What You Need to Know About the Digital PSAT/NMSQT
The PSAT/NMSQT will be digital this fall! That’s right—starting in October, students will be taking the digital PSAT.
The new test has some big differences, so read on to learn what you need to know about the digital PSAT/NMSQT.
Test Format
The digital PSAT is 2 hours and 14 minutes long with 98 total questions. There are two sections: (1) Reading and Writing and (2) Math. Each section is divided into two modules of equal length.
Note: The format of the digital PSAT is identical to that of the digital SAT.
The test starts with Module 1 of the Reading and Writing Section. Students have 32 minutes to answer 27 questions. During this time, students can skip ahead or go back to any question within Module 1, but they are not allowed to move onto Module 2 until the 32 minutes are up.
Immediately after finishing Module 1, students move into Reading and Writing Module 2. They have another 32 minutes to answer 27 more questions. Again, they are able to move around to any question in Module 2 during the allotted time, but they can’t go back to Module 1 or move ahead to the Math section. After Reading and Writing Module 2 is over, there is a 10-minute break.
After the break, students start the Module 1 of the Math section, where they have 35 minutes to answer 22 questions. As in the Reading and Writing Section, students can skip ahead and revisit questions within the current module. Once the 35 minutes have passed, students move onto Math Module 2, where they have 35 more minutes to answer the final 22 questions.
| SECTION | Module | TIME | NUMBER OF QUESTIONS |
|---|---|---|
|
Reading and Writing | Module 1 |
32 minutes |
27 questions |
|
Reading and Writing | Module 2
|
32 minutes |
27 questions
|
|
Break
|
10 minutes |
----
|
|
Math | Module 1
|
35 minutes |
22 questions |
|
Math | Module 2
|
35 minutes |
22 questions |
|
TOTAL
|
2 hours and 14 minutes |
98 questions |
Technology
The digital PSAT is taken on a computer or tablet within the Bluebook App, which is College Board’s digital testing application.
Students can use a variety of devices for the digital PSAT, including laptops, iPads, and school-managed Chromebooks. Please refer to College Board’s website for the most up-to-date list of approved devices and system requirements. Bluebook should be installed and up to date before test day. You can download the application on College Board’s website.
The Bluebook App has a built-in graphing calculator, but students may also bring their own approved calculator to use during the Math section. Please refer to College Board’s website for a list of approved calculators for the digital PSAT.
Test-Day Logistics
The PSAT/NMSQT is taken at school. Students should speak with their counselor about registration. Homeschooled students who wish to take the test should reach out to participating local schools as soon as possible to request a seat.
Schools can choose to offer the PSAT on any school day within the testing window, which is October 2-31, 2023 this year. Schools also have the option of administering the test on Saturday, October 14, 2023. While schools can test different groups of students on different days, students may only take the PSAT once during the testing window.
Schools should ensure that their testing rooms have a strong internet connection, outlets or power strips (though students do need to bring devices that can hold a charge), and proper seating. Rooms should be quiet with good lighting and ventilation and have a clock that’s visible to all students as well as a place to write or display Wi-Fi login information. Schools should refer to College Board’s guidelines for testing rooms and seating arrangements.
Unless the school is supplying computers, students should bring a fully-charged computer or tablet with the Bluebook application already installed, as well as a charger. Scratch paper will be supplied by the school, but students should bring their own pens or pencils. Students may also bring an approved calculator, an external mouse, a watch without an alarm, and a snack for the break. Students who are taking the test on a tablet can also bring an external keyboard.
Testing Room Checklist
- Quiet room with good lighting and ventilation
- Close to restrooms and the help room for technical support
- Working clock that all students can see
- Strong internet connection
- A place to write or display the Wi-Fi credentials
- Outlets or power strips
- Devices should hold a charge for 3-4 hrs
- Be fair with granting access to power sources
- Be safe – don’t overload circuits
- Note: outlets are required for students with more than 3 hrs of testing time
Seating Requirments
- Chairs must have back
- Each student must have a large, smooth writing surface (min 12 x 15 in), such a desk or a table
- All students must face the same direction
- If you have tables that seat multiple students:
- The tables must be at least 6 ft long
- There must be at least 3 ft betweens students
- Students can’t easily see other’s screens
- Partitions allowed only if testing in a computer lab
Student Checklist
- Fully-charged computer or tablet with the Bluebook testing application installed.
- Charger and extension cord
- Pencils or pens (school will supply scratch paper)
- Approved calculator (optional)
- Extra batteries (optional | cannot be on desk)
- External mouse (optional)
- External keyboard (optional| for tablets only)
- Watch without an audible alarm (optional)
- Backup device (optional | cannot be on desk)
- Snacks and a drink (optional | for the break)
- EpiPens and approved medciations and medical devices (if applicable)
Scoring and National Merit Selection Index
The PSAT/NMSQT will continue to be scored on a 1520-point scale. Students receive a score between 160 and 760 for each section. The two section scores are added together for a total score between 320 and 1520.
Students will also see if they have met the entry requirements for the National Merit Scholarship program, which can provide significant financial aid and merit scholarship opportunities for college.
Entrance is determined by the National Merit Selection Index Score, which is calculated by adding twice the Reading and Writing Section score to the Math Section score and then dividing the sum by 10.
National Merit Selection Index Score = [(Reading and Writing score x 2) + Math score] / 10
About 50,000 students qualify for recognition each year. Ultimately about 15,000 students will move on to be National Merit Finalists.
For more information, including details on qualification and specific scholarship opportunities, please visit the National Merit Scholarship Corporation’s website.
Computer Adaptive Testing
The digital PSAT is an adaptive test, just like the digital SAT.
How does that work? As mentioned above, each section is divided into two modules. Module 1 contains a mixture of easy, medium, and hard questions with a medium average question difficulty. Module 2 will either have a higher or lower average question difficulty, depending on the student’s performance in Module 1.
Students with a stronger performance in Module 1 will see a greater number of difficult questions in Module 2, whereas students with a weaker performance in Module 1 will see fewer difficult questions in Module 2.
What does this mean for scoring? Without getting too much into the weeds, the digital PSAT relies on Item Response Theory (IRT), a framework for analyzing and modeling the relationship between an individual’s ability level and their performance on a test question. IRT assumes that the probability of correctly answering a given question is a function of the ability level of the test taker and the difficulty of the question.
In practical terms, that means that not all questions carry the same weight. A correct answer to a difficult question on the digital PSAT will increase a student’s score more than a correct answer to an easy question. For more information, see College Board’s explanation of how the section scores are calculated on the digital PSAT.
Students who perform well enough on Module 1 to take the harder Module 2 have the opportunity to answer more difficult questions, which means they have a higher potential score.
For an in-depth discussion of scoring adaptive tests, listen to “How the Digital SAT is Scored,” featuring Test Innovators’ President, Brenna O’Neill, on Test and the Rest Podcast.
Reading and Writing
The entire Reading and Writing section is 64 minutes long and contains 54 multiple-choice questions, which each have their own short passage or pair of passages. That’s right — students no longer have long reading passages with 10+ questions per passage. The new passages are between 25 to 150 words and cover a wide range of topics. Some include informational tables and graphs.
The section is split into two modules, which are each 32 minutes long with 27 questions. Each module is organized by question type, so that questions testing similar skills will appear consecutively.
The following question types appear on each module of the Reading and Writing section:
- Craft and structure (~ 28% of the section):
- Words in context
- Text structure and purpose
- Cross-text connections
- Information and ideas ( ~ 26% of the section):
- Central ideas and details
- Command of evidence
- Textual
- Quantitative
- Inferences
- Standard English conventions: ~26% of the section
- Boundaries
- Form, structure, and sense
- Expression of ideas (~20% of the section)
- Rhetorical synthesis
- Transitions
Math
The entire Math section is 70 minutes long and contains 44 questions. Just like the Reading and Writing section, it is split into two modules, which are each 35 minutes long with 22 questions.
The modules are organized by question difficulty with easier questions appearing towards the beginning and harder questions appearing towards the end. 75% of the questions are multiple choice and 25% of the questions require student-produced responses.
The digital PSAT Math section covers four broad content domains: (1) algebra, (2) advanced math, (3) problem solving and data analysis, and (4) geometry and trigonometry. Questions from each content domain appear in both modules.
The content domains are broken down into the following testing points:
- Algebra (~ 35% of the section):
- Linear equations in one variable
- Linear equations in two variables
- Linear functions
- Systems of two linear equations in two variables
- Linear inequalities in one or two variables
- Advanced math ( ~ 32.5% of the section)
- Equivalent expressions
- Nonlinear equations in one variable and systems of equations in two variables
- Nonlinear functions
- Problem solving and data analysis (~ 20% of the section)
- Ratios, rates, proportional relationships, and units
- Percentages
- One-variable data: distributions and measures of center and spread
- Two-variable data: models and scatter plots
- Probability and conditional probability
- Inference from sample statistics and margin of error
- Evaluating statistical claims: observational studies and experiments
- Geometry and trigonometry (~ 12.5% of the section)
- Area and volume
- Lines, angles, and triangles
- Right triangles and trigonometry
- Circles
Students can use a calculator on the entire Math section. The Bluebook App has the Desmos graphing calculator built-in, but students may also bring their own approved calculators. Please refer to College Board’s website for a list of approved calculators for the Digital PSAT.
Practicing for the digital PSAT
Many students take the PSAT as the first step in their SAT preparation. While the PSAT is indeed excellent practice for the SAT, it is a good idea to spend some time practicing for the PSAT, especially for students who are aiming for National Merit.
This year, PSAT practice is especially important because the test is changing. The digital PSAT will likely be most students’ first time taking a computer adaptive test, so it’s important to know what to expect.
The best way to familiarize yourself with the digital PSAT is to take a full-length practice test. Taking just 1 practice test can lead to significant growth.
The PSAT/NMSQT is changing, but we’re here to help you get ready! We have a full-length practice test for the digital PSAT, as well as 6 full-length practice tests for the digital SAT. All of our practice tests are computer adaptive and provide valuable performance analysis and detailed answer explanations.
Students
Sara Laszlo
Sara Laszlo has nearly ten years of experience in private tutoring and test preparation, with a special focus on helping students prepare for the SAT and ACT. An opera singer by training, Sara is especially interested in exploring better ways to practice and improve skills, whether musical or test-related. She holds a B.A. in Classical Civilization from Duke University and a Certificate of Merit in Voice from the New England Conservatory of Music.
