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Taking the Tests:
» Meet the PSAT/NMSQT
The Preliminary SAT®/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test is a co-sponsored program by the College Board and National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC).
PSAT/NMSQT stands for Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. It's a standardized test that provides firsthand practice for the SAT I: Reasoning Test and SAT II: Writing Test. It also gives you a chance to qualify for National Merit Scholarship Corporation's (NMSC) scholarship programs.
The PSAT/NMSQT measures:
- verbal reasoning skills
- critical reading skills
- math problem-solving skills
- writing skills
You have developed these skills over many years, both in and out of school. This test doesn't require you to recall specific facts from your classes.
The most common reasons for taking the PSAT/NMSQT are:
- to receive feedback on your strengths and weaknesses on skills necessary for college study. You can then focus your preparation on those areas that could most benefit from additional study or practice.
- to see how your performance on an admissions test might compare with that of others applying to college.
- to enter the competition for scholarships from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.
- to help prepare for SAT Program tests. You can become familiar with the kinds of questions and the exact directions you will see on the SAT I: Reasoning Test and the multiple-choice section of the SAT II: Writing Test.
- to receive information from colleges when you check "yes" to Student Search Service.
You should definitely take the PSAT/NMSQT in your junior year. Many students benefit from also taking it earlier, typically in their sophomore year. If you take it earlier, recognize that the PSAT/NMSQT is a junior-level test, so don't get discouraged if your score is low. Your score will usually increase as your years of study increase.
Dates
In 2003 high schools can administer the PSAT/NMSQT on Saturday, October 18 and Tuesday, October 21.
Fees
The fee for the 2003 PSAT/NMSQT is $10.50. Note: Schools sometimes charge an additional fee to cover administrative costs. The College Board makes fee waivers available to schools for juniors from low-income families who can't afford the test fee. See your counselor for more information about fee waivers.
How To Register For The PSAT/NMSQT
You must sign up for the test at your high school or one in your community. The test is administered by high schools, not through test centers. Online registration for the PSAT/NMSQT is not available.
If you want to take the PSAT/NMSQT, contact your own high school counselor or principal to find about registering for the tests; paying test fees; and learning the correct date, time, and location that your school will give the test. Also contact your guidance office for a copy of the PSAT/NMSQT Student Bulletin to help you prepare.
How Score Reports are Delivered
Score reports are mailed to your high school principal at the end of November. Each school decides how and when to distribute the scores to students. Check with your counselor if you have not yet received your scores. PSAT/NMSQT scores are not available by phone or online. Go to Score Report Plus for more information about score reports.
If you're a home schooled student, your PSAT/NMSQT score report is sent directly to your home address. On the test day, when completing the basic information on the answer sheet, be sure to enter your state's home school code in the "school code" section. The test supervisor will provide this for you.
Additional copies of your score report can be obtained from your counselor. Your school is responsible for distributing and retaining your PSAT/NMSQT scores.
How the Test is Scored
The PSAT/NMSQT is scored as follows:
- each correct answer = 1 full point, regardless of level of difficulty
- each unanswered question = 0 points
- each incorrect answer to a Student-Produced Response question = 0 points
- each incorrect answer to a multiple-choice question with 4 answer choices = minus 1/3 point
- each incorrect answer to a multiple-choice question with 5 answer choices = minus 1/4 point
The points for each section (verbal, math, and writing skills) are then converted to scores on the PSAT/NMSQT scale of 20 to 80. Converting points to scores adjusts for slight differences in difficulty between various editions of the test.
Information on the Score Report
The PSAT/NMSQT score reports provide three different scores on the 20-to-80 scale. One each for verbal skills, math skills, and writing skills. The average verbal, math, and writing skills score for juniors is about 49.
Also on your score report is the Selection Index, which is the sum of the three scores (V + M + W). The Selection Index ranges from 60 to 240. The average Selection Index of juniors is about 147.
Score reports include percentiles, which allow you to compare your scores with those of other juniors who will be applying to college. For example, a student with a percentile of 53 has earned a score better than 53 out of every 100 college-bound juniors who took the test. Go to Score Report Plus for more information about your score report.
Notification of Qualification for National Merit Scholarship Corporation Scholarship Programs
If you take the PSAT/NMSQT as a junior and qualify to be designated a Commended Student or Semifinalist in NMSC's scholarship programs, you will be notified by your school in September of your senior year.
Converting the PSAT/NMSQT Score to a Comparable SAT Score
Converting a PSAT/NMSQT score to a comparable SAT score is easy. The PSAT/NMSQT is on a scale of 20 to 80. SAT tests are on a scale of 200 to 800. Simply add a zero to your PSAT/NMSQT score to convert it to a corresponding SAT score. For example, a PSAT/NMSQT score of 56 is similar to an SAT score of 560. Your score report will also provide estimates for SAT scores based on your PSAT/NMSQT results.
Score Report Plus
PSAT/NMSQT scores indicate how ready you are for college-level work. In addition to your test scores, your Score Report Plus gives you personalized feedback on your academic skills, and is full of information to help you get ready for college and for the SAT®.
Score Report Plus gives you:
- Your Scores
PSAT/NMSQT scores are reported on a scale from 20 to 80. Average scores are near the midpoint (50) of the scale. For the 2000 PSAT/NMSQT test:
- The average score for juniors was about a 48 in verbal, 49 in math and 49 in writing skills.
- The average score for sophomores was about 45 in verbal, 46 in math and 46 in writing skills.
- Ranges
Ranges give you another way to think about your scores. They show how much your scores would likely vary if you took the PSAT/NMSQT a number of times.
- Percentile
Percentiles help you compare your performance on the PSAT/NMSQT to the performance of other juniors or sophomores. If you are a freshman or younger, you are being compared to sophomores.
- What SAT Score Ranges Can You Expect?
Scores on the SAT I range from 200 to 800. Adding a zero to your PSAT/NMSQT scores gives you an estimate of what your SAT I scores might be. This section of your Score Report Plus give you an idea of the range in which your SAT scores might fall; how well you do ultimately depends on how much you improve your academic skills before you take the SAT.
- Review Your Answers
Contains the number, correct answer, your answer, and level of difficulty are displayed for every question on the test. This is extremely valuable to you since you get your actual copy of the PSAT/NMSQT test booklet back when you receive your Score Report Plus.
- Improve Your Skills
The most valuable part of your Score Report Plus is the "Improve Your Skills" section. Here you will get personalized feedback on your academic skills, based on your test performance. For each section of the test, Verbal, Math, and Writing Skills, you will be directed to two or three skills that need some improvement, as indicated by your answers to questions on the PSAT/NMSQT. Under each skill that needs work, you'll be given suggestions for how to improve that particular skill. The set of skills you will find on your Score Report Plus are unique to you.
Use the Improve Your Skills and Review Your Answers sections to get the most out of your Score Report Plus.
National Merit Scholarship Programs: Selection Index and Percentile
The Selection Index and Percentile is used by National Merit Scholarship Corporation to designate students honored in its scholarship programs. Write or phone NMSC for information.
Your Educational Plans
Here you will learn about the courses and skills you'll need to pursue the college major you specified when you filled out your PSAT/NMSQT answer sheet in October. You will be given a list of related majors to consider and careers associated with the degree.
Taking the Tests
Standardized Testing: The Big Picture
Meet the SAT & SAT II
Meet the ACT & AP Exams
» Meet the PSAT/NMSQT
Meet the CLEP
Test Day
The White House Initiative gratefully acknowledges collegeboard.com for providing the content found on this page.
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