Our students, in their own words — and where they got in
Which PSAT are you taking?
PSAT 8/9, PSAT 10, and PSAT/NMSQT are three separate products — different grades, score scales, and stakes. They all run digital and adaptive in the College Board Bluebook app: two sections, each with two adaptive modules, no guessing penalty, and Desmos on all math.
PSAT 8/9
Your first official, on-grade-level read on the exact reading, writing, and math skills the SAT measures — years before it counts.
- PurposeEarly diagnostic — no admissions stakes
- Score scale240–1440 (unique to 8/9)
- National MeritNot eligible
- Best forBuilding SAT Suite skills early
PSAT 10
Same scale and format as the PSAT/NMSQT — a pure diagnostic that tells you where to aim junior-year prep, with zero scholarship or admissions stakes.
- PurposeSAT readiness check in 10th grade
- Score scale320–1520 (same as NMSQT)
- National MeritNot eligible
- Best forDiagnosing gaps before junior year
PSAT/NMSQT
National MeritThe junior-year test that qualifies for the National Merit Scholarship Program — and your last full dress rehearsal for the SAT.
- PurposeScholarship entry + SAT dress rehearsal
- Score scale320–1520 + Selection Index
- National MeritOnly PSAT that qualifies
- Best forMaximizing Selection Index
Our students have been accepted at
Five reasons students score higher.
Built on the real digital PSAT. Trained on real students. Tuned for the score increase you actually came for.
What educators
are telling us.
And here's what our students
are telling us.
Why students are leaving
their $3,000 tutor for us.
Frequently asked questions.
What is Test Ninjas PSAT prep?+
Test Ninjas is an online prep course for students taking the PSAT 8/9, PSAT 10 or PSAT/NMSQT. It includes full-length adaptive tests solved in full by our tutors, 3,000 practice questions, targeted courses on the highest-yield PSAT topics and a personalized study plan. You can start with a 7-day free trial.
How much does it cost?+
It costs $39/month, or $29/month on the 3-month plan (billed $87). Every plan starts with a 7-day free trial, and $0.00 is due today. It is backed by our 100-point guarantee: +100 points or your money back.
Which PSAT should I take?+
It depends on your grade. The PSAT 8/9 is for 8th and 9th graders, in fall or spring. The PSAT 10 is a spring test for 10th graders. The PSAT/NMSQT is the fall test for 11th graders (some 10th graders take it too), and it is the only PSAT that counts for National Merit.
How is the PSAT different from the SAT?+
They test the same skills in the same digital, adaptive format: a Reading and Writing section and a Math section, taken in the Bluebook app. The difference is the score scale. The PSAT/NMSQT and PSAT 10 are scored 320–1520 and the PSAT 8/9 240–1440, while the SAT is scored 400–1600. Only the PSAT/NMSQT taken in 11th grade counts for National Merit.
How does the PSAT/NMSQT qualify you for National Merit?+
Your PSAT/NMSQT section scores give you a Selection Index: (2 × Reading and Writing + Math) ÷ 10, on a 48–228 scale. The National Merit Scholarship Corporation sets a Semifinalist cutoff for each state, so the index you need depends on where you live. See every state's cutoff in our National Merit cutoffs for the Class of 2028, and work out your index with the Selection Index calculator.