The PSAT/NMSQT Test Directory

The Preliminary SAT, or PSAT, prepares students for the SAT and qualifies them for National Merit Scholarships (the test is sometimes called the NMSQT, which stands for National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test). The test can be used to help a student know what to expect when they take the SAT, and the highest scoring students in the country may qualify for college scholarships. The test lasts for a bit over two hours and includes questions in sections that cover reading, math and writing. To find out more about the PSAT, read our Guide to the PSAT/NMSQT and our Interview with Karl Schellscheidt, PSAT preparation expert.