Comprehensive SAT test program. For a number of sophomores and juniors, taking the PSAT is a stepping stone to developing a strong test-taking foundation for the SAT test, and especially if they are National Merit Scholarship bound. The PSAT is a good indicator of the students’ strengths and weaknesses and how they will perform on the SAT test.
A brief overview of the PSAT
The PSAT (Preliminary SAT) is also called the NMSQT, or National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. The PSAT/NMSQT serves as a practice test for the SAT test. For a number of students, taking the PSAT is a great way to stand apart in the college admissions process, and to qualify for a National Merit Scholarship. The PSAT consists of three sections: Math, Critical Reading, and Writing. Each section is scored on a scale of 20 to 80 points, for a total possible composite score of 240 points. The content of the PSAT is similar to that of the SAT, except that the PSAT does not include Algebra II questions or an essay. Unlike the SAT, the PSAT is significantly shorter in length; it is two hours and 10 minutes.
The PSAT consists of the following:
| SECTION | QUESTION TYPE | QUESTION # | TIME ALLOTTED |
| Critical Reading | Sentence completions | 13 | 50 minutes (two 25-minute sections) |
| Passage-based reading | 35 | ||
| TOTAL | 48 | ||
| Writing | Identifying sentence errors | 14 | one 30-minute section |
| Improving sentences | 20 | ||
| Improving paragraphs | 5 | ||
| TOTAL | 39 | ||
| Math | Multiple-choice | 28 | 35 minutes (one 25-minute section and one 10-minute section) |
| Student-produced response (grid-ins) | 10 | ||
| TOTAL | 38 |
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“Cram Crew has probably been the most beneficial tutoring service I have ever used. I give them all the credit for my getting into the University of Texas.”
— Leigh Dalio
