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What's Tested on the PSAT? (2023-2024)

The first step to achieving PSAT success is to learn about the structure of the test and why it’s so important for your future. The PSAT is a 2-hour and 14-minute exam that tests your reading, writing, and math skills. Beginning in the fall of 2023, all test-takers will take the Digital PSAT. The more comfortable you are with the new test structure, the more confidently you will approach each question type, thus maximizing your score. In this guide, we’ll review what you need to know about taking the new digital version of the PSAT so you feel confident on Test Day.

[ READ NEXT: What’s a Good PSAT Score? ]

Changes on the Digital PSAT

As of fall 2023, the PSAT will no longer be a pencil-and-paper exam. With the exception of certain student accommodations, all students will take the Digital PSAT on a computer. The test makers have shortened the PSAT by about 45 minutes, but you will still receive a score out of 1520 that can help you qualify for scholarships and assess your readiness for the SAT. Not only will you have a shorter total exam time, but you will also have fewer questions to answer and more time to spend per question.

The Digital PSAT format has other helpful new features such as a built-in graphing calculator, text annotation tools, a timer, a zooming tool, and the ability to “cross out” answer choices you want to eliminate. These features will make it easy for you to navigate the test and manage the questions. 

Questions on the Digital PSAT have undergone changes as well. The Reading and Writing passages and the Math questions are generally becoming shorter in length, making it easier for you to focus on what the questions are asking.

[ LEARN MORE: College Board Going with Completely Digital SAT ]

PSAT Test Structure

The structure of the PSAT is changing slightly when the test goes digital. The Digital PSAT is 2 hours and 14 minutes long and consists of two sections: (1) Reading and Writing and (2) Math. Here’s how the PSAT will be structured:

The PSAT Math Test: What to Expect

The PSAT Math section includes 44 questions divided between two modules. You have 35 minutes to answer the questions in each module. The PSAT math section tests your ability in four content areas: algebra, advanced math, problem-solving and data analysis, and geometry and trigonometry.

In the chart below, we break down what’s tested on the PSAT Math test:

PSAT Math Question Types

Questions across the PSAT Math section consist of both multiple-choice and some student-produced responses, on which you will type in your answer. About 25%, or 11 of the questions, will be student-produced responses, and the rest will be 4-option multiple-choice questions. About a third of the questions in the PSAT Math section will be word problems that are situated in a real-world context; the rest will be straightforward math questions.

Here’s how the 44 PSAT Math questions break down:

Calculator Use on the PSAT Math Section

You are allowed to use a calculator on all questions in the Digital PSAT Math section. The PSAT digital test platform has a built-in graphing calculator that you can use, or you can bring your own approved calculator. Check College Board’s website for the most up-to-date list of approved calculators you can bring to the PSAT.

The PSAT Reading and Writing Test: What to Expect

The PSAT Reading and Writing section includes 54 questions divided between two modules. You will have 32 minutes to answer the questions in each module. The PSAT Reading and Writing section will focus on your comprehension, reasoning, and editing skills with questions based on short academic passages taken from a variety of content areas.

What’s covered on the PSAT Reading and Writing test?

In the chart below, we break down what’s tested on the PSAT Reading and Writing test.

PSAT Reading and Writing Question Types

Each question on the PSAT Reading and Writing section is accompanied by a short passage, usually a paragraph in length. Some questions may have two short passages about the same topic, and a few questions will have a bullet point list of notes about a topic. Passages will draw from literature, history/social studies, the humanities, and science. Some questions will also be accompanied by a graphical representation of data, such as a graph or table.

Here’s how the 54 PSAT Reading and Writing questions break down:

How is the PSAT scored?

Your total PSAT score will range from 320 to 1520 and is calculated by adding your section score for Reading and Writing to your section score for Math. The PSAT is adaptive—how well you do on the first module of the Reading and Writing section or the Math section determines the questions you see in the section’s second module.

Doing well on the first module, also known as the routing module, will send you to a higher difficulty second module. This will give you a chance to earn the very top scores for a section (either Reading and Writing or Math). Bear in mind that even if you are routed to an easier second module, you can still earn a competitive score on the PSAT. Don’t spend time trying to figure out which difficulty level you were routed to; this will only waste your brainpower and time. Your focus should be to do your best on every question, regardless of which module it is in.

The PSAT also gives you a percentile ranking, which allows you to compare your scores with those of other test-takers. For example, a student who scored in the 63rd percentile did better than 63 percent of all others who took that test.

When and where do I take the PSAT?

The PSAT/NMSQT is offered every October. This year, the testing window is October 2–October 31, 2023; schools will administer the exam on a school day within this window. There is a Saturday testing option on October 14, 2023 that some schools may choose. The PSAT is administered at your high school, not at a testing center. Homeschooled students can sign up at a participating local high school. Some high schools recommend that their sophomores take the test for additional practice, but sophomores who take the PSAT are not eligible to qualify for the National Merit Scholarship unless they are in an accelerated program and are preparing to graduate the following year. However, some schools will administer the test to their students only once (at the beginning of junior year). If this is the case, sophomores wanting to take the PSAT need to get permission from their guidance counselors.

 Why should I take the PSAT?

The PSAT is also known as the Preliminary SAT, and is a practice version of the SAT. You can use your results from the PSAT to predict your score on the SAT or the ACT . Your performance on the PSAT can also give you insight on how to structure your study plan for the SAT or ACT and help you pinpoint areas on which you need to focus. Additionally, taking the PSAT can lead to more money for college through the National Merit Scholarship Program. Your PSAT scores are automatically submitted for consideration, and you may be selected as a National Merit Scholarship Finalist and ultimately receive an award.

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PSAT: Complete Guide to the Writing & Language Section

What are the psat sections.

On the PSAT, you'll work through four sections of the test. These four sections are:

• Reading Test 📚
• Writing and Language Test 📝
• Math Test - Calculator 🧮
• Math Test - No Calculator ➗

After working through the hour-long reading test, you'll start thinking 🤔 like a writer while taking on the 35 minute writing and language section! In this guide, you'll learn about the different elements of this section, analyze strategies to pursue, and get some practice at the end.

Breaking Down Writing and Language

Writing and Language is the only section on the PSAT that gives you less than a minute per question, but there's no need to worry, because there's not a lot of reading you'll need to do. In 35 minutes, you'll take on 44 questions split among four passages (eleven questions per passage) ⏲️

Passages will cover a variety of topics, so you might even find a pasage that interests you. The possible categories and topics of writing include:

• Nonfiction narratives
• Social Studies

While you won't be using a red pen on the PSAT, answering questions on the Writing and Language test is just like editing a classmate's paper.

Types of Questions

On this section, you'll have a passage on the left side of the page with questions on the right side. Unlike the reading section, you don't need to flip back and forth between passages and questions to revise and edit! 😌

You'll see five categories of questions on the PSAT Writing and Language section. Let's break down each of these sections.

Command of Evidence

This is the core of the revision aspect of the Writing and Language section. When tested on command of evidence, you'll pick an answer choice that best improves a passage's communication of information and ideas. ⭐

For instance, you may answer questions that ask about the best way to enhance an argumentative claim or whether an added supporting detail is relevant.

Common questions in the command of evidence category include:

• Which choice best reflects the information from the graph?
• Which choice best completes the sentence and accurately represents the information in the table?
• Which choice would set up the information that follows?
• The writer is considering adding/deleting the underlined sentence . . . Should the sentence be kept or deleted?

Here's what that may look like on the PSAT:

This question exemplifies the command of evidence category.

Words in Context

Questions that cover words in context want you to improve the word choice (or diction ) of a specific piece of text. Here is where the rule "shorter is better" often applies—you want to pick the most concise answer that isn't repetitive.

You could also be asked to use word choice that is more precise or improves style/tone. Here are ways you will apply words in context on the PSAT Writing and Language section:

• Finding a concise way of conveying an idea that does not change the meaning
• Not changing a linguistic pattern, such as the use of repetition for emphasis
• Using more formal language or informal language depending on the tone of the passage
• Combining two sentences or editing sentences for a less choppy paragraph

Analysis in History/Social Studies and in Science

You'll encounter at least one history/social studies and/or science passage. In this category of questions, you'll make edits to a passage in these areas.

These questions may also include tables/graphs/charts, but you will not need to do any math when applying those graphics to the passage. Here's an example of a question in this category:

Here's what a question about analysis in science looks like.

Expression of Ideas

These questions are a catch-all for questions that don't really apply to any other section. Example questions in this category could discuss:

• Impact of the passages' organization and possible revisions
• Structural changes (like moving around paragraphs)
• How well sentences & paragraphs work together/transition

Here's an example of a question in this category:

Placement of sentences for organization is a core aspect of the expression of ideas category.

Standard English Conventions

The standard English conventions section is fairly self-explanatory, and it covers the foundations of English: punctuation, usage, and sentence structure. You'll answer questions that ask you to change words, clauses, sentences, and punctuation, which include a variety of grammar topics:

• Parallel construction
• Subject-verb agreement
• Connecting sentences
• Proper use of commas, colons, dashes, and semicolons

Here's an example of a standard English conventions question:

Knowing how to effectively use commas and dashes is crucial to standard English conventions and scoring high on writing and language.

Review of Conventions

Here's a useful table that will help you remember some common PSAT grammar rules!

PSAT Grammar Review

Writing and Language: Advice

With around 47 seconds per question, here are some pointers so you succeed!

• Don't read the passage! You won't have time to answer questions if you're trying to read for details. This isn't the reading section—make sure to just read context around questions.
• Annotate the text. Even though test-takers do most of their annotating on reading and math, annotating on this section allows you to figure out the answer to a question before you even look at the answer choices.
• Process of elimination is key. Oftentimes, picking the best answer means eliminating three answers that are worse. Make sure to cross out answer choices that you know won't work.
• Remember to substitute . For multiple writing & language questions, substituting sentences, words, or phrases will help you choose, in context, the correct answer.

Remember to bubble as you go as well; a nightmare scenario is finishing the test but not being able to bubble in time!

Practice Passage & Questions

Want some quick practice? Here's an 11 question practice PSAT section that you should try to complete in about 9 minutes (in accordance with real timing). Note that this mostly tests your knowledge of standard English conventions! Test comes courtesy of CrackSAT .

More and more of our lives are mechanized, and at some point, we have to start wondering, what's the limit of that mechanization? Many factory workers in the 19th century thought their jobs were safe but we know (1) now that they were wrong. Many people in today's world believe there jobs (2) are safe, but how safe are those jobs really?

Studies abound that ask whether man or machine is better at particular tasks, and the results are not always so obvious. Sure, a machine is obviously better at say, welding (3) huge pieces of steel together, but what would you say if someone told you people are more likely to open up to a machine than to a psychologist? Or that a machine could write a quicker, more efficient news story than an experienced reporter could?

These questions may seem overly pessimistic (or overly optimistic depending on your point of view); however, (4) some recent studies have been truly remarkable. Take Ellie, a computer program used primarily to diagnose patients with depression, PTSD and other mood disorders. (5) Many patients found it easier to talk to "Ellie" than to a real person: she (6) didn't react in some of those seemingly judgmental ways that a person would, and her voice never broke on top of that (7) she could help psychologists to diagnose mental illnesses better than human observation could. She could detect facial movements or voice tones that a person might have not heard or ignored.

Whether Ellie is the way of the future is yet to be determined. We can't know right now, but there is no question that she raises some interesting questions, not only about the work of psychologists, (8) but also about all of what we think are definitively human activities.

On the other side of the discussion, however, there's some evidence that humans may have the upper hand. In some of the more basic tasks those learned before the age of about 10 humans (9) have a huge upper hand. Computers can do the complex thinking, but one thing with which they have a lot of trouble is, paradoxically, simplicity. Sure, a computer can tell your washer's and dryer's what (10) a perfect washing and drying cycle is, but can it fold your laundry? Your GPS can tell you the fastest route to the next state, but can it tell you the prettiest way to go or the best restaurants along the way? Not without humans!

While the battle of man against machine rages on. The (11) questions will persist. No matter who wins, though, humans will almost assuredly find ways to adapt: that's something we've been doing for thousands of years, which is something that no computer can say.

A. NO CHANGE

B. were safe, but we know

C. were safe; but we know

D. were safe. But we know

B. in todays world believe their jobs

C. in todays world believe they're jobs

D. in today's world believe their jobs

B. better at, say welding

C. better at, say, welding

D. better at say welding

B. your point of view), however,

C. you're point of view), however,

D. you're point of view); however,

B. depression, PTSD, and other

C. depression, PTSD, and, other

D. depression, PTSD, and other,

B. to a real person, she

C. to a real person; but she

D. to a real person she

B. never broke, on top of that,

C. never broke. On top of that,

D. never broke; on top, of that,

B. psychologists work

C. the work of psychologists

D. the work of psychologist's

B. tasks those learned before the age of about 10, humans

C. tasks, those learned before the age of about 10 humans

D. tasks, those learned before the age of about 10, humans

B. can tell your washer and dryer what

C. can tell you're washers and dryers

D. can tell you're washer and dryer

Answers & Explanations

• 1. B — You'll want to use a comma to connect these two sentences in the presence of the conjunction 'but'. Answer choice A is a run-on, so it is incorrect. Answer choice C is incorrect because semicolons can connect two sentences, but not those with conjunctions. Answer choice D is incorrect, as you can't start a sentence with a conjunction.
• 2. D — This question tests your knowledge of possessive nouns/apostrophes and there vs their vs they're. In this sentence, only answer choice D correctly has "today's" and "their." Answer choice A is wrong because it states "there jobs," when 'their' is the correct possessive noun. Neither answer choice B nor answer choice C has an apostrophe for todays, which makes both wrong.
• 3. C — The word "say" can be deemed a non-essential phrase; therefore, it should be accompanied by a comma before and after. Answer choice A is incorrect, as the use of one comma before "welding" makes it seem like the clause before the comma is a dependent clause when it isn't. Answer choice B creates a fragment prior to the comma, and answer choice D lacks the clarity that C has with two commas.
• 4. A — This question tests two common rules that some students often forget! Only answer choice A has both a semicolon before however and "your" as the possessive noun. Since an independent clause (full sentence) follows the word "however," a semicolon should come before however. Therefore, answer choice B and C are wrong. Answer choice D incorrectly uses you're (you are) instead of your.
• 5. B — On the SAT, commas in lists should be placed between each item in addition to being placed before the conjunction and (also known as the Oxford comma). Thus, answer choice B correctly places commas after "depression," "PTSD," and the word "and." Answer choice A lacks the Oxford comma, answer choice C incorrectly places a comma after "and," and answer choice D places an unnecessary comma after the word "other."
• 6. A — The use of a colon as an explanation is correct, which is why no change is acceptable. Answer choice B creates a run-on with a comma separating two independent clauses (it should be a semicolon instead). Answer choice C is incorrect as it has a semicolon followed by a conjunction (it should be a comma instead), and answer choice D creates a run on.
• 7. C — Having the words "on top of that" to start a new sentence creates the clearest transition, which makes C the best answer. This question exemplifies process of elimination, as answer choices A and B create a run on and answer choice D has an unnecessary comma after the word "top."
• 8. C — Answer choice C correctly deletes the apostrophe present in answer choice A and D, as the word "of" basically serves as an indication that the work is possessed by the psychologists. Answer choice B lacks an apostrophe (it should be psychologists').
• 9. D — The clause 'those learned before the age of about 10' serves as a non-essential phrase and therefore needs a comma before and after. Answer choice A leads to a run-on with no commas. Answer choice B creates an awkward dependent clause with the word "those," and answer choice C has an awkward independent clause with the word "those." Therefore, D has the clearest and most precise answer.
• 10. B — Answer choice B has the correct use of "your" and the lack of possessive nouns. Answer choice A is incorrect as washer/dryer have unnecessary apostrophes. Answer choice C and D both use "you're" (you are) instead of your.
• 11. D — Since the clause before question 11 starts with "while," it is a dependent clause and needs a comma prior to the independent clause, making answer choice D the best answer. Answer choice A is incorrect as the first sentence is a fragment. Answers B and C are wrong as you cannot use a semicolon or an en dash to connect a dependent and independent clause.

Practice Resources

If you need help with PSAT Writing and Language, here are some resources and PSAT practice tests you can use to score high on test day:

• Khan Academy —While preparation is more geared towards the SAT on Khan Academy, the PSAT and SAT have lots of overlapping content. In addition, you'll get valuable practice for the SAT, which you may need to take for college admissions.
• Crack SAT —CrackSAT offers links to previously released PSAT and SAT tests that you can take for practice.
• Critical Reader —The Critical Reader offers great example sentences and further explains different grammar rules crucial for the PSAT Writing and Language section.

Guide Outline

Related content, what is the psat, psat: complete guide to the math section, psat: complete guide to the reading section.

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PSAT Writing Practice Test

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Online PSAT Test Prep Course

If you want to be fully prepared, Mometrix offers an online PSAT Prep Course. The course is designed to provide you with any and every resource you might want while studying. The PSAT Course includes:

• Review Lessons Covering Every Topic
• 950+ PSAT Practice Questions
• More than 450 Electronic Flashcards
• Over 220 Instructional Videos
• Money-back Guarantee
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The PSAT Test Prep Course is designed to help any learner get everything they need to prepare for their PSAT exam. Click below to check it out!

What kinds of questions are on the Writing and Language test?

The Writing and Language test includes 44 questions that will be divided into four groups. Each group of questions will relate to a different passage, and will test your skills relating to grammar, sentence structure, word choice, and other conventions of the English language.

What is a good score on the PSAT Writing and Language test?

The Writing and Language test is scored with the writing section on a scale of 160 to 760. A good score on this test would be at least 535.

How many questions are on the PSAT Writing and Language test?

There are 44 multiple-choice questions on this test.

How long is the PSAT Writing and Language test?

The time limit for this test is 35 minutes.

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PSAT Writing Practice Test

The free PSAT Writing and Language practice test is specifically designed to ensure that the test-taker is knowledgeable about the PSAT and is able to know what to expect when it is time to take the Writing and Language portion of the PSAT.

The Writing and Language portion will consist of a 44 question multiple-choice that will address five main topics. These topics are as follows:

PSAT Study Guide

Get practice questions, detailed study lessons, and complex subjects broken down into easily understandable concepts.

• Command of Evidence, where the test-taker must choose an answer that best supports an argument
• Words in Context, in which the test-taker must choose an answer that will improve the word choice in a passage
• Analysis in History/Social Studies and in Science, in which the test-taker will have to revise passages related to history, social studies, and science
• Expression of Ideas, in which the test-taker will need to make passage structure changes
• Standard English Conventions, in which the test-taker will be asked about the basics of writing

Due to our foreknowledge of the domains of this test, we have ensured that the PSAT Writing and Language practice test will cover these topics thoroughly.

When taking this portion of the PSAT, the test-taker will have a total of 35 minutes to complete all 44 questions on the test.

Online PSAT Prep Course

If you want to be fully prepared, Mometrix offers an online PSAT Prep Course. The course is designed to provide you with any and every resource you might want while studying. The PSAT Course includes:

• Review Lessons Covering Every Topic
• 950+ PSAT Practice Questions
• More than 450 Digital Flashcards
• Over 220 Instructional Videos
• Money-back Guarantee
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The PSAT Prep Course is designed to help any learner get everything they need to prepare for their PSAT exam. Click below to check it out!

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Your chance of acceptance, your chancing factors, extracurriculars, psat preparation: what topics should i know.

Hey everyone, I'm going to be taking the PSAT soon and I'm really confused about what topics I should be focusing on while studying. Can anyone offer any guidance on what I should be prepared for in each section? Test-taking tips would also be greatly appreciated!

Hey there! Studying for the PSAT can seem daunting, but understanding the main topics for each section can make your studying more focused and efficient. Here's a breakdown of the main topics and some test-taking tips for the PSAT:

Reading and Writing:

1. Reading comprehension: You'll read passages from various genres – literature, history, social studies, and natural sciences – and answer multiple-choice questions related to the content, context, and meaning of the text.

2. Vocabulary in context: Understand and interpret challenging words and phrases in passages, using context clues.

3. Command of Evidence: Identify evidence in the passage that supports specific claims or conclusions.

4. Grammar and punctuation: Have a strong understanding of standard English grammar rules, sentence structure, punctuation, and capitalization.

1. Heart of algebra: Linear equations, inequalities, word problems, systems of equations, and variable manipulations.

2. Problem-solving and data analysis: Ratios, proportions, percentages, interpretation of data from graphs and charts, and basic statistics.

3. Passport to advanced math: Quadratic equations, simplifying complex expressions, polynomial operations, and working with radicals.

Test-taking tips:

1. Familiarize yourself with the test format through practice tests, like those available on the Bluebook™ app.

2. Manage your time effectively. Keep track of your pace during practice tests to ensure you're able to answer all questions within the allotted time.

3. Don't waste too much time on any single question. If you're stuck, make an educated guess and move on. You can return to the question later if you have time.

4. Read the passages actively, taking notes and underlining key points to help with comprehension.

5. In the math section, use your calculator strategically. It is allowed on both math modules, but using it for every problem can waste valuable time. If possible, perform simple calculations mentally or on paper.

6. To improve your Reading and Writing skills, read from a variety of sources, including newspapers, novels, and non-fiction books.

Keep practicing and familiarizing yourself with the types of questions you'll encounter on the PSAT. Good luck!

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College Reality Check

What is the PSAT? Practice Test Included

The PSAT stands for Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test. Administered by the College Board, it’s a standardized test that helps high school students prepare for a major college entrance exam and a prestigious merit-based scholarship.

Created as a practice test for high schoolers who are planning on taking the SAT, the PSAT helps boost college admissions chances by improving SAT performance. In addition, the PSAT serves as a qualifying exam for college-bound teens who are interested in winning the National Merit Scholarship Program.

This post contains some of the most essential things you need to know about the PSAT.

Is the PSAT Important for College Admissions?

The PSAT is not an important standardized test for college admissions. That’s because it’s not considered as one of those college admissions tests such as the SAT and ACT that test-required and test-optional institutions take into account in the admissions process. As a matter of fact, the College Board does not send PSAT scores to colleges.

While the PSAT won’t have a direct impact on your chances of getting an acceptance letter from your top-choice school, it can, however, determine your eligibility for the National Merit Scholarship.

Do You Have to Take the PSAT?

Some high schools require students to take the PSAT, and most of them take care of the registration fee, too. Otherwise, it’s completely up to the high schooler to decide whether or not they will sit for the PSAT.

However, being the PSAT/NMSQT, those who wish to apply for the National Merit Scholarship Program should take the standardized test in the 11th grade.

It may be a practice test for the SAT alright, but the PSAT is not a prerequisite for taking the SAT.

Read Also: 13 College Entrance Exams And When To Take Them

Can Colleges See How Many Times You Took the PSAT?

Colleges cannot see how many times applicants took the PSAT. Other than not being an important part of the college admissions process, the College Board does not send PSAT scores to institutions of higher education. Throughout their high school careers, teens can only take the PSAT, which is administered only once a year, up to 3 times.

For high schoolers who like to boost their chances of winning the National Merit Scholarship, taking the PSAT 1 or 2 times before their junior year may be done. It can also help increase their SAT scores and, ultimately, college admissions chances.

What is on the PSAT?

The components of the PSAT are the very same components of the SAT. After all, it serves as a practice test for the SAT. While it’s made up of 3 tests, there are only 2 primary sections of the PSAT: the Evidence-Based Reading & Writing (EWRB) and Math sections. However, unlike in the SAT, test-takers will encounter a few write-in questions, too, in the PSAT.

According to the PSAT website itself, some of the math questions will require you to write an answer instead of choosing it.

How Many Sections are on the PSAT?

The 2 main sections of the PSAT are the EWRB section and the Math section. The EBRW section is made up of Reading and Writing & Language. The Math section, on the other hand, consists of 2 sub-sections: the no-calculator section and the calculator-optional section. There is no optional Essay section on the PSAT, such as the case with the SAT in the past.

Even though the PSAT is a slightly shorter and slightly easier version of the SAT, therefore making it a practice test, both standardized tests are pretty much similar. And that is why the PSAT can help prepare you better for the SAT.

How Many Questions is the PSAT?

The PSAT has a total of 139 questions — the vast majority of them are multiple-choice questions, while a few of them, which are found in the Math section of the PSAT, are write-in questions. Of all the sections, the Math section has the most number of questions. The Writing & Language component of the EWRB section, meanwhile, has the least number of questions.

Here’s a table showing the number of questions each section of the PSAT has:

What Kind of Math is on the PSAT?

The Math section of the PSAT focuses on various areas of mathematics that play the biggest role in numerous academic majors and minors. The College Board refers to the various types of math included in the PSAT as Heart of Algebra, Problem Solving and Data Analysis, Passport to Advanced Math and Additional Topics in Math.

Below is a description of the math kinds you will encounter when sitting for the PSAT:

• Heart of Algebra – knowledge of linear equations and systems
• Problem Solving and Data Analysis – problem analysis and obtaining information from data
• Passport to Advanced Math – questions involving the manipulation of equations
• Additional Topics in Math – college-relevant geometry and trigonometry

Is There Science on the PSAT?

Even though there is no section on the PSAT that’s dedicated to science, some passages are science-related. For instance, the Reading portion of the EBRW section has either 1 or 2 science passages as well as a set of paired science passages, all of which contain a lot of technical terms and jargon that set them apart from other passages.

Both the PSAT and SAT do not have any science sections. On the other hand, the ACT has a science section, which makes it more appealing to some high school teens who consider science as their strength.

Is There Writing on the PSAT?

The PSAT has a Writing section, which is a part of the Writing & Language component of the EBRW section. The Writing section requires test-takers to read passages and then find mistakes and/or weaknesses and correct them. Despite the name, the Writing section contains multiple-choice questions and does not require students to write something.

An argument, informative or explanatory text, or a nonfiction narrative — these are the kinds of passages you will have to carefully read to answer the questions in the PSAT’s Writing section.

How Does the PSAT Work?

In this part of the post, we will discuss various things related to taking the PSAT, including how your test will be scored and what score you should get to impress colleges and qualify for the National Merit Scholarship.

What Does the PSAT Measure?

The PSAT is structured very similarly to the SAT, for which it serves as a practice test. It goes without saying that the PSAT is designed to measure the same things that the SAT is meant to measure. They are reading, writing and math skills that high school students learn in the classroom, all of which are necessary for college and career success.

Because the PSAT can be taken in as early as the 9th grade, the PSAT cannot necessarily determine a student’s college readiness. However, it can help ascertain whether or not a teen is on the right track through grade-level benchmarks.

Is the PSAT Multiple Choice?

Most of the questions on the PSAT are multiple-choice kinds, and each multiple-choice question is accompanied by 4 answer choices. While there are multiple-choice questions in the Math section of the PSAT, some of them require test-takers to write in their answers rather than select them. All in all, there are 8 write-in questions on the PSAT.

Questions where students have to provide their responses are also referred to as grid-in questions or simply grid-ins as they need to enter their answers in the grids found on the answer sheet.

Is the PSAT a Standardized Test?

The PSAT is a standardized test because it is given to high schoolers in a consistent or standard fashion. This means that all the questions on the test are all the same for all students no matter which high school they are attending.

Also making the PSAT a standardized type of examination is the fact that it’s scored the same for all those who take it.

Being the PSAT/NMSQT, the PSAT is also a standardized eligibility exam for the National Merit Scholarship.

When Do You Take the PSAT Test?

Most high school students take the PSAT in the 11th grade. Other than giving them practice for the SAT, it also enables them to be considered for the National Merit Scholarship Program.

However, the PSAT can also be taken during the freshman and sophomore years of high school, but it won’t serve as a qualifying exam for the National Merit Scholarship.

There is no use for any high schooler to take the PSAT in the 12th grade.

How to Guess on the PSAT

The right way to guess on the PSAT is to eliminate at least 1 incorrect answer among the answer choices, which gives the test-taker 1 in 3 chances of making the right guess. On the other hand, eliminating 2 incorrect answers among the answer choices makes it possible for the student taking the PSAT to get the right answer on a 50/50 basis.

Because there is no wrong-answer penalty on the PSAT, it’s generally a good idea for high schoolers who don’t know the answer to make a guess instead of leaving a question unanswered.

How Long is the PSAT?

It takes 2 hours and 45 minutes (with breaks) to complete taking the PSAT. Test-takers are given 70 minutes to complete the Math section, which has a total of 48 questions — 31 questions for the calculator-optional section and 17 questions for the no-calculator section.

Meanwhile, students have up to 95 minutes to complete the EBRW section, which has a total of 91 questions.

Here’s a table showing the breakdown of the PSAT’s testing time:

How Does PSAT Scoring Work?

Each section of the PSAT is scored on a scale of as low as 160 to as high as 760. The scores test-takers get in both sections of the standardized test are added, resulting in their PSAT composite score. So, in other words, the overall PSAT score can range anywhere from 320 to 1520, which may help predict the SAT composite scores of a test-taker.

There is no such thing as a failing score on the PSAT.

What is a Good PSAT Score?

Generally speaking, a good PSAT score is a composite score of 1070 or higher, which puts the high school student in the top 25% of all test-takers. An excellent score, which is between 1210 and 1520, puts the teen in the top 10% of all test-takers. For eligibility for the National Merit Scholarship Program, a student must be in the top 1% of all test-takers.

Other than increasing your chances of getting an SAT composite score that can help you get into your top-choice college, getting a high PSAT score can also make it possible for you to win the National Merit Scholarship.

Facts About the PSAT

Let’s talk about some important matters you need to know about the PSAT, including its beginnings, how many high school students take it every year and whether or not it comes with an optional Essay section.

History of the PSAT

The PSAT, like the SAT, was created by the College Board. It was in 1959 when the PSAT was administered for the very first time.

In 1971, the National Merit Scholarship Program, which is a US academic scholarship competition for recognition and university scholarships and is not related to the College Board, adopted the PSAT as its qualifying examination.

More than 30 years after the SAT came into being, the PSAT was administered to help high school students prepare for the SAT. In the past, some intellectual clubs used PSAT scores in admitting new members.

Who Created the PSAT?

It was the College Board that designed the PSAT, whose goal was to serve as a preliminary exam for the SAT. The non-profit organization decided to come up with the standardized test to provide high school students with the opportunity to prepare for the SAT and thus allow them to increase their chances of getting admitted to college.

Eventually, as mentioned earlier, it was used as a qualifying test for the National Merit Scholarship.

What is the College Board?

The College Board is an organization that designs and administers standardized tests as well as develops curricula for use by K-12 and institutions of higher education for the promotion of college readiness. The non-profit was established in 1900 by representatives of a total of 13 academic institutions at the University of Columbia.

Although it’s not an association of colleges, many postsecondary institutions are members of the College Board. As of this writing, there are more than 6,000 schools that are approved members.

How Many People Take the PSAT?

Around 3.5 million high school students take the PSAT. They consist of sophomore and junior high schoolers across the US. The College Board itself says that in the academic year 2021 to 2022, around 3.6 million students took the PSAT.

Meanwhile, over 1.5 million entrants for The National Merit Scholarship Program who meet other requirements take the PSAT.

More high schoolers take the SAT than the ACT. It’s therefore safe to assume that more students also take the PSAT than the PreACT, which is the counterpart of the PSAT.

What is the PSAT Designed to Predict?

The PSAT is designed to predict the SAT scores of high school students and, ultimately, their college readiness given that the SAT is primarily designed for such a purpose.

By taking the PSAT, test-takers know their strong points and, more importantly, their weak spots so that they can take the necessary steps to prepare for the SAT and get good scores.

Want to have an idea of how you may score on the SAT based on your PSAT scores? Online, you can easily access PSAT to SAT conversion tools and charts, most of which are free of charge.

Does the PSAT Have an Essay?

There is no Essay section of the PSAT. The standardized test has 2 main sections, the EBRW section and Math section, and nothing else. In the past, the SAT used to have an optional Essay section but the College Board decided to stop offering it altogether.

On the other hand, the PSAT never had an optional Essay section from the get-go.

Preparing for the Essay section on the SAT by means of an Essay section on the PSAT is completely pointless given that the said section of the SAT became optional in 2016 and unavailable in 2021.

Does the PSAT Provide Calculators?

The PSAT does not provide test-takers calculators. High school students who are sitting for the PSAT must bring their own approved calculators with them to their respective high schools, where the PSATs are administered. Similarly, test-takers are not allowed to share calculators and use them on the Math no-calculator portion and EBRW portion.

Here’s a list of all allowed calculator models from the College Board itself.

PSAT is Changing – Paper Based vs. Digital

The PSAT will be administered in digital format, and its paper and pencil format will cease to exist.

Since it was first taken by students preparing for the SAT back in 1959, it underwent 3 major changes in its format and content as well as how it’s scored. The said changes happened in 1997, 2005 and 2015.

In the fall of 2023, the PSAT will once again go through a significant change in that it will be administered in digital format.

The College Board chose the said date so that high school students who will be taking the digital SAT as juniors in the spring of 2024 will have the opportunity to experience what it’s like to take the standardized test in its entirely new format.

The National Merit Scholarship Program will still use the digital PSAT as its qualifying exam.

When Does the PSAT Go Digital?

As mentioned earlier, the PSAT will go digital in the fall of 2023. From that time onward, the paper and pencil format of the PSAT will no longer be made available by the College Board.

How to Study for the PSAT

According to the PSAT website itself, studying for the standardized test requires making a study plan, creating a realistic goal, taking practice tests and targeting areas that require improvement.

It’s a good thing that free PSAT test preps are available from the College Board and various sources, too.

Undergoing practice tests when preparing for the PSAT is an important step high school teeners should take. Not only will it allow them to become familiar with the PSAT exam experience but also enable them to determine areas that require more attention. This way, they can quit wasting time reviewing things they already know.

It’s recommended to start gearing up for the PSAT about 3 months before the test date. However, it’s a smart move to start preparing for it, which is administered every October of the year, at the start of the school year.

PSAT Practice Test

In this part of the post, I will give you a total of 10 sample PSAT questions — 5 of them are from the Writing & Language portion of the EWRB section, while the other 5 are from the Math section.

Let’s start with a short reading passage:

Vanishing Honeybees: A Threat to Global Agriculture

Honeybees play an important role in the agriculture industry by pollinating crops. An October 2006 study found that as much as one-third of global agriculture depends on animal pollination, including honeybee (12) pollination — to increase crop output. The importance of bees (13) highlights the potentially disastrous affects of an emerging, unexplained crisis: entire colonies of honeybees are dying off without warning.

(14) They know it as colony collapse disorder (CCD), this phenomenon will have a detrimental impact on global agriculture if its causes and solutions are not determined. Since the emergence of CCD around 2006, bee mortality rates have (15) exceeded 25 percent of the population each winter. There was one sign of hope: during the 2010–2012 winter seasons, bee mortality rates decreased slightly, and beekeepers speculated that the colonies would recover. Yet in the winter of 2012–2013, the (16) portion of the bee population lost fell nearly 10 percent in the United States, with a loss of 31 percent of the colonies that pollinate crops.

Q 4. Which choice offers the most accurate interpretation of the data in the chart?

Q 5. Which choice offers an accurate interpretation of the data in the chart?

Answer key:

The following, meanwhile, are 5 sample test questions for the PSAT’s Math portion:

1. A soda company is filling bottles of soda from a tank that contains 500 gallons of soda. At most, how many 20-ounce bottles can be filled from the tank? (1 gallon = 128 ounces)

2. A car traveled at an average speed of 80 miles per hour for 3 hours and consumed fuel at a rate of 34 miles per gallon. Approximately how many gallons of fuel did the car use for the entire 3-hour trip?

3. A high school basketball team won exactly 65 percent of the games it played during last season. Which of the following could be the total number of games the team played last season?

4. Janice puts a fence around her rectangular garden. The garden has a length that is 9 feet less than 3 times its width. What is the perimeter of Janice’s fence if the area of her garden is 5,670 square feet?

5. Tyra subscribes to an online gaming service that charges a monthly fee of $5.00 and $0.25 per hour for time spent playing premium games. Which of the following functions gives Tyra’s cost, in dollars, for a month in which she spends x hours playing premium games?

The sample questions above are from the following site: satsuite.collegeboard.org

Should I Take the PSAT?

In some instances, high schoolers have no choice but to take the PSAT, which costs $18, because the schools they are attending require it — most of the time, though, high schools take care of the registration cost.

Otherwise, it’s completely up to the students to decide whether or not to sit for the PSAT.

Taking the PSAT, however, comes with benefits. For instance, since it’s designed as a preliminary exam for the SAT, teens who undergo it can prepare much better for the SAT, thus allowing them to get good scores and increase their college admissions chances. High PSAT scores also allow high schoolers to qualify for the National Merit Scholarship Program.

Read Next: What is SAT?

Independent Education Consultant, Editor-in-chief. I have a graduate degree in Electrical Engineering and training in College Counseling. Member of American School Counselor Association (ASCA).

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Overview of psat, how will my psat score affect my college chances.

The PSAT is much more than a practice exam. While your performance on the PSAT will certainly help you prepare for the SAT by indicating which areas you need to improve upon, it can also make you eligible for national scholarships!

The Math Section of the PSAT tests student’s on various mathematical concepts, both with and without a calculator. Keep reading as we breakdown and explain some of the most difficult PSAT Math practice questions to prepare you for test day!

The Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT), normally taken by high school juniors and sophomores, measures what you’ve learned in school and opens up doors for scholarship opportunities as well as the National Merit Scholarship Program. 

The exam is typically three hours long and is divided into two sections: Evidence-Based Reading & Writing (which is further divided into the Reading Test and Writing Test), and the Math Section (which is divided into the Calculator and No Calculator portions). Unlike the SAT, the PSAT has an overall score of 1520, with the scores for each section ranging from 160-760.

As mentioned earlier, there are two separate portions of the Math Test: Calculator and No Calculator. The Math Test deeply focuses on three different areas of math, which include mastery of linear equations and systems, problem solving and data analysis, and the manipulation of complex equations. In addition to these main concepts, geometry and trigonometry concepts that are relevant to college are also tested. 

83% of the Math Test is multiple choice questions, while 17% of the Math Test is grid-in questions, in which students are expected to enter their answers in the grids provided on the answer sheet.

The PSAT is an optional exam that does not have an impact on your chances of getting into college. However, since the PSAT is very similar to the actual SAT in terms of scoring, format and content, being prepared for the PSAT can make you equally prepared for the SAT. Furthermore, your PSAT score can give you a good understanding of how to prepare for the SAT.

The PSAT is also used as a qualifying exam for the National Merit Scholarship , which awards different levels of recognition based on the PSAT score you receive. These titles include Commended Students and Semifinalists. 

If you are selected as a Semifinalist, you can apply to compete in the National Merit Scholarship Program. If your application is outstanding, you may be chosen to be a Finalist. As a finalist, you earn the title of National Merit Scholarship recipient and can be awarded National Merit Scholarships to help fund your college tuition. 

For more information on how your PSAT score can impact your college chances, feel free to use our free chancing engine . This tool will calculate your odds of acceptance at hundreds of schools across the country based on your tests scores, GPA, extracurriculars, and more. 

The Math test, as mentioned below, tests on a multitude of topics taught over the course of high school. The PSAT is meant to test how well you are able to apply the math skills and knowledge you’ve learned. 

While the difficulty of questions asked on the PSAT Math section range from easy to hard, in this post, we show you how to break down and solve 10 of the hardest PSAT math questions. 

Question 1: Calculator, Multiple Choice

Correct Answer: (A)

This is a math question that requires you to understand how percentages work. In this question, both the production of tomatoes and raspberries decrease by a percentage. In order to find the percentage by which the total yield of Boyd’s garden declined, we need to find out how many tomatoes and raspberries were lost in production.

Since the total amount of tomatoes declined by 20%, we know that the tomatoes declined in production by 0.20 × 140 = 28 pounds. Meanwhile, the raspberries declined in production by 0.5 × 60 = 30 pounds. The percent decline in the total yield can be found by dividing the decline in number of pounds of tomatoes and raspberries by the previous year’s production:

(28 + 30) / (140 + 60) = 29%

it is important to realize that the question is asking for the decline of the total yield. If the question were asking for the percentage of the garden that was retained this year, the calculation would be different. In this case, we would calculate the total tomatoes and raspberries produced this year (instead of the production that was lost) and divide that by the total production of last year (which would be 71%).

Question 2: Calculator, Multiple Choice  

Correct Answer: (C)

This question is quite tricky because, at first glance, it seems as if there is no minimum to the graph, only a maximum. So the initial reaction might be to assume that the minimum value of the function is negative infinity. 

However, when reading carefully, the question asks for the minimum of the graph in the restricted domain of x between -4 and -6, inclusive. Therefore, the minimum value of the function occurs at the point (-4, -2), thereby making -2 the minimum value of the function.

Question 3: Calculator, Multiple Choice

Correct Answer: (B)

This question requires us to both analyze data and utilize percentages as well as ratios to come to our solution – so there are quite a few steps in this problem! 

First, we realize that there are a total of 61 + 48 = 109 students enrolled in the Propel program. Now, we know that the ratio of boys to girls is 2:3. This may seem like we can immediately multiply 109 by ⅔ to determine how many girls are in the program. However, we need to realize that a ratio of 2:3 implies that there are two boys and three girls for every group of 5 students. Therefore, we multiply 109 by ⅗ to determine how many girls are in the program, which is roughly 65 girls.

Question 4: Calculator, Multiple Choice

This problem combines both geometry and systems of equations together in one problem. Let us assume that S is the length of each side of the square sculpture while T is the length of each side of the equilateral triangle sculpture (both in inches). Since both sculptures are made of a rod of the same length we know that the perimeter of each shape is the same. The perimeter of the square sculpture is 4S while the perimeter of the triangle sculpture is 3T:

We also know that each side of the triangle is 2 inches longer than each side of the square. This means that S + 2 = T. If we substitute the following equation in for the one we found above, we get:

4S = 3(S + 2)

4S = 3S + 6

If the length of the side of the square sculpture is equal to 6 inches, that means the rod is 4 × 6 = 24 inches in length. 

Question 5: Calculator, Grid In

Correct Answer: 6

One concept in math you should become very familiar with is graphs and their respective equations. The equation for a parabola is y = a(x-b) ² + c where b is the x coordinate of the vertex, c is the y coordinate of the vertex, and a is a coefficient that can be found from the equation. 

Since we know that the vertex of the graph is (4, 19), we can set up the parabola equation to be y = a(x-4) ² + 19. Since we know that the parabola also passes through the point (0, 3), this means that a is equal to:

3 = a(0 – 4) ² + 19

-16 = a(-4) ²

-16 = a(16)

Now that we know the equation of the parabola is y = -(x-4) ² + 19, we can determine the equation of the linear function knowing that the function passes through the points (0, -9) and (2, -1). The slope of the function, which we know is equal to change in y-coordinates over change in x-coordinates of the line, is [(-1) – (-9)] / [2 – 0] = 4. Knowing that the y-intercept of the linear function is -9, we can write the equation of the linear function to be y = 4x – 9. 

With the two equations, we can now find the point at which the two graphs intersect through a set of equations. We can set the two equations equal to each other since both equations are solved for y:

y = 4x – 9 (Linear equation)

y = -(x-4) ² + 19 (Parabola equation)

4x – 9 =  -(x-4) ² + 19

x²   – 4x – 12 = 0

(x – 6) (x + 2) = 0

x = 6 and -2

Since (v,w) is on the positive side of the y-axis, v has to be equal to 6.

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Question 6: Calculator, Grid In

Correct Answer: 9

This is another system of equations question, however, this question is a bit more difficult since it is a word problem, so make sure to read the question carefully! 

Let’s say that x = number of sections studied by a group of two students, while y = number of sections studied by a group of four students. We know that there are 78 total students, which means that 2x + 4y = 78. We also know that there are 24 total sections, which means that x + y = 24. Now you can use either the substitution method or the elimination method to determine what x and y are equal to (review both of these methods since they will be extremely useful when taking the math portion of the PSAT)!

Using the substitution method, we see that:

2x + 4y = 78

x + y = 24 → y = 24 – x

2x + 4(24 – x) = 78

2x + 96 – 4x = 78

-2x + 96 = 78

Therefore, the total number of sections with two students is 9.

Question 7: No Calculator, Multiple Choice

Correct Answer: (D)

This question is tricky since it requires you to remember how functions are written. We know that we are expected to solve the function for f(-3). Without initially reading the prompt, one may assume that x = -3 and incorrectly solve the problem.

We see in the problem statement that the equation is written in terms of f(x – 1). Therefore, we need to determine the actual value of x:

f(x – 1) = f(-3) = f(-2 – 1)

Therefore, x = -2.

Solving the equation for x = -2, we get:

2(-2) + 3 = -1

Question 8: No Calculator, Multiple Choice

Correct Answer: 5

Another important skill to remember when studying for the math section of the PSAT is exponential rules, so make sure to review these! For this particular question, we need to remember the power rule as well as the product rule (as shown below):

(x ² y ³ ) ½ (x²y³ ) ⅓ = x a/3 y a/2

(x 2 × ½ y 3 × ½ )(x 2 × ⅓ y 3 ×   ⅓ ) = x a/3 y a/2 (Power Rule)

(xy 3/2 ) (x 2/3 y) = x a/3 y a/2

(x 1 + 2/3 y 1 + 3/2 ) = x a/3 y a/2 (Product Rule)

(x 5/3 y 5/2 ) = x a/3 y a/2 (Simplification)

From the simplified equation, we can see that a = 5

Question 9: No Calculator, Multiple Choice

One additional topic tested on the PSAT is geometry and trigonometry. This means you should review equations related to shapes, geometry rules and basic trig! In this example, we see that we have to remember quite a few triangle rules to answer this question.

In isosceles triangle ABC, we know that ∠B and ∠C are congruent (the same angle). Furthermore, ∠BED and ∠CFD are right angles which also makes them congruent. Since △BED and △CFD have angles that are corresponding, that means the two triangles are similar. A special rule of similar triangles is that all corresponding sides are proportional.

Therefore, we know that BD/DC = DE/DF. Given that DE/DF = 5/7, we know that BD/DC = 5/7. With this given ratio, let’s write the following equation as a result of the proportionality:

5x = BD and 7x = DC.

Other equations we know to be true from the problem statement are AB = AC and BC = 48. Knowing that BC = BD + DC, we know the following:

BC = BD + DC = 48

5x + 7x = 48

Therefore, the length of DC = 7x = 7(4) = 28

Question 10: No Calculator, Grid In

Correct Answer: 4

This question requires us to manipulate expressions through algebra. This question might seem hard at first sight since we are given a variable instead of a value to factor out – but don’t worry, we’ll review how to approach this problem!

We know that x – 2 is a factor of the expression x²  – bx + b. This means that  x ² – bx + b can also be written as (x – 2)(x – a) in which we need to solve for the value of a (notice that a is negative because the y-intercept of b is positive and two negative values make a positive).

Expanding (x – 2)(x – a) = x ² – 2x – ax +2a. Let’s now equate the two expressions we have and compare like terms to find the missing values:

x ² – 2x – ax +2a = x ² – bx + b

Compare like terms:

-2x – ax = -bx → (cancel out the x) → -2 – a = -b

Since we know that 2a = b, we can substitute the value for b into our first equation to get:

-2 – a = -(2a)

-2 – a = -2a

Substituting a = 2 into 2a = b shows us that b = 4

Now that we’ve covered 10 of the hardest PSAT math questions, here are some final tips to remember when preparing for and taking the PSAT!

Start preparing early

As a high school sophomore or junior, preparing for the PSAT may seem like an additional stress you have to juggle in addition to AP/honors classes and extracurriculars. So remember, start early in terms of preparation and studying so that you will be more ready to take the PSAT in the fall! This way, you will be ready to take on the PSAT during the fall while still balancing the responsibilities school throws at you.

Practice, Practice, Practice!

The best way to prepare for the test is to practice, practice, practice! There are multiple ways to prepare for the PSAT. CollegeBoard has released a number of PDFs of previously administered PSATs online for free (as a note, the PSAT and PSAT 10 are essentially the same, however the PSAT 10 is not used to determine National Merit Scholarships). 

In addition, it is a good idea to review concepts of systems of equations, trigonometry, and algebra to prepare for the exam. Review concepts taught earlier in high school or even reach out to a math teacher to see if they have notes or prep material they can give to you. CollegeVine also offers numerous free, online PSAT resources that you might find helpful.  

Read the questions carefully

Make sure that you read every question carefully. Oftentimes, CollegeBoard writes questions that are meant to stump you if you read the question too quickly. You might even accidentally find an answer to something they are not asking if you do so. So, take your time when reading the questions and make sure to double check your work with any time you have remaining!

For more information about the PSAT, check out these articles:

• How to Study for the PSAT: 6 Tips
• PSAT vs. SAT: Is the PSAT Easier?
• When is the PSAT? 2020 Dates and Deadlines

Related CollegeVine Blog Posts

Choose Your Test

Sat / act prep online guides and tips, 53 stellar college essay topics to inspire you.

College Essays

Most colleges and universities in the United States require applicants to submit at least one essay as part of their application. But trying to figure out what college essay topics you should choose is a tricky process. There are so many potential things you could write about!

In this guide, we go over the essential qualities that make for a great college essay topic and give you 50+ college essay topics you can use for your own statement . In addition, we provide you with helpful tips for turning your college essay topic into a stellar college essay.

What Qualities Make for a Good College Essay Topic?

Regardless of what you write about in your personal statement for college , there are key features that will always make for a stand-out college essay topic.

#1: It’s Specific

First off, good college essay topics are extremely specific : you should know all the pertinent facts that have to do with the topic and be able to see how the entire essay comes together.

Specificity is essential because it’ll not only make your essay stand out from other statements, but it'll also recreate the experience for admissions officers through its realism, detail, and raw power. You want to tell a story after all, and specificity is the way to do so. Nobody wants to read a vague, bland, or boring story — not even admissions officers!

For example, an OK topic would be your experience volunteering at a cat shelter over the summer. But a better, more specific college essay topic would be how you deeply connected with an elderly cat there named Marty, and how your bond with him made you realize that you want to work with animals in the future.

Remember that specificity in your topic is what will make your essay unique and memorable . It truly is the key to making a strong statement (pun intended)!

#2: It Shows Who You Are

In addition to being specific, good college essay topics reveal to admissions officers who you are: your passions and interests, what is important to you, your best (or possibly even worst) qualities, what drives you, and so on.

The personal statement is critical because it gives schools more insight into who you are as a person and not just who you are as a student in terms of grades and classes.

By coming up with a real, honest topic, you’ll leave an unforgettable mark on admissions officers.

#3: It’s Meaningful to You

The very best college essay topics are those that hold deep meaning to their writers and have truly influenced them in some significant way.

For instance, maybe you plan to write about the first time you played Skyrim to explain how this video game revealed to you the potentially limitless worlds you could create, thereby furthering your interest in game design.

Even if the topic seems trivial, it’s OK to use it — just as long as you can effectively go into detail about why this experience or idea had such an impact on you .

Don’t give in to the temptation to choose a topic that sounds impressive but doesn’t actually hold any deep meaning for you. Admissions officers will see right through this!

Similarly, don’t try to exaggerate some event or experience from your life if it’s not all that important to you or didn’t have a substantial influence on your sense of self.

#4: It’s Unique

College essay topics that are unique are also typically the most memorable, and if there’s anything you want to be during the college application process, it’s that! Admissions officers have to sift through thousands of applications, and the essay is one of the only parts that allows them to really get a sense of who you are and what you value in life.

If your essay is trite or boring, it won’t leave much of an impression , and your application will likely get immediately tossed to the side with little chance of seeing admission.

But if your essay topic is very original and different, you’re more likely to earn that coveted second glance at your application.

What does being unique mean exactly, though? Many students assume that they must choose an extremely rare or crazy experience to talk about in their essays —but that's not necessarily what I mean by "unique." Good college essay topics can be unusual and different, yes, but they can also be unique takes on more mundane or common activities and experiences .

For instance, say you want to write an essay about the first time you went snowboarding. Instead of just describing the details of the experience and how you felt during it, you could juxtapose your emotions with a creative and humorous perspective from the snowboard itself. Or you could compare your first attempt at snowboarding with your most recent experience in a snowboarding competition. The possibilities are endless!

#5: It Clearly Answers the Question

Finally, good college essay topics will clearly and fully answer the question(s) in the prompt.

You might fail to directly answer a prompt by misinterpreting what it’s asking you to do, or by answering only part of it (e.g., answering just one out of three questions).

Therefore, make sure you take the time to come up with an essay topic that is in direct response to every question in the prompt .

Take this Coalition Application prompt as an example:

What is the hardest part of being a teenager now? What's the best part? What advice would you give a younger sibling or friend (assuming they would listen to you)?

For this prompt, you’d need to answer all three questions (though it’s totally fine to focus more on one or two of them) to write a compelling and appropriate essay.

This is why we recommend reading and rereading the essay prompt ; you should know exactly what it’s asking you to do, well before you start brainstorming possible college application essay topics.

53 College Essay Topics to Get Your Brain Moving

In this section, we give you a list of 53 examples of college essay topics. Use these as jumping-off points to help you get started on your college essay and to ensure that you’re on track to coming up with a relevant and effective topic.

All college application essay topics below are categorized by essay prompt type. We’ve identified six general types of college essay prompts:

Why This College?

Change and personal growth, passions, interests, and goals, overcoming a challenge, diversity and community, solving a problem.

Note that these prompt types could overlap with one another, so you’re not necessarily limited to just one college essay topic in a single personal statement.

• How a particular major or program will help you achieve your academic or professional goals
• A memorable and positive interaction you had with a professor or student at the school
• Something good that happened to you while visiting the campus or while on a campus tour
• A certain class you want to take or a certain professor you’re excited to work with
• Some piece of on-campus equipment or facility that you’re looking forward to using
• Your plans to start a club at the school, possibly to raise awareness of a major issue
• A study abroad or other unique program that you can’t wait to participate in
• How and where you plan to volunteer in the community around the school
• An incredible teacher you studied under and the positive impact they had on you
• How you went from really liking something, such as a particular movie star or TV show, to not liking it at all (or vice versa)
• How yours or someone else’s (change in) socioeconomic status made you more aware of poverty
• A time someone said something to you that made you realize you were wrong
• How your opinion on a controversial topic, such as gay marriage or DACA, has shifted over time
• A documentary that made you aware of a particular social, economic, or political issue going on in the country or world
• Advice you would give to your younger self about friendship, motivation, school, etc.
• The steps you took in order to kick a bad or self-sabotaging habit
• A juxtaposition of the first and most recent time you did something, such as dance onstage
• A book you read that you credit with sparking your love of literature and/or writing
• A school assignment or project that introduced you to your chosen major
• A glimpse of your everyday routine and how your biggest hobby or interest fits into it
• The career and (positive) impact you envision yourself having as a college graduate
• A teacher or mentor who encouraged you to pursue a specific interest you had
• How moving around a lot helped you develop a love of international exchange or learning languages
• A special skill or talent you’ve had since you were young and that relates to your chosen major in some way, such as designing buildings with LEGO bricks
• Where you see yourself in 10 or 20 years
• Your biggest accomplishment so far relating to your passion (e.g., winning a gold medal for your invention at a national science competition)
• A time you lost a game or competition that was really important to you
• How you dealt with the loss or death of someone close to you
• A time you did poorly in a class that you expected to do well in
• How moving to a new school impacted your self-esteem and social life
• A chronic illness you battled or are still battling
• Your healing process after having your heart broken for the first time
• A time you caved under peer pressure and the steps you took so that it won't happen again
• How you almost gave up on learning a foreign language but stuck with it
• Why you decided to become a vegetarian or vegan, and how you navigate living with a meat-eating family
• What you did to overcome a particular anxiety or phobia you had (e.g., stage fright)
• A history of a failed experiment you did over and over, and how you finally found a way to make it work successfully
• Someone within your community whom you aspire to emulate
• A family tradition you used to be embarrassed about but are now proud of
• Your experience with learning English upon moving to the United States
• A close friend in the LGBTQ+ community who supported you when you came out
• A time you were discriminated against, how you reacted, and what you would do differently if faced with the same situation again
• How you navigate your identity as a multiracial, multiethnic, and/or multilingual person
• A project or volunteer effort you led to help or improve your community
• A particular celebrity or role model who inspired you to come out as LGBTQ+
• Your biggest challenge (and how you plan to tackle it) as a female in a male-dominated field
• How you used to discriminate against your own community, and what made you change your mind and eventually take pride in who you are and/or where you come from
• A program you implemented at your school in response to a known problem, such as a lack of recycling cans in the cafeteria
• A time you stepped in to mediate an argument or fight between two people
• An app or other tool you developed to make people’s lives easier in some way
• A time you proposed a solution that worked to an ongoing problem at school, an internship, or a part-time job
• The steps you took to identify and fix an error in coding for a website or program
• An important social or political issue that you would fix if you had the means

How to Build a College Essay in 6 Easy Steps

Once you’ve decided on a college essay topic you want to use, it’s time to buckle down and start fleshing out your essay. These six steps will help you transform a simple college essay topic into a full-fledged personal statement.

Step 1: Write Down All the Details

Once you’ve chosen a general topic to write about, get out a piece of paper and get to work on creating a list of all the key details you could include in your essay . These could be things such as the following:

• Emotions you felt at the time
• Names, places, and/or numbers
• Dialogue, or what you or someone else said
• A specific anecdote, example, or experience
• Descriptions of how things looked, felt, or seemed

If you can only come up with a few details, then it’s probably best to revisit the list of college essay topics above and choose a different one that you can write more extensively on.

Good college essay topics are typically those that:

• You remember well (so nothing that happened when you were really young)
• You're excited to write about
• You're not embarrassed or uncomfortable to share with others
• You believe will make you positively stand out from other applicants

Step 2: Figure Out Your Focus and Approach

Once you have all your major details laid out, start to figure out how you could arrange them in a way that makes sense and will be most effective.

It’s important here to really narrow your focus: you don’t need to (and shouldn’t!) discuss every single aspect of your trip to visit family in Indonesia when you were 16. Rather, zero in on a particular anecdote or experience and explain why and how it impacted you.

Alternatively, you could write about multiple experiences while weaving them together with a clear, meaningful theme or concept , such as how your math teacher helped you overcome your struggle with geometry over the course of an entire school year. In this case, you could mention a few specific times she tutored you and most strongly supported you in your studies.

There’s no one right way to approach your college essay, so play around to see what approaches might work well for the topic you’ve chosen.

If you’re really unsure about how to approach your essay, think about what part of your topic was or is most meaningful and memorable to you, and go from there.

Step 3: Structure Your Narrative

• Beginning: Don’t just spout off a ton of background information here—you want to hook your reader, so try to start in the middle of the action , such as with a meaningful conversation you had or a strong emotion you felt. It could also be a single anecdote if you plan to center your essay around a specific theme or idea.
• Middle: Here’s where you start to flesh out what you’ve established in the opening. Provide more details about the experience (if a single anecdote) or delve into the various times your theme or idea became most important to you. Use imagery and sensory details to put the reader in your shoes.
• End: It’s time to bring it all together. Finish describing the anecdote or theme your essay centers around and explain how it relates to you now , what you’ve learned or gained from it, and how it has influenced your goals.

Step 4: Write a Rough Draft

By now you should have all your major details and an outline for your essay written down; these two things will make it easy for you to convert your notes into a rough draft.

At this stage of the writing process, don’t worry too much about vocabulary or grammar and just focus on getting out all your ideas so that they form the general shape of an essay . It’s OK if you’re a little over the essay's word limit — as you edit, you’ll most likely make some cuts to irrelevant and ineffective parts anyway.

If at any point you get stuck and have no idea what to write, revisit steps 1-3 to see whether there are any important details or ideas you might be omitting or not elaborating on enough to get your overall point across to admissions officers.

Step 5: Edit, Revise, and Proofread

• Sections that are too wordy and don’t say anything important
• Irrelevant details that don’t enhance your essay or the point you're trying to make
• Parts that seem to drag or that feel incredibly boring or redundant
• Areas that are vague and unclear and would benefit from more detail
• Phrases or sections that are awkwardly placed and should be moved around
• Areas that feel unconvincing, inauthentic, or exaggerated

Start paying closer attention to your word choice/vocabulary and grammar at this time, too. It’s perfectly normal to edit and revise your college essay several times before asking for feedback, so keep working with it until you feel it’s pretty close to its final iteration.

This step will likely take the longest amount of time — at least several weeks, if not months — so really put effort into fixing up your essay. Once you’re satisfied, do a final proofread to ensure that it’s technically correct.

Step 6: Get Feedback and Tweak as Needed

After you’ve overhauled your rough draft and made it into a near-final draft, give your essay to somebody you trust , such as a teacher or parent, and have them look it over for technical errors and offer you feedback on its content and overall structure.

Use this feedback to make any last-minute changes or edits. If necessary, repeat steps 5 and 6. You want to be extra sure that your essay is perfect before you submit it to colleges!

Recap: From College Essay Topics to Great College Essays

Many different kinds of college application essay topics can get you into a great college. But this doesn’t make it any easier to choose the best topic for you .

In general, the best college essay topics have the following qualities :

• They’re specific
• They show who you are
• They’re meaningful to you
• They’re unique
• They clearly answer the question

If you ever need help coming up with an idea of what to write for your essay, just refer to the list of 53 examples of college essay topics above to get your brain juices flowing.

Once you’ve got an essay topic picked out, follow these six steps for turning your topic into an unforgettable personal statement :

• Write down all the details
• Figure out your focus and approach
• Structure your narrative
• Write a rough draft
• Edit, revise, and proofread
• Get feedback and tweak as needed

And with that, I wish you the best of luck on your college essays!

What’s Next?

Writing a college essay is no simple task. Get expert college essay tips with our guides on how to come up with great college essay ideas and how to write a college essay, step by step .

You can also check out this huge list of college essay prompts  to get a feel for what types of questions you'll be expected to answer on your applications.

Want to see examples of college essays that absolutely rocked? You're in luck because we've got a collection of 100+ real college essay examples right here on our blog!

Hannah received her MA in Japanese Studies from the University of Michigan and holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Southern California. From 2013 to 2015, she taught English in Japan via the JET Program. She is passionate about education, writing, and travel.

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How the PSAT/NMSQT Is Structured

The PSAT/NMSQT takes 2 hours and 14 minutes and consists of 2 sections: (1) the Reading and Writing Section, and (2) the Math Section. Most of the questions are multiple choice, though some math questions ask you to write in the answer rather than select it.

The following table shows how much time you get for each section and the number of questions for each test: