What's on the Test
The PSAT/NMSQT includes five sections:
Two 25-minute critical reading sections
Two 25-minute math sections
One 30-minute writing skills section
The whole test requires two hours and 10 minutes.
Critical Reading
Two 25-minute critical reading sections = 48 questions
- 13 Sentence completions
- 35 Critical reading questions
Math
Two 25-minute math sections = 38 questions
- 28 multiple-choice math questions
- 10 Student-produced responses or grid-ins
Students are advised to bring a calculator with which they are comfortable. Students should have basic knowledge of 4 math categories:
- Numbers and Operation
- Algebra and Functions (but not 3rd year level math that may appear on the new SAT)
- Geometry and Measurement
- Data Analysis, Statistics and Probability
Writing Skills
One 30-minute writing section = 39 questions
- 14 Identifying sentence errors
- 20 Improving sentences
- 5 Improving paragraph questions
These multiple-choice questions on writing skills measure a student's ability to express ideas effectively in standard-written English, to recognize faults in usage and structure, and to use language with sensitivity to meaning.
