When Is the PSAT in 2026? Test Dates, Scores and Merit
The PSAT/NMSQT is given on a school day between October 1 and October 30, 2026, and your school picks the day. That is the official testing window from the College Board (SAT Suite dates and deadlines). You can't register on your own: schools and districts sign students up, and your counselor is the person who knows your date. Many schools test in the second half of October.
The 2026 dates
| What | When |
|---|---|
| PSAT/NMSQT testing window | Thursday, October 1 to Friday, October 30, 2026, on school days |
| Your test day | Chosen by your school. Ask your counselor or check the school calendar |
| Same window | SAT School Day and PSAT 8/9 are also given between October 1 and 30 |
| Spring window | PSAT 10 and PSAT 8/9: March 1 to April 30, 2027 |
| Scores | Released in three batches, depending on when your school submits its answer data: October 22 if submitted by October 9, November 5 if by October 23, and November 12 if by October 30 (College Board scores and reports) |
Schools pick very different days. Among those that have posted 2026 dates, Lake Braddock Secondary in Virginia tested on October 7, Tesoro High School in California set Monday, October 19, and Garza High School in Texas set Wednesday, October 21. Some schools also offer a Saturday session; if yours does, it will tell you.
What the test looks like
- Digital. Since October 2023 the PSAT/NMSQT is taken on a laptop or tablet in the College Board's Bluebook app, usually on a school device or your own, set up before test day (Wikipedia).
- Two sections: Reading and Writing, then Math, each in two timed modules (32 minutes each for Reading and Writing, 35 each for Math). The test lasts 2 hours 14 minutes.
- Scores: 160 to 760 per section, for a total of 320 to 1520 (College Board).
- No penalty for guessing, so answer every question. A calculator is allowed on the whole Math section.
National Merit: what the NMSQT part means
For juniors, the October PSAT doubles as the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. The National Merit Scholarship Corporation uses a Selection Index from 48 to 228, worked out by doubling your Reading and Writing score, adding your Math score and dividing by 10 (College Board). About 50,000 of the highest scorers are recognised, and about 16,000 of them are named Semifinalists in September of their senior year, with cut-off scores that differ by state (Wikipedia). Sophomores and freshmen can take the test for practice, but only juniors enter the competition.
How to get ready in two weeks
- Set up Bluebook on the device you'll use and run the practice test inside it, so test day holds no surprises.
- Take one full-length practice test from the College Board, timed, in one sitting.
- Review what you missed, and spend most of your time on the question types that cost you points.
- Practise with your calculator. Calculators are allowed throughout the Math section, so use the same one you'll have on test day.
- Sleep and eat. Charge your device, bring your charger if your school allows, and get to school early.
Official practice is free through the College Board's SAT Suite practice pages and Khan Academy.
Quick answers
When is the PSAT 2026?
On a school day between October 1 and October 30, 2026. Each school chooses its own date.
Can I register for the PSAT myself?
No. Schools register their students. If your school doesn't offer it, ask a counselor whether a nearby school will let you test there.
How long is the PSAT?
2 hours 14 minutes, plus check-in time.
What is a good PSAT score?
Scores run from 320 to 1520. Your report shows percentiles against other students in your grade, which is the simplest way to judge it. For National Merit, the Selection Index and your state's cut-off matter, not the total score alone.
When do PSAT scores come out?
On October 22, November 5 or November 12, 2026, depending on when your school submits its answer data (by October 9, 23 or 30), according to the College Board. Scores arrive through the BigFuture School app, if you gave a mobile number on test day, or from your counselor.
