The PSAT, or Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (NMSQT), is a test given to high school students to test writing, math and critical reading skills. The test is intended as an assessment of knowledge and skills gained through the educational process.
Format
The PSAT consists of five sections, including two 25-minute math sections, two 25-minute critical reading sections and one 30-minute writing section.
Content
The math content on the PSAT involves numbers and operations, algebra, geometry and statistics. The critical reading portions test for reading comprehension and sentence completion. The writing section tests English grammar and basic structure, but students are not required to write an essay.
Scoring
The PSAT is scored from 20 to 80. In 2008, high school juniors averaged 47 in reading, 46 in writing and 49 in math. The total average score was 147.
Scholarship Program
By taking the PSAT, students are entered in a scholarship competition. Those who score in a high percentile are eligible for National Merit Scholarship programs.
Preparation for the SAT
Because its format and question types are similar to those of the SAT, the PSAT prepares the student for this college entrance exam.
Tags: critical reading, high school, Merit Scholarship, National Merit, National Merit Scholarship