PSAT Official Practice Test and Explanations

Taking a PSAT practice test is one of the most important parts of your preparation for the PSAT. In the weeks before the test, you should set aside about 3 hours to take a PSAT practice test. In addition, you’ll want 2-3 hours minimum to review your performance, and use answers and explanations to target your weaknesses before test day.

Here’s how you can take a free full-length practice test and get access to Kaplan’s expert answers and explanations as part of our free PSAT Prep Live study plan.

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Taking a Full-Length PSAT Practice Test

Download and take the practice test. Access the official College Board PSAT 10 Practice Test #1
Access the interactive answer grid. Click here to get your score, including full answers and explanations
Enter your answers. Be sure to carefully transfer your answers to the correct row. Click or tap a bubble to select a multiple-choice answer. To change your answer, simply click or tap your new choice. To enter a numeric answer, enter your answer in the text input field.
Submit. When you have entered all answers, click “Submit answers” at the bottom of the answer sheet to get your score and review your results and full explanations.

Reviewing Your Practice Test

Most students take a practice test, receive their score, and stop there. However, to get the most value out of your PSAT practice test, you will want to spend at least 2-3 hours reviewing the answers and explanations. Here’s what you should do:

For each section, start with the questions that you got wrong. See if there are any trends in the question types you got wrong and if there are, mark those patterns as concepts to study. For example, if you find that the majority of the questions that you got wrong on the Math test are Data Analysis & Problem Solving questions, you’ll know that you need to devote more time in your study plan to concepts associated with that question type.
Review each incorrect answer, paying particular attention to the explanations provided to pinpoint where you went wrong. Did you misread the question? Were you swayed by a wrong answer choice? Did you make a small error in your computations?
Most people stop there. However, to really master the PSAT, you’ll want to continue your practice test review and methodically go through each question you got right. Review the steps you took to get you to the right answer and compare it to the explanation provided. You may develop a deeper understanding of a pivotal concept, or discover a quicker way to the right answer. The more familiar you get with the types of questions the PSAT asks, the better prepared you will be for Test Day.

About the PSAT

The PSAT is 2 hours and 45 minutes long and tests your skills in Reading, Writing, and Math. The highest score possible on the PSAT is 1520.

Test	Length	Question Type
Evidence-Based Reading	60 minutes	U.S./World Literature Social Studies/History Science
Writing & Language	35 minutes	Expression of Ideas Standard English conventions
Math	25 minutes: No Calculator 45 minutes: Calculator	Heart of Algebra Data Analysis & Problem Solving Passport to Advanced Math Additional Topics in Math

PSAT Practice Test Score

PSAT scoring can be pretty complex. You will receive a score ranging from 10 to 40 on each of the three tests (Reading, Writing & Language, and Math) as well as a score ranging from 160 to 760 for Evidence-Based Reading and Writing and for Math. Your overall PSAT score will range from 320 to 1520 and is calculated by adding your two area scores together. Learn more about your what your score means.

Not only does the PSAT help prepare students to take the SAT or ACT, the great thing about the PSAT is that a high score can also open the door to National Merit Scholarships and other awards. With $180 million dollars in scholarships awarded to students who achieve high scores on the PSAT, how you perform on this exam can help you earn scholarship dollars that change the direction of your college planning.