PSAT Overview

PSAT stands for Preliminary SAT. It is good practice for the SAT, which contains the same types of questions. The PSAT tests critical reading, math problem solving, and writing skills.

The PSAT Critical Reading sections include reading comprehension questions about full-length and paragraph-length passages. They also include sentence completions.

The PSAT Writing sections include multiple-choice questions on grammar, usage, word choice, and organization. There is no essay section (unlike on the SAT), but schools are provided with a practice essay to help students prepare for the SAT essay.

The PSAT Math sections include multiple-choice questions and grid-in questions, which require the student to generate a response. Topics include numbers and operations; algebra and functions; geometry and measurement; and statistics, probability, and data analysis. Math topics that most first-semester juniors have not yet covered are excluded from the test.

Test Dates, Location and Fees

You must take the PSAT at your high school (Colegio Albania, La Guajira, Colombia). The test is given in October. Talk to your school counselor to sign up. Students taking the PSAT test don't have to pay any fees.

Test Structure

          Sections                                              Question Type                              Number of Questions                              Time Allotted

   Critical Reading                              Sentence Completion                                         13                                           Two 25-minute sections                                                          

                                                               Passage-based reading                                         35                                                Total 50-minutes

       
         Writing                                    Identifying sentence errors                                 14                                             One 30-minute section

                                                                 Improving sentences                                        20 

                                                               Improving paragraphs                                         5                                                    Total 30-minute


          Math                                                 Multiple-choice                                               28                                             Two 25-minute section

                                                                             Grid-ins                                                        10                                                     Total 50-minute

Scoring

Each section (Critical reading, Writing, and Math) is scored on a scale of 20-80.
You will also receive a score called the Selection Index, which is the sum of those three scores.

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