Updated February 11, 2025

How long is the PSAT?

Bonus Material: Try a sample of the new PSAT

The PSAT, or the “Preliminary SAT,” is a standardized test taken by many US students in the fall of their junior year. Some students also have the chance to take the PSAT as a sophomore.

Many students don’t realize that the PSAT is a chance to win important scholarships! Each year 7,500 high-scoring students win National Merit scholarships by scoring highly on the PSAT. Some schools also award additional scholarships to top scorers, including automatic full-ride scholarships. Top scores can also help with admissions to highly competitive schools, and many colleges compete to recruit students who excel on the PSAT.

Some of the most important question for anyone studying for the digital PSAT have to do with the test’s length, timing, and section breakdown. We’ll cover all that in detail below!

Jump to section:

What is the PSAT?
How long is the PSAT?
Testing accommodations and extended time on the PSAT
How to take the PSAT
Next steps

What is the PSAT?

Many people have heard of the SAT and the ACT. These are the two main standardized tests used to apply to colleges in the US. Both tests are accepted equally for admissions purposes at colleges and universities, and these days the tests are taken by roughly equal numbers of students. Read more about how the SAT and the ACT compare here, and how to convert SAT and ACT scores here.

(Wondering whether tests still matter with the new test-optional policies? Yes, tests still matter. Even if the schools on your list are now test-optional, at the vast majority of schools strong test scores will still help your chances of admissions, and can be used to qualify for scholarships or special programs.)

The PSAT/NMSQT, or Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test and National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, is the “practice” SAT.

Most students take the SAT in their junior or senior year of high school. Typically the peak time for SAT testing is in the spring of junior year, although testing earlier can make the process less stressful for students.

The PSAT, on the other hand, is taken in the fall of junior year. Some students might also take the PSAT the fall of their sophomore year, but this score cannot count for the National Merit competition.

High scores on the PSAT can earn students awards from the National Merit program: Commended, Semi-Finalists, Finalist, or Scholar. Students can win a variety of scholarships directly through this program, and many schools also award additional scholarships to National Merit students. Some schools even give automatic full-ride scholarships!

National Merit status is also a strong statement for college admissions, and many colleges compete to recruit these top students.

Because of this competition, the PSAT isn’t just a “practice” SAT — for top scorers, it’s also a chance to win big.

Download a 30-minute sample of the PSAT to try it out today!

How long is the PSAT?

Although there are some minor differences between the PSAT and SAT, the PSAT is exactly the same length as the SAT: 2 hours and 14 minutes, plus a 10-minute break between the two sections.

The digital PSAT

Since the College Board took the SAT digital in 2023, they’ve done the same with the PSAT. Like the digital SAT, the PSAT consists of two sections with a break in between: first Reading & Writing, and then Math.

On both the SAT and PSAT, each section is further broken down into 2 adaptive “modules.” Basically, adaptive means that the second module in each section will become harder or easier depending on how students perform on the first module. Here’s what it looks like for the SAT:

how the new digital SAT will be adaptive

We explain how this works in much more detail here.

The section and timing breakdown for the PSAT looks like this:

Section	Length (minutes)	Number of questions
Reading & Writing I	32 minutes	27 questions
Reading & Writing II	32 minutes	27 questions
Math I	35 minutes	22 questions
Math II	35 minutes	22 questions

In total, the Reading and Writing section is 64 minutes long with 54 questions. The Math section is 70 minutes long with 44 questions.

Testing accommodations and extended time on the PSAT

Like the SAT, the PSAT offers testing accommodations to students who need them.

Families will need to provide appropriate documentation of the need for accommodations. All students taking the PSAT/NMSQT and PSAT 10 with accommodations must have approval from College Board’s Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD).

Families should check well in advance of test day with the school’s SSD coordinator to confirm that all necessary accommodations are in place with all of the required documentation.

On testing day, students will need to bring their SSD eligibility letter.

One of the most common testing accommodations is extended time.

Here is how long the PSAT takes with standard time, time-and-a-half, and double time (the two most common accommodations):

Under standard conditions, the PSAT/NMSQT and PSAT 10 take 2 hours and 14 minutes (plus a break).

If students receive an accommodation of time-a-half (+50%) for the full test, the PSAT takes 3 hours and 21 minutes (plus breaks).

If students receive an accommodation for double time (+100%) for the full test, the PSAT takes 4 hours and 28 minutes (plus breaks).

Depending on their accommodations, some students may receive extended time for certain sections of the test. For example, students approved for extended time for mathematical calculations, but not for reading, may receive extended time for only the PSAT math sections.

Consult your school counselor and school administration for more guidance, and read the official requirements on the College Board website.

How to take the PSAT

Whereas the SAT can be taken most months of the year, the PSAT is only offered once a year in mid-October.

When students take the PSAT as juniors, their scores can be used for the prestigious National Merit competition. Each year 15,000 students across the US become National Merit Finalists and win big scholarships and a significant advantage in college admissions!

Younger students can also take the PSAT, but their scores cannot be used for the National Merit program.

The PSAT is taken through the student’s school, and there’s often no cost to students since fees are paid by the schools.

Students typically register for the PSAT through their school. It’s possible for homeschooled students to sign up for the PSAT at a nearby school; families should contact the school at least four months in advance to register.

If you’re not sure if your school offers the PSAT, contact your school counselor or administration. We recommend taking the PSAT if it’s offered, since it’s a great opportunity to practice for the SAT and, for high-scoring students, a chance to win big scholarships.

We’ve provided free guidance for the PSAT covering average scores on the test, the score ranges necessary to win scholarships through National Merit, the types of questions found on the test, the difference between the PSAT and the SAT, and more. In addition, feel free to reach out to our test-prep team for a short educational consultation.

Next steps

Download our sample PSAT questions to get a taste of the PSAT!

Then make a plan for PSAT preparation. If you’re an ambitious student who often scores in the top 5% on standardized tests, you’ll want to take the PSAT seriously, since you have a serious chance of winning impressive scholarships — including full-ride college scholarships — through the National Merit program.

To prepare for the PSAT, students should identify any weak spots and do a combination of targeted exercises and full-length practice tests to improve their performance on the test. A top-notch PSAT and SAT tutor can help students to make a customized prep plan based on their goals.

However, many published PSAT prep books and resources are now out-of-date. Students who are preparing for the PSAT should make sure that they are preparing digital version of the test.

An experienced test prep tutor can help students make sure they’re practicing the correct version of the test and using the most up-to-date strategies.

If you’re not in the top 5%, it’s fine to approach the PSAT more like a practice SAT — but you still may want to prepare for it so it’s a positive experience, and so that you can get the most out of the practice.

Fortunately, the PSAT is nearly the same as the SAT, so any prep for the PSAT also prepares students for the SAT.

Once you’ve taken the PSAT in October of junior year, it’s time to shift to SAT prep. If you’ve already taken the PSAT, know that it’s absolutely possible to earn a higher score on the SAT with the right practice and preparation!

To start one-on-one PSAT and SAT tutoring today, set up a quick free consultation with our team.

Bonus Material: Try a sample of the new PSAT

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Emily

Emily graduated summa cum laude from Princeton University and holds an MA from the University of Notre Dame. She was a National Merit Scholar and has won numerous academic prizes and fellowships. A veteran of the publishing industry, she has helped professors at Harvard, Yale, and Princeton revise their books and articles. Over the last decade, Emily has successfully mentored hundreds of students in all aspects of the college admissions process, including the SAT, ACT, and college application essay.

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