{"id":11967,"date":"2023-09-29T12:09:00","date_gmt":"2023-09-29T12:09:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.kaptest.com\/blog\/prep\/?p=11967"},"modified":"2023-10-02T17:00:52","modified_gmt":"2023-10-02T17:00:52","slug":"psat-official-practice-test-and-explanations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/psat\/psat-official-practice-test-and-explanations\/","title":{"rendered":"PSAT Official Practice Test and Explanations"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>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&#8217;ll want 2-3 hours minimum to review your performance, and use answers and explanations to target your weaknesses before test day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here&#8217;s how you can take a free full-length PSAT practice test.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"flex_column av_one_half  flex_column_div first  avia-builder-el-0  el_before_av_one_half  avia-builder-el-first  \" ><div  class='avia-button-wrap avia-button-center  avia-builder-el-1  avia-builder-el-no-sibling ' ><a href='https:\/\/satsuite.collegeboard.org\/media\/pdf\/psat-nmsqt-practice-test-1.pdf' class='avia-button  avia-color-theme-color   avia-icon_select-no avia-size-large avia-position-center ' target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span class='avia_iconbox_title' >GET THE FREE PRACTICE TEST<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"flex_column av_one_half  flex_column_div   avia-builder-el-2  el_after_av_one_half  el_before_av_one_full  \" ><div  class='avia-button-wrap avia-button-center  avia-builder-el-3  avia-builder-el-no-sibling ' ><a href='https:\/\/satsuite.collegeboard.org\/media\/pdf\/psat-nmsqt-practice-test-1-answers.pdf'  class='avia-button  avia-color-theme-color   avia-icon_select-no avia-size-large avia-position-center '   ><span class='avia_iconbox_title' >ANSWER EXPLANATIONS<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"flex_column av_one_full  flex_column_div first  avia-builder-el-4  el_after_av_one_half  el_before_av_iconlist  column-top-margin\" ><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>How to Take a Full-Length PSAT Practice Test<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>You can download an <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/satsuite.collegeboard.org\/media\/pdf\/psat-nmsqt-practice-test-1.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">official PSAT\/NMSQT practice test<\/a> for free from College Board and then <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/satsuite.collegeboard.org\/media\/pdf\/psat-nmsqt-practice-test-1-answers.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">review your answers<\/a> to see how you performed. You can also experience the new digital testing platform and get ready for the Digital PSAT by taking a <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/bluebook.collegeboard.org\/students\/practice\" target=\"_blank\">full-length practice test on Bluebook.<\/a> This allows you to get familiar with the digital tools you&#8217;ll be using on Test Day if you are taking the Digital PSAT. Bluebook&#8217;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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2>Reviewing Your PSAT Practice Test<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>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\u2019s what you should do:<\/p>\n\n\n<div  class='avia-icon-list-container   avia-builder-el-5  el_after_av_one_full  el_before_av_heading '><ul class='avia-icon-list avia-icon-list-left av-iconlist-big avia_animate_when_almost_visible avia-iconlist-animate'>\n<li><div  class='iconlist_icon  avia-font-entypo-fontello'><span class='iconlist-char ' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue844' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><\/div><article class=\"article-icon-entry \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='iconlist_content_wrap'><header class=\"entry-content-header\"><\/header><div class='iconlist_content  '  itemprop=\"text\"  ><p>For each section, start with the questions that you got wrong.&nbsp;<b>See if there are any trends<\/b>&nbsp;in the question types you got wrong and if there are, mark those patterns as&nbsp;concepts&nbsp;to study. For example, if you find that the majority of the questions that you got wrong on the Math test are Data Analysis &amp; Problem Solving questions, you\u2019ll know that you need to devote more time in your study plan to concepts associated with that question type.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><footer class=\"entry-footer\"><\/footer><\/article><div class='iconlist-timeline'><\/div><\/li>\n<li><div  class='iconlist_icon  avia-font-entypo-fontello'><span class='iconlist-char ' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue803' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><\/div><article class=\"article-icon-entry \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='iconlist_content_wrap'><header class=\"entry-content-header\"><\/header><div class='iconlist_content  '  itemprop=\"text\"  ><p><b>Review each incorrect answer<\/b>, 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?<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><footer class=\"entry-footer\"><\/footer><\/article><div class='iconlist-timeline'><\/div><\/li>\n<li><div  class='iconlist_icon  avia-font-entypo-fontello'><span class='iconlist-char ' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue812' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><\/div><article class=\"article-icon-entry \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='iconlist_content_wrap'><header class=\"entry-content-header\"><\/header><div class='iconlist_content  '  itemprop=\"text\"  ><p>Most people stop there. However, to really master the PSAT, you\u2019ll want to continue your practice test review and&nbsp;<b>methodically go through each question you got right<\/b>. 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.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><footer class=\"entry-footer\"><\/footer><\/article><div class='iconlist-timeline'><\/div><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>About the PSAT <\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;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&#8217;s how the sections on the PSAT beak down:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>TEST<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>LENGTH<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>NUMBER OF QUESTIONS<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Reading &amp; Writing<\/td><td>64 minutes (two 32-minute modules)<\/td><td>54<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Math<\/td><td>70 minutes (two 35-minute modules)<\/td><td>44<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n<div  style='padding-bottom:10px; ' class='av-special-heading av-special-heading-h3    avia-builder-el-6  el_after_av_iconlist  avia-builder-el-last  '><h3 class='av-special-heading-tag '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >PSAT Practice Test Score<\/h3><div class='special-heading-border'><div class='special-heading-inner-border' ><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>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.&nbsp;<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.kaptest.com\/blog\/prep\/psat\/whats-a-good-psat-score\/\" target=\"_blank\">Learn more about your what your score means.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-content\/uploads\/PSAT-Scoring-Sections-3.png\" alt=\"PSAT Scoring Guide\" class=\"wp-image-44899\" width=\"795\" height=\"612\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>[ RELATED:&nbsp;<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kaptest.com\/study\/psat\/what-does-your-psat-score-mean-for-the-sat-or-act\/\">What does your PSAT score mean for the&nbsp;SAT or ACT?<\/a>&nbsp;<strong>]<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kaptest.com\/study\/psat\/how-to-become-a-national-merit-scholarship-finalist\/\">National Merit Scholarships<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>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&#8217;ll want 2-3 hours minimum to review your performance, and use answers and explanations to [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":44897,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[240],"tags":[195],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11967"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11967"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11967\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":44949,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11967\/revisions\/44949"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/44897"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11967"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11967"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11967"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}