BANGALORE: The Preliminary SAT (PSAT)/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, is a comprehensive, standardised assessment administered at schools in October which helps prepare students for the SAT.
The PSAT is an important step in a student’s path to university success. It assesses subject matter and problem-solving skills in three areas: Critical Reading, Writing, and Maths. Given the nature of the PSAT and topics covered in the test, it can be useful even for students who don’t want to take the SAT, but are focused on preparing for other similar multiple-choice standardised tests for admission into foreign or Indian universities.
Exam Structure and Scoring
The PSAT is very similar to the SAT. The differences are that it doesn’t have an essay, and the duration of the test is only two hours 10 minutes, compared to three hours and 45 minutes for the SAT. The PSAT has five sections — two Maths, two Critical Reading, and one Writing. The difficulty level of the test is slightly lower than the SAT. Scores for each section-type — critical reading, math, and writing — are on a 20–to–80 point scale. The highest possible total score is 240.
psat’s benefits
• PSAT score report provides a detailed skill breakdown and performance review, helping students identify their strengths and weaknesses so that they can adopt smarter and more effective strategies while preparing for SAT and other similar tests
• Offers excellent practice for the SAT. Research conducted in the US indicates that students who take PSAT score up to 189 points higher on their SAT
• Scores are not shared with universities, so it’s a no-stress way for students to find out where they stand
• It is less than 1/4th the price of the SAT, so it’s cost-effective
• Gives students free access to online college planning resources and tools through “My College QuickStart”
• Students receive information from colleges when they check “yes” to Student Search Service
Details at www.collegeboard.org/psat.com