PSAT 8/9

The PSAT 8/9 is composed of two sections: (1) Reading and Writing, and (2) Math. Each section is divided into two modules with a 10 minute break in between the Reading and Writing section and the Math section.  The first module of each section contains a mix of easy, medium, and hard questions. Based on how you perform on the first module, the second module of questions will either be more difficult or less difficult. 

The table below shows how much time you get for each section and the number of questions for each section:

The PSAT 8/9 is a computer adaptive test. The questions you get in Module 2 are adapted depending on how you did in Module 1. As mentioned above, Module 1 is a mix of easy, medium, and hard questions. The questions are weighted differently – a correct answer to a hard question will increase your score more than an easy question. If you perform well enough in Module 1, you’ll receive more of the hard questions in Module 2, potentially giving you a higher score by answering those correctly. If you answer fewer questions correctly in Module 1, your Module 2 will consist mostly of easy and medium-difficulty questions.

The Reading and Writing section of the digital PSAT 8/9 is designed to measure your success with building critical college and career readiness in literacy. In this section, you’ll answer multiple-choice questions requiring you to read, comprehend, and use information and ideas in texts; analyze the craft and structure of texts; revise texts to improve the rhetorical expression of ideas; and edit texts to follow core conventions of Standard English.

Passages in this section, which serve as the basis for answering test questions, represent the subject areas of literature, history/social studies, the humanities, and science.

Select questions in this section are accompanied by an informational graphic.

The questions in the Reading and Writing section fall into four broad categories:

1. Craft and Structure: Questions in this domain measure the comprehension, vocabulary, analysis, synthesis, and reasoning skills and knowledge needed to:
   • Understand and use high-utility words and phrases in context.
   • Evaluate the structure and purpose of texts.
   • Make connections between topically related texts.
2. Information and Ideas: Questions in this domain measure comprehension, analysis, and reasoning skills and knowledge and the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, and integrate information to:
   • Evaluate central ideas and details.
   • Show command of evidence from text, tables, bar graphs, and line graphs.
   • Make inferences.
3. Expression of Ideas: Questions in this domain measure the ability to revise texts to improve the effectiveness of written expression and to meet specific rhetorical goals.
4. Standard English Conventions: Questions in this domain measure the ability to edit text to conform to core conventions of Standard English sentence structure, usage, and punctuation.

To better understand content domains and how they help you study, please read: What Are Content Domains? on the collegeboard website. 

The Math section of the digital PSAT 8/9 is designed to measure your success with building critical college and career readiness knowledge and skills in math. It focuses on key elements of algebra, advanced math, problem-solving and data analysis, and geometry and trigonometry. Over the course of the Math section, you'll answer multiple-choice and student-produced response questions that measure your fluency with, understanding of, and ability to apply the math concepts, skills, and practices that are most essential.

Approximately 30% of Math questions are set in context. These in-context "word" questions require you to consider a science, social studies, or real-world scenario and apply your math skills and knowledge, along with an understanding of the context, to determine the answer to each.

Select questions in this section are accompanied by an informational graphic.

Questions in the Math section fall into four content domains:

1. Algebra: Questions in this domain measure the ability to analyze, fluently solve, and create linear equations and inequalities as well as analyze and fluently solve equations and systems of equations using multiple techniques. Questions include:
   • Linear equations in 1 variable
   • Linear equations in 2 variables
   • Linear functions
   • Systems of 2 linear equations in 2 variables
   • Linear inequalities in 1 or 2 variables
2. Advanced Math: Questions in this domain measure skills and knowledge central for progression to more advanced math courses, including demonstrating an understanding of absolute value, quadratic, exponential, polynomial, rational, radical, and other nonlinear equations. Questions include:
   • Equivalent expressions
   • Nonlinear equations in 1 variable and systems of equations in 2 variables
   • Nonlinear functions
3. Problem-Solving and Data Analysis: Questions in this domain measure the ability to apply quantitative reasoning about ratios, rates, and proportional relationships; understand and apply unit rate; and analyze and interpret 1- and 2-variable data. Questions include:
   • Ratios, rates, proportional relationships, and units
   • Percentages, 1-variable data
   • Distributions and measures of center and spread
   • 2-variable data: models and scatterplots
   • Probability and conditional probability
   • Inference from sample statistics and margin of error
   • Evaluating statistical claims: observational studies and experiments
4. Geometry and Trigonometry: Questions in this domain measure the ability to solve problems that focus on area and volume; angles, triangles, and trigonometry; and circles. Questions include:
   • Area and volume
   • Lines, angles, and triangles
   • Right triangles and trigonometry
   • Circles

To better understand content domains and how they help you study, please read: What Are Content Domains? on the collegeboard website.