College Board Launches Digital PSAT in October

Goodbye, paper-and-pencil PSAT! Beginning in October, the PSAT is going digital, and the SAT will follow suit in March 2024.

What is the PSAT?
Offered the College Board, the PSAT, or Preliminary SAT, is structured similarly to the SAT and measures the same Reading and Writing, and Math skills students learn in the classroom. The PSAT is simply a practice test, and scores are not shared with colleges and universities. 

What is the PSAT/NMSQT?
The PSAT/NMSQT is the version of the PSAT that FWCD gives to all sophomores and juniors. The inclusion of “NMSQT” means National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. Juniors are eligible for National Merit recognition if they earn a qualifying score that is set annually by the National Merit Scholarship Program.

When will FWCD administer the Digital PSAT/NMSQT?
On Wednesday, October 11, beginning promptly at 8:50 a.m., all sophomores and juniors will take the Digital PSAT/NMSQT in Upper School classrooms.

How is the Digital PSAT/NMSQT different from its predecessor?
For the first time, both the Digital PSAT/NMSQT and SAT are section-adaptive. A student’s performance on the first Reading and Writing module and the first Math module determines the difficulty of the questions that students will see in their second Reading and Writing and second Math modules, respectively.

What else do students need to know?

Sophomores and juniors will …
1. Take the exam on their own device
Students will be responsible for charging their laptops or iPads and bringing a charging cord.

2. Use College Board’s Bluebook testing app
During an Advisory meeting prior to the PSAT/NMSQT, students will be directed to download the app.

3. Acquaint themselves with the exam’s format and Bluebook functions

• Shorter length – 2 hours and 14 minutes 
• Two Sections: Reading and Writing (54 questions) and Math (44 questions)
• Mostly multiple-choice, but some Math questions will require students to write an answer
• Graphing calculator – May use your own or Bluebook’s embedded Desmos calculator 
• Scratch paper is allowed
• Approved College Board accommodations are embedded in Bluebook and will be provided accordingly

4. Receive test results on College Board account in early to mid-November, not in December

How can sophomores and juniors practice for the Digital PSAT/NMSQT?
1. Practice with Bluebook

• Explore sample questions in the test preview 
• Take a free, full-length test on Bluebook found on the College Board website

On Saturday, September 23, all students enrolled in FWCD’s PSAT Prep Course will take this Bluebook practice exam. Juniors not enrolled in the prep course are also invited to take the same practice exam that day. 

2. Practice with Khan Academy

For more information, visit psat.org/digital.