PSAT 10

Thedigitalpsat10Ataglance

The PSAT 10 is part of the College Board's SAT Suite of Assessments. It is taken at school, usually by students in grade 10, and it measures the reading, writing, and math skills that the PSAT/NMSQT and the SAT continue to measure. The PSAT 10 has the same content, format, and scoring as the PSAT/NMSQT; the difference is when it is given (spring rather than fall) and that it is not used for the National Merit Scholarship Program. The test is given digitally in the College Board's Bluebook testing app.

Exam Pattern and Structure

The PSAT 10 has two sections: Reading and Writing and Math. Each section is divided into two equal-length modules that are timed separately, with a short break between the two sections. Within each module you can move back and forth among questions, flag questions to return to, and change answers until time runs out.

Section	Questions	Time	WhatItMeasures
ReadingandWriting	54(twomodules	64minutes(32per	Comprehension analysis vocabularyincontext rhetoric , , , ,
	of27)	module)	revision andStandardEnglishconventions usingshort , ,
			passageswithonequestioneach
Math	44(twomodules	70minutes(35per	Algebra Advanced Math Problem-Solving and Data , ,
	of22)	module)	Analysis and Geometry and Trigonometry; multiple-choice ,
			and student-produced response questions
Total	98	134minutes	Plusashortbreakbetweenthesections

How the Adaptive Design Works

The digital PSAT 10 uses multistage adaptive testing. The first module of each section contains a broad mix of easier, medium, and harder questions. Your performance on that module determines whether the second module is somewhat easier or somewhat harder. The scoring accounts for the difficulty of the questions you receive, so the best strategy is simply to answer every question as accurately as you can.

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A mix of easier, medium, and

Module 1 results are scored

Easier or harder, based on

160–760, based on both modules

harder questions

Module 1

Content Domains

Section	Domain	QuestionsperTest
ReadingandWriting	CraftandStructure	13–15(≈28%)
ReadingandWriting	InformationandIdeas	12–14(≈26%)
ReadingandWriting	StandardEnglishConventions	11–15(≈26%)
ReadingandWriting	ExpressionofIdeas	8–12(≈20%)
Math	Algebra	13–15(≈35%)
Math	AdvancedMath	12–14 (≈32 .5%)
Math	Problem-Solving and Data Analysis	7–9(≈20%)
Math	GeometryandTrigonometry	4–6 (≈12 .5%)

Reading and Writing passages range from about 25 to 150 words and cover literature, history and social studies, the humanities, and science. In Math, about 30 percent of questions are set in real-world context, and roughly a quarter are student-produced responses, where you type in your own answer.

Scoring and Benchmarks

You receive a total score from 320 to 1520, which is the sum of two section scores: Reading and Writing (160–760) and Math (160–760). There is no penalty for wrong answers, so answer every question. There is no passing or failing score. Instead, your score report compares each section score with the grade 10 benchmark, the score that indicates you are on track for college and career readiness.

Grade10Benchmark	ReadingandWriting	Math
Meetsorexceeds	430–760	480–760
Approaching	410–420	450–470
Notyetapproaching	160–400	160–440

Your score report also shows your performance in each content domain, which tells you exactly which skills to focus on before the PSAT/NMSQT and the SAT. Scores are released online and through your school; your counselor can tell you when to expect them.

Exam at a Glance

ExamAspect	Details
Administeredby	TheCollegeBoard aspartoftheSATSuiteofAssessments ,
Whotakesit	Highschoolsophomores(grade10) atschool ,
When	Inthespring onadatetheschoolselectswithintheCollegeBoard'sspringtestingwindow(typically ,
	MarchandApril)

ExamAspect	Details
Format	Digital intheBluebooktestingapp;multistageadaptive;twomodulespersection ,
Questions	98total:54ReadingandWritingand44Math
Questiontypes	Four-option multiple choice; some Math questions are student-produced responses
Time	2hours14minutesoftesting plusashortbreakbetweensections ,
Calculator	Allowed on the entire Math section; the app includes a built-in Desmos graphing calculator and ,
	approvedhandheldcalculatorsmaybeused
Referencesheet	CommonmathformulasareavailableintheappduringtheMathsection
Scoring	Total320–1520;ReadingandWriting160–760;Math160–760;nopenaltyforguessing
Fee	$18perstudent;manyschools districts andstatescoverpartorallofthecost , ,
NationalMerit	NotusedfortheNationalMeritScholarshipProgram(thatprogramusesthePSAT/NMSQT)

Why the PSAT 10 Matters

Registering and Test Day

You register for the PSAT 10 through your school, not individually. Your school decides whether to offer the test, sets the date, and tells you how to prepare your device. Before test day, install Bluebook on the device you will use (a school- issued or personal laptop or tablet that meets the requirements; personal Chromebooks are not supported), complete the test preview, and make sure the device is fully charged. Bring a pen or pencil for scratch work and an approved calculator if you prefer a handheld one. Homeschooled students arrange testing with a nearby school well before the testing window opens.