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 three hours to take a realistic 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 PSAT practice test.

GET THE FREE PRACTICE TEST

ANSWER EXPLANATIONS

How to Take a Full-Length PSAT Practice Test

You can download an official PSAT/NMSQT practice test for free from College Board and then review your answers to see how you performed. You can also experience the new digital testing platform and get ready for the Digital PSAT by taking a full-length practice test on Bluebook. This allows you to get familiar with the digital tools you’ll be using on Test Day if you are taking the Digital PSAT. Bluebook’s full-length practice tests are timed just like the real test, except you can move forward from one section to the next before time expires.

Reviewing Your PSAT 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

As of fall 2023, all test-takers will take the Digital PSAT. The new PSAT is a 2-hour and 14-minute exam that tests your reading, writing, and math skills. The highest score possible on the PSAT is 1520. Here’s how the sections on the PSAT beak down:

TEST	LENGTH	NUMBER OF QUESTIONS
Reading & Writing	64 minutes (two 32-minute modules)	54
Math	70 minutes (two 35-minute modules)	44

PSAT Practice Test Score

PSAT scoring can be pretty complex. Your overall PSAT score will range from 320 to 1520 and is calculated by adding your two section scores together. Learn more about your what your score means.

Not only does the PSAT/NMSQT 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.