Online PSAT Test Prep
1-on-1 individualized PSAT tutoring for higher PSAT scores
The Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) is a standardized exam administered by the College Board and offered in the fall to juniors at most high schools. It tests students' math, reading, and writing skills. The primary purpose of the PSAT is to familiarize students with the SAT.
Like the SAT, the PSAT/NMSQT tests students' skills in Math and Evidence-Based Reading and Writing. However, there is no Essay section. Students are given 2 hours and 45 minutes to complete the test.
The College Board also administers two additional versions of the PSAT: The PSAT 8/9 and the PSAT 10, offered to students in grades 8, 9, and 10 as their names indicate. Though these tests aren't directly related to college scholarships, they do serve as good barometers of college readiness, as well as useful introductions to the SAT.
The PSAT focuses on math, reading, writing, and language concepts that high school sophomores and juniors typically have already studied in their academic courses, so the test should not be difficult for well-prepared high school students.
However, the PSAT requires students to remember materials learned across a stretched period of time. This means that while the test only covers materials already learned, students still have to set time aside for the PSAT preparation.
The test has four sections and a total of 139 questions. It is 2 hours and 45 minutes long, excluding breaks, and 3 hours and 25 minutes, including breaks.
As many take the PSAT as a practice before taking the SAT, the PSAT has a tight time constraint on each section, just like the SAT, with just a little bit more wiggle room.
Because many likes to take the PSAT as a practice exam before they tackle the SAT, students will likely treat the PSAT less seriously.
While both tests follow the same structure and cover similar content, the SAT is more difficult than the PSAT. They cover the same subjects, but the SAT's material is more advanced, reflecting the expectation that students will have learned more by the time they take the test. The PSAT is useful preparation for the SAT. Plus, you can use your PSAT result as the indication of your college-readiness and track your progress in your high school years.
Sinica's 1-on-1 tutoring program gives students an individualized learning experience that is intentionally designed to help them target their learning gaps in weak areas.
Our instructors graduated from TOP 30 universities with 10+ years of teaching experience on average. Every tutor has undergone a rigorous screening process with subject exams and mock tutoring sessions to ensure they have the academic background and abilities necessary to teach our students well.
We prioritize teaching our students exam strategies while also tutoring them in their content area needs. We want students to feel confident in both their knowledge and exam-taking abilities.
We value building relationships with our students to best understand their academic needs and goals, so that we can provide support that is tailored to the way they learn and understand concepts.
We understand the importance of scores on student's academic future. We are committed to helping students reach their fullest potential by ensuring higher grades and cultivating outstanding abilities.
Our instructors were brilliant test takers and accumulated knowledge and test-taking skills. They graduated from the world's top universities with academic distinctions, and 70% of them hold a master's or even higher degree. Our elite instructors will teach you the skills they have developed over the years.
Every tutor has undergone a rigorous screening process with subject exams and mock tutoring sessions to ensure they have the necessary background and abilities to teach our students well. We set layers of screening to make sure that our instructors can quickly identify students' pain points and consequently personalize their teaching methods and styles to suit those different needs.
On average, our instructors have over 10 years of teaching experience. They have taught hundreds of students from different backgrounds and clocked thousands of hours in the online classroom. They have helped innumerable students improve their scores significantly.
1. Make a study plan
Know when you’re taking the PSAT/NMSQT and build a study plan to make the most out of your time before the test. Set aside specific times to practice, watch instructional videos, and focus on the areas you need to work on. Set concrete, manageable goals.
2. Discover your strengths and weaknesses
If you took one of the PSAT-related assessments, you can share your report with Sinica. Sinica will analyze your strengths and weaknesses based on your score report.
3. Set concrete goals to level up your skills
The best goals are specific, concrete, and manageable. Getting a higher score on the Math section is an OK goal, but trying to answer more Heart of Algebra questions correctly by practicing for an hour every day is a better goal.
4. Take full-length practice tests
The PSAT is a long test, so you need the practice to build stamina and feel confident in your abilities on test day. Practice tests will also tell you how close you are to your target goal and help you pinpoint the areas you need to focus on.
The PSAT score is based on two scores: a Reading and Writing section and a Math section. Each section is scored between 160-760, adding up to an overall score between 320-1520.
A score in the 75th percentile is considered the benchmark—usually an 1150 overall.
1. You may have to. Most high schools require their students to take the PSAT in the fall of junior year, either for their own assessment or for a state requirement.
2. You can get a good sense of your future SAT score. The College Board purposefully gave these tests unique but equivalent scoring ranges, with the PSAT 8/9 going from 240–1440, the PSAT 10 and the PSAT/NMSQT going from 320–1520, and the SAT going from 400–1600. The common score scale can show your progress from test to test and enable you to compare score gains.
3. You can target areas you need to practice for the SAT. Like the SAT, the PSAT tests break down your score into various sub-scores, such as Words in Context, Command of Evidence, and Passport to Advanced Math. Seeing how you rank in these different categories—during a low-stakes test—can show you where to focus your attention before the actual SAT rolls around.
The average PSAT/NMSQT score is about 920. A score between 1210 and 1520 puts you in the top 10% of test takers. The PSAT/NMSQT and the SAT are very similar, so your score on the PSAT/NMSQT can give you an idea of how you’ll do when you take the SAT. Your PSAT/NMSQT score report gives you valuable information about your strengths and weaknesses that you can use to prepare for the SAT and increase your score. Share your score report with SInica to get a personalized PSAT study plan and practice questions.
Although the PSAT 8/9, PSAT 10 and PSAT/NMSQT don’t directly affect college admissions decisions, these exams can make a big impact on your college prospects.
The PSAT and the SAT are almost identical. The PSAT is fifteen minutes shorter than the PSAT, doesn’t include an essay, and is scored on a slightly different scale. Otherwise, the PSAT has the same question types and tests the same knowledge areas as the SAT. By prepping for the PSAT, you are prepping for both tests!
A research done by the College Board suggests that 6 to 8 hours of official PSAT practice can gain a student up to 90 more points, and 20 hours of studying can result in a 115 points increase. We suggest setting at least 6 weeks for PSAT prepping to allow time for your highest potential and build a solid foundation for future SAT test taking.
Never worry about falling behind on the tutoring lectures like in other tutoring classes.
Class schedules and topics are entirely tailored to your specific needs.
Sinica always puts students first and customizes your instructor team and lecture content accordingly.
We look forward to being your partner along the way in your PSAT preparation.
Sinica's PSAT tutoring services are excellent. The tutors are patient and knowledgeable, and they helped my child improve her scores and gain confidence.
The PSAT tutors at Sinica Education provided me with clear explanations and strategies that helped me succeed in the exam.
My tutor helped me break down the PSAT into manageable parts, making it less intimidating and more approachable.
