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The PSAT/NMSQT is offered in the fall and the PSAT 10 is offered in the spring.
Get Ready for Test Day
Preparing for test day is simple:
- Ask your school counselor when your class will take the PSAT/NMSQT or the PSAT 10.
- Get a list of what to bring on test day and what to leave at home.
- Take a practice test to see what the tests are like and get a personalized skills workout. Get free practice.
- Decide if you want to opt in to Student Search Service®.
- If you need College Board testing accommodations for students with disabilities, talk to your counselor.
- If you're homeschooled or testing outside the U.S., find out what to do.
That's it—if you're a student. If you’re an educator, learn about ordering tests, giving the test, and more. Go to K–12 Educators.
Who, Where, When
PSAT/NMSQT
- Who: 11th and 10th graders
- Where: At school
- When: Wednesday, October 14, 2020. Other options are Saturday, October 17 and Thursday, October 29 (formerly October 28) or Tuesday, January 26, 2021. (View the PSAT/NMSQT calendar.) Please administer the PSAT/NMSQT Alternate test on the revised date of October 29 and not on October 28.
- Scholarships: Scores are used by scholarship programs, including the National Merit® Scholarship Program, to look for eligible students.
PSAT 10
- Who: 10th graders
- Where: At school
- When: Schools choose a date to offer the PSAT 10. Testing is available during:
- February 22–March 26, 2021
- April 13–30, 2021
- (View the PSAT 10 calendar)
- Scholarships: Scores are used by scholarship programs to look for eligible students, but are not considered for the National Merit Scholarship Program.
Fees
The 2020-21 tests cost schools $17 for each student—but you might not pay that much. Some schools cover all or part of the cost for their students. For details, ask your school.