The PSAT (Preliminary SAT) is a practice version of the SAT administered by the College Board, taken primarily in secondary school. It is used to qualify for the National Merit Scholarship Programme in the US.
The PSAT is a shorter, slightly easier version of the SAT, designed to familiarise students with the SAT format and identify high-achieving students for scholarship recognition. In the US, students who score in the top percentile on the PSAT qualify as National Merit Scholars — a distinction that can lead to scholarships.
The PSAT is typically taken in 10th or 11th grade. Scores range from 320 to 1520. The test structure mirrors the Digital SAT — Reading/Writing and Math sections — but with fewer questions and slightly lower difficulty.
Connecting your PSAT results to your Khan Academy account generates a personalised SAT study plan based on your weaknesses — this is one of the most useful features of taking the PSAT.
The PSAT is rarely administered in Pakistan. Most Pakistani students will not encounter it. However, if you are studying at an international school that offers the PSAT, taking it and linking your scores to Khan Academy is worth doing — the personalised study plan it generates is genuinely useful for SAT preparation. The National Merit Scholarship Programme it qualifies you for applies only to US citizens and residents.
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