What the PSAT Is and What to Know About the Exam

"THE SAT MAY BE A household name, but high school students should also familiarize themselves with the PSAT, or Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test.

The exam comes in three forms: the PSAT 8/9, the PSAT/NMSQT and the PSAT 10. The PSAT 10 is the same test as the PSAT/NMSQT, though students take these exams at different times of year. The PSAT8/9 acts as a baseline for college readiness, according to the College Board, the test-maker, while the other two allow “check-in on student progress.”

The PSAT is ‘a slightly shorter and slightly easier version of a test kids will be taking their junior and senior year,’ explains Jed Applerouth, founder and president of Georgia-based Applerouth Tutoring Services LLC. ‘It’s a warm-up. It gives students and parents guidance in terms of how they’ll perform on the SAT.’" …

https://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/articles/what-the-psat-is-and-what-to-know-about-the-exam