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PSAT Information and Test Dates The purpose of the PSAT is to prepare students for the SAT. Like the SAT, the PSAT is a multiple-choice test that attempts to compare the preparation and ability of college applicants from different backgrounds by measuring their verbal and math ability. Questions on the PSAT include the same types as those on the SAT -- sentence completions, analogies, critical reading, discrete quantitative, quantitative comparisons, and student-produced questions. In addition to those questions, the PSAT includes a Writing Skills section. The PSAT, which is given in the fall each year, is also used as a qualifying test for the National Merit Scholarship Program, thus the name PSAT/NMSQT. The National Merit Program consists of five steps. The first step is program entry; students must take the PSAT/NMSQT and meet other eligibility requirements to enter the Merit Program. In April, following the October exam, about 50,000 high scoring participants will be invited to name two colleges or universities to which they would like to be referred by the Nation Merit Scholarship Cooperation (a not-for-profit organization that conducts the program). By September of the same year, 35,000 students will receive Letters of Commendation, but all will not continue in the competition for Merit Scholarships. The remaining 15,000 students, the highest scores in each of the 50 states, will be notified through their schools that they are semifinalists. In February of the following year, these finalists, approximately 6,500 students will receive Merit Scholarships. With regard to scoring, the PSAT/NMSQT will show verbal, writing, and math sub scores on a scale of 20 (minimum) to 80 (maximum). For the verbal and math sections, the PSAT/NMSQT scales directly correspond to the SAT scaled scores (200-800).
Typically, the PSAT/NMSQT is offered twice in October.
The testing schedule and registration deadlines are provided below.
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