The Digital PSAT/NMSQT is the digital implementation of the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. The Digital PSAT is a great primer for the Digital SAT, and even the ACT, but it’s more than just a trial run. Digital PSAT scores are used to identify National Merit Scholars and award merit scholarships. More than 3.4 million high school students (mostly juniors and sophomores) take this nationwide, multiple-choice test every year.
The Digital PSAT/NMSQT won’t count towards your college admissions applications, but it is the qualifying test for the National Merit Scholarship . Some of the highest scoring students may win scholarship money, so while you shouldn’t stress out about the Digital PSAT on test day, you certainly shouldn’t ignore it either. Use the Digital PSAT/NMSQT as practice for the Digital SAT and ACT and an important guidepost on your college admissions journey.
Frequency | 1 time/year (Schools will choose one testing date between October 2-31, 2023) |
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Duration | 2 hours, 14 minutes (not including breaks) |
Sections | Math, Reading & Writing |
Cost | $18; but many fees are paid by schools |
Max. Score | 1520 |
Shorter sections | Overall, the test will be 30 minutes shorter than the paper version |
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Adaptive Testing | Students will complete 2 module sets of questions that will result in their score |
More time per question | On average, test takers will have more time to answer each question |
Reading & Writing | 1 section instead of 2 with shorter passages each only having 1 question |
Math | Calculators are allowed throughout, and the section includes fewer word problems |
Faster score time | Scores will be delivered within days as opposed to weeks |
Flexible Administrations | With date ranges instead of specific dates, schools have more flexibility for administering the test |
The Digital PSAT is offered nationally every year in October, beginning in the fall of 2023. Ask your school counselor about when your class is scheduled to take the Digital PSAT so you can be ready on test day. View upcoming Digital PSAT test dates ranges .
The Digital PSAT has two sections: Math and Evidence-Based Reading and Writing. You’ll encounter passage-based questions—sometimes accompanied by tables, graphs, and charts—and math problems drawing upon algebra, geometry, and a little trig.
Each section is scored on a scale of 160–760, making a “perfect” score 1520. There are also test scores, cross-test scores, and subscores. Find out more about Digital PSAT scoring .
Good question. The highest scores and percentiles earn National Merit Recognition. But Digital PSAT scores are also useful in determining your best prep strategies for the Digital SAT or ACT. For a Digital PSAT score report consultation, call us at 800-2REVIEW .
Check with a counselor at your school or at a school in your community to sign up.
Curious where your score starts for the Digital PSAT? Take a practice test and see how you did with our interactive score report.
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