Why Offer the PSAT/NMSQT?
The Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) connects academic growth with opportunity—helping educators measure progress while opening doors to recognition for students.
Monitor Progress and Inform Instruction
The PSAT/NMSQT, given to both 10th and 11th graders, is designed to measure sequential growth of the core skills needed for any postsecondary pathway. It also provides practice and benchmarking for the spring SAT.
Connect Students to Scholarships and Recognition Programs
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4 Reasons to Offer the PSAT/NMSQT or PSAT 10
Watch, then share this short video to learn why offering the PSAT/NMSQT or PSAT 10 is a smart choice, benefiting both educators and students.
Expand Access to AP
Help more students take at least one AP course to build confidence and skills needed for high school, college, and career success. AP courses also give students the opportunity to earn college credit in high school. The AP Potential™ tool is designed to help identify 9th–11th-grade students who are ready for AP based on their performance on SAT Suite assessments, especially those who may be overlooked.
Free Practice Resources for All Students
We provide students with free, world-class practice resources in the Bluebook testing app to help them succeed and get familiar with the test. These include full-length practice tests, a student question bank, and exclusive Khan Academy® courses. They can also participate in peer-to-peer tutoring sessions led by high-performing students through Schoolhouse.world.
Connecting Their Learning to Future Opportunities
BigFuture School helps students age 13 and older connect what they are learning to what comes next. Students who take an SAT Suite assessment during the school day can use this free mobile app to view their scores and career insights based on their academic strengths. Where available, students can opt in to Connections™ to discover nonprofit colleges, scholarship providers, and government agencies administering education programs and match with institutions that meet their preferences and are actively looking for students like them. These tools are optional and secure, allowing students to choose when and whether to share their information. (Not available in New York)
More Insights. Greater Value.
As part of a districtwide readiness strategy, the PSAT/NMSQT provides a vital opportunity to practice for the SAT. For greater value, the more SAT Suite assessments you adopt, the lower your cost per student. Districts that pair the PSAT/NMSQT or PSAT 10 with PSAT 8/9 and SAT School Day receive progressively lower per-test costs, preferred pricing on Khan Academy® Districts, and additional savings when adding a fourth assessment.
PSAT/NMSQT Educator Resources
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Flyer: PSAT/NMSQT: Turn Readiness Into Opportunity
The PSAT/NMSQT is both a pretest for the SAT and the qualifying exam for the National Merit® Scholarship Program, an academic competition for scholarships and recognition overseen by National Merit Scholarship Corporation.
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Flyer: Unlock the Full Power of the SAT Suite
Most assessments provide isolated snapshots. The SAT Suite of Assessments provides a connected growth strategy. When implemented as a multiyear approach, the SAT Suite transforms assessment from a one-time event into a coherent readiness system.
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Flyer: Identifying Readiness Earlier with AP Potential
Understanding students’ academic potential is essential to guiding and supporting their growth and achievement in high school. The challenge is identifying that potential early—and acting on it.
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Test Dates and Deadlines
Here, you’ll find key dates for testing, including ordering, registration, training, access, and readiness dates.
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Flyer: Powering Career Possibilities Through College Board Programs
How can students be motivated to gain the skills they need to succeed after high school? Learn how College Board programs help students navigate career options and accelerate their entry toward postsecondary choices.
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Flyer for Families: PSAT/NMSQT: See How Ready They Are
The Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) measures the reading, writing, and math skills your teen is building in school—the same skills that matter most for college, careers, and whatever path they pursue after high school.
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Guía para familias: impulse su camino con el PSAT/NMSQT
El examen Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) mide los conocimientos y destrezas que su hija/hijo adolescente necesitará, sin importar cuáles sean sus objetivos posteriores a la escuela secundaria.
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