PSAT

According to the College Board, the PSAT provides practice for the SAT. It also gives students a chance to enter the competition for National Merit Scholarship Corporation scholarships. The test measures critical reading, math, and grammar skills and aligns approximately with the SAT, though it does not include a required essay. 

Structure and Format 
The PSAT has 5 sections, testing 3 different subjects. The total testing time is 2 hours and 10 minutes.
 
Critical Reading
Length: 50 minutes total; two 25 minute sections 
Content: Reading comprehension and sentence completion
Questions: 48 multiple choice
 
Math
Length: 50 minutes total; two 25 minute sections  
Content: Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, statistics, and probability
Questions: 28 multiple choice and 10 grid-ins (student-produced responses)
 
Writing
Length: 30 minutes total; one 30 minute multiple choice section
Content: Usage, structure, and comprehension
Questions: 39 multiple choice
 
The PSAT does not have an essay. Instead, high schools may opt to give their students a practice essay that the College Board provides, but those essays will not be scored.

About The National Merit Scholarship
The PSAT is co-sponsored by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC).  Juniors who take the PSAT are entered into a competition for NMSC scholarships. Scholarships are awarded based on performance on the PSAT as well as other criteria. To find out more about the National Merit Scholarship, visit www.nationalmerit.org.

For more information on registering for the PSAT visit the College Board's website at www.collegeboard.com.