Practice
The most important path to college success has always been excellent work in the classroom. But the rise of costly test preparation has introduced a perception of inequality among students. With the redesign of the SAT, the College Board, in partnership with Khan Academy, is announcing its commitment to providing free, high-quality SAT practice materials for all.
Try Sample Questions and Learn About the Tests
To help students prepare for the redesigned PSAT/NMSQT (first offered in October 2015) and the redesigned SAT (spring 2016), the College Board has released a significant number of test questions and made them available on our website.
Students can simulate test day by printing and taking the official redesigned PSAT/NMSQT practice test.
Students and teachers can get detailed information about the format and features of the redesigned exams’ Reading Tests, Writing and Language Tests, Math Tests, and the SAT Essay on these pages:
We encourage both students and educators to learn more about the redesigned SAT by looking through the sample questions. Then, starting in early June 2015, students can begin practicing with Khan Academy.
An Integrated System
The redesigned SAT will be the anchor of a system of assessments that are aligned across a continuum of knowledge and skills. The assessments are designed to monitor student growth across grades annually. For the first time, all scores from PSAT™ 8/9, PSAT™ 10, PSAT/NMSQT, and the SAT will be on the same score scale. This will enable students and educators to track student growth toward college and career readiness and identify areas that need strengthening. This feedback will help both students and educators engage in the best possible practice for future exams: rigorous classroom work and instruction.
About 2014 PSAT/NMSQT Scores
More than just a test, the PSAT/NMSQT helps students improve skills necessary for college success, raises awareness about college planning, and connects students with resources such as Student Search Service® and My College QuickStart™. It also provides educators with tools to monitor student performance and adjust curriculum. Learn more about 2014 PSAT/NMSQT scores.
Skills Crosswalk
Current PSAT/NMSQT Skills | Redesigned PSAT/NMSQT Skills | Redesigned PSAT/NMSQT Subscore |
---|---|---|
Determining the Meaning of Words | Interpreting words and phrases in context | Words in Context (Reading and Writing and Language Tests) |
Author’s Craft: Style, Tone and Technique |
Analyzing word choice Analyzing text structure Analyzing point of view Analyzing purpose Analyzing arguments |
Words in Context (Reading and Writing and Language Tests) Command of Evidence (Reading and Writing and Language Tests) |
Reasoning and Inference |
Reading closely Citing textual evidence Determining central ideas and themes Summarizing Understanding relationships Analyzing multiple texts Analyzing quantitative information |
Command of Evidence (Reading and Writing and Language Tests) |
Organization and Ideas |
Reading closely Determining central ideas and themes Analyzing text structure Analyzing purpose Analyzing arguments |
Command of Evidence (Reading and Writing and Language Tests) |
Understanding Literary Elements |
Analyzing word choice Analyzing text structure Analyzing point of view Analyzing purpose |
Words in Context (Reading and Writing and Language Tests) |
Current PSAT/NMSQT Skills | Redesigned PSAT/NMSQT Skills | Redesigned PSAT/NMSQT Subscore |
---|---|---|
Grammatical Relationships Between Words |
Effective language use Sentence structure |
Expression of Ideas Standard English Conventions |
Words and Phrases Used to Modify or Compare |
Sentence structure Conventions of usage |
Standard English Conventions |
Phrases and Clauses |
Sentence structure |
Standard English Conventions |
Correctly Formed Sentences |
Sentence structure Conventions of punctuation |
Standard English Conventions |
Relationships of Sentences and Paragraphs |
Development Organization |
Expression of ideas Command of Evidence (Reading and Writing and Language Tests) |
Current PSAT/NMSQT Skills | Redesigned PSAT/NMSQT Skills | Redesigned PSAT/NMSQT Subscores |
---|---|---|
Number and operations Data analysis, statistics, and probability |
Solve problems involving ratios, proportions, percents, and units Apply understanding of statistical concepts to scatterplots, sample statistics, and data-based reports |
Problem Solving and Data Analysis |
Algebra and functions |
Create linear equations and inequalities based on a context Fluently solve linear equations and systems of linear equations Apply underlying concepts of linear relationships by interpreting terms and graphing |
Heart of Algebra |
Create non-linear equations based on a context Fluently simplify expressions and solve non-linear equations Apply underlying concepts of non-linear relationships by interpreting terms and graphing |
Passport to Advanced Math | |
Geometry and measurement |
Solve problems involving area and volume Fluently solve problems using line, angle, and triangle theorems |
Additional Topics in Math |