What’s the difference between the PSAT/NMSQT, PSAT 10 and PSAT 8/9?
All three are College Board tests with a Reading and Writing section followed by a Math section. The PSAT/NMSQT and PSAT 10 are the same test given at different times of year. The PSAT 8/9 measures the same skills but is built for 8th and 9th graders. Only the PSAT/NMSQT counts for the National Merit Scholarship Program.
| Detail | PSAT/NMSQT | PSAT 10 | PSAT 8/9 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who usually takes it | 11th graders, plus some 10th graders | 10th graders | 8th and 9th graders |
| 2026–27 testing window | October 1–30, 2026 | March 1–April 30, 2027 | October 1–30, 2026, or March 1–April 30, 2027 |
| Testing time | 2 hours 14 minutes | 2 hours 14 minutes | 2 hours 14 minutes |
| Questions | 98 (54 Reading and Writing, 44 Math) | 98 (54 Reading and Writing, 44 Math) | 98 (54 Reading and Writing, 44 Math) |
| Total score range | 320–1520 | 320–1520 | 240–1440 |
| Section score range | 160–760 | 160–760 | 120–720 |
| National Merit | Qualifying test. Your report shows a Selection Index from 48 to 228. | Not considered | Not considered |
| How you sign up | Through your school | Through your school | Through your school |
Are the PSAT/NMSQT and PSAT 10 the same test?
Yes. College Board describes them as identical. Each has 54 Reading and Writing questions in 64 minutes and 44 Math questions in 70 minutes, for 2 hours 14 minutes of testing. Both use the same 320–1520 total score range.
The differences are timing and scholarships. The PSAT/NMSQT is given in the fall, mostly to juniors. The PSAT 10 is given to sophomores in the spring. Only the PSAT/NMSQT score report includes the NMSC Selection Index.
How is the PSAT 8/9 different?
College Board says the PSAT 8/9 covers the same skills and knowledge as the other PSAT tests but is geared to 8th and 9th graders. It works as a starting point for tracking your progress through high school.
Its structure matches the other two: 98 questions and 2 hours 14 minutes. The score scale is different. Totals run from 240 to 1440 and each section from 120 to 720. Schools can give it in the fall or the spring window.
Which PSAT counts for National Merit?
Only the PSAT/NMSQT. National Merit Scholarship Corporation says it won’t consider PSAT 10 or PSAT 8/9 scores for entry. The October 2026 PSAT/NMSQT is the entry test for the 2028 competition, and NMSC expects nearly all entrants to be juniors who plan to start college in 2028.
To enter, NMSC says you must:
- Be a high school student, traditional or homeschooled, on track to finish high school by 2028 and start college no later than fall 2028.
- Attend high school in the U.S., D.C. or a U.S. commonwealth or territory, or meet NMSC’s citizenship rules if you attend high school abroad.
- Take the PSAT/NMSQT in the specified year of your high school program and no later than your third year of grades 9–12.
You answer NMSC’s entry questions during exam setup. Check the NMSC section of your score report afterward. If your answers were missing or wrong, NMSC accepts updates for the 2028 program until October 15, 2027.
Your Selection Index is calculated from your two section scores. Our National Merit guide explains the formula and state cutoffs, and the PSAT score page turns your section scores into a Selection Index.
When do schools give each PSAT?
For 2026–27, College Board’s in-school windows are October 1–30, 2026 for the PSAT/NMSQT and PSAT 8/9, and March 1–April 30, 2027 for the PSAT 10 and PSAT 8/9. Your school picks the day, so ask your counselor for yours.
Our test dates page lists the PSAT/NMSQT window alongside SAT and ACT dates.
How do I sign up for the PSAT?
You don’t register on your own. Your school or district handles registration for all three PSAT tests.
If you’re homeschooled or want to test at a school you don’t attend, College Board calls you an away student. Contact a participating school or district at least four weeks before the testing window begins. You’ll share your name, date of birth, gender and your school’s code, or that you’re homeschooled. Ask whether the school provides a testing device, and bring a valid photo ID on test day.
How should I prepare for the PSAT?
Start with College Board’s practice in Bluebook, the app you’ll test in. For fall 2026, College Board added new full-length practice tests for the PSAT/NMSQT and PSAT 10 and for the PSAT 8/9. Take one under timed conditions and review every miss.
Between full tests, short practice on one skill at a time keeps your review focused.
Where does Hourly Prep fit?
Hourly Prep’s free plan includes 3 PSAT practice tests, and every question has an explanation. Use them between official Bluebook tests, and keep Bluebook for your test-day rehearsal. See PSAT prep for what’s included.
Common PSAT questions
Is the PSAT 10 easier than the PSAT/NMSQT?
No. College Board describes the PSAT/NMSQT and PSAT 10 as identical. They have the same sections, timing and score scale. The differences are when schools give them and that only the PSAT/NMSQT counts for National Merit.
Can a 10th grader take the PSAT/NMSQT?
Yes. College Board notes that some 10th graders take it in October. For National Merit, NMSC requires you to take the PSAT/NMSQT in the specified year of your high school program and no later than your third year of grades 9–12. For most students, that’s 11th grade.
Do I register for the PSAT myself?
No. Your school or district registers you. If you’re homeschooled or want to test at another school, contact a participating school or district at least four weeks before the testing window begins.