Your Guide to PSAT/NMSQT
The Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) is more than good practice for the SAT. The assessment is your first step in setting your personal SAT target score, entering the National Merit® Scholarship Program, connecting with colleges and scholarships, and exploring careers.
Connect with Colleges and Scholarships
When you take the PSAT/NMSQT, you’ll be asked for your mobile phone number so you can download the free BigFuture School mobile app and have your PSAT/NMSQT scores delivered right to your phone. You’ll get guidance about careers and planning and paying for college. Depending on your school or district, you can opt in to Connections™, which lets you hear from nonprofit colleges, scholarship providers, and government agencies offering education programs that are interested in students like you—without having to share any personal information.
National Merit Scholarship Qualification
If you take the PSAT/NMSQT and meet other program entry requirements specified in the PSAT/NMSQT Student Guide, you’ll enter the National Merit Scholarship Program, an academic competition for recognition and scholarships conducted by National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC®).
Review Your Progress
If you’ve already taken the PSAT 8/9 or PSAT 10, you’ll be able to track your improvement.
Setting Your SAT Target Score
When you take the PSAT/NMSQT, you’ll receive details on the exact skills and knowledge you need to focus on. If you took the PSAT 8/9 or PSAT 10, you’ll be able to measure the progress you made between these tests.
Your PSAT/NMSQT score is a valuable tool when you’re deciding on your college and career goals. It will help you establish your personal SAT target score when you begin to plan for college and offer insights about careers that need skills like yours.
Help Pay for College
Taking the PSAT/NMSQT gives you a chance to access over $300 million in other scholarship opportunities.
How to Prepare for the PSAT/NMSQT
To become familiar with the test and its format, you can sign in to the Bluebook™ testing app and head to the Practice and Prepare section.
You can explore the tools and features of the app, try a few sample questions in the test preview, or take a full-length practice test. Then, you can review your results at mypractice.collegeboard.org.
Once you know what knowledge and skills you need to work on, you can use Official Digital SAT Prep on Khan Academy®. It’s a free, interactive study tool that provides personalized practice resources focused on exactly what you need to stay on track for college and career.
When do PSAT/NMSQT Scores Come Out?
Your PSAT/NMSQT scores are available a few weeks after your test date. Learn how you can view your scores.
How Do I Get My Scores?
You can access your scores by asking your school counselor for a copy of your score report or access the BigFuture School mobile app.
What Do I Do After I Get My Scores?
After receiving your PSAT/NMSQT scores, you can explore various opportunities to shape your academic and career futures.
Learn about your next steps and how you can maximize your potential.
Who Sees PSAT/NMSQT Scores?
We don’t send PSAT/NMSQT scores to colleges. We only send your PSAT/NMSQT score to:
- Your school (always), school district (often), and state (often)
- National Merit Scholarship Corporation