PSAT Test – Format, Structure, and Question Types
The PSAT/NMSQT (National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test) is a standardized test that most high schools in the United States administer to their 11th grade students. Some high schools also offer the PSAT/NMSQT to their 9th and/or 10th grade students. Considered to be a “preliminary SAT,” the PSAT test gives students a sense of the format, question types, content, and time limits that they will encounter on the SAT. Additionally, the PSAT test serves as a qualifying test for the National Merit Scholarship Program.
PSAT Test Format, Structure, and Question Types
The PSAT test measures a student’s skills in three core areas: Critical Reading, Math, and Writing. The PSAT test is composed of five sections—two Critical Reading sections, two Math sections, and one Writing section. Total testing time is 2 hours and 10 minutes. The breakdown of each section is as follows:
| Section | Total Testing Time & Breakdown | Number of Questions & Types | Content/Skills Covered |
| Critical Reading | 50 minutes (two 25-minute sections) | 13 Sentence Completion Questions | vocabulary and ability to comprehend the logic of complex sentences |
| 35 Reading Passage Questions | reading and interpreting what is implied by or stated in a passage | ||
| Math | 50 minutes (two 25-minute sections) | 28 Multiple-Choice Questions | number and operation; algebra and functions; geometry and measurement; and data analysis, statistics, and probability |
| 10 Student-Produced Response (Grid-In) Questions | number and operation; algebra and functions; geometry and measurement; and data analysis, statistics, and probability | ||
| Writing | 30 minutes (one 30-minute section) | 20 Improving Sentences Questions | grammar and usage |
| 14 Identifying Sentence Errors Questions | grammar and usage | ||
| 5 Improving Paragraphs Questions | writing and revising |
Related Topics
- For more information about the PSAT Critical Reading sections, visit our PSAT Critical Reading page.
- For more information about the PSAT Math sections, visit our PSAT Math page.
- For more information about the PSAT Writing section, visit our PSAT Writing page.
- To learn how the PSAT is scored, visit our PSAT Scores page.
- Looking for PSAT test dates? Visit our PSAT Test Dates page.
- Wondering how a student qualifies for the National Merit Scholarship? Visit our National Merit Scholarship Qualifications page.
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