Last Updated on February 16, 2026
FREE PSAT 8/9 Practice Test 2026 Official Study Guide [PDF] for grades 8 and 9. Try our free Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test review questions and answers. In addition, you can download a printable PDF of the PSAT 8/9 Practice Test for better PSAT Prep.
The PSAT 8/9 test is taken by eighth and ninth-graders during the regular school day. It’s the first test in the SAT Suite of Assessments, including the PSAT 10, PSAT/NMSQT, and the SAT.
FREE PSAT 8/9 Practice Test 2026
The PSAT 8/9 simply tests how well you take the PSAT 8/9 (and, by extension, how well you would have performed on the PSAT 10, PSAT/NMSQT, or SAT if you had taken one of those tests instead). That’s it. Performing well on the PSAT 8/9 is a skill that can be learned like any other.
- PSAT 8/9 Math Practice Test 2026
- PSAT 8/9 Reading Practice Test 2026 [Timed]
- PSAT 8/9 Writing and Language Practice Test 2025
PSAT 8/9 Full-Length Practice Test [PDF]
| PSAT 8/9 Practice Test |
Provider |
Printable PDF |
| Full-Length Practice Test 1 | Penguin Random House |  |
PSAT 8/9 Exam
The PSAT 8/9 is a standardized test administered to eighth- and ninth-graders to provide a “preliminary” indication of how well they might perform on SAT question types. This page provides a general overview of the test, how it is used, and the basics for starting your preparation. Finally, we’ll glimpse the other tests in College Board’s Suite of Assessments: the PSAT 10, PSAT/NMSQT, and the SAT.
| Test Name | PSAT 8/9 |
| Purpose | preparing for PSAT/NMSQT and the SAT |
| Administered by | College Board |
| Total Items | 120 MCQs |
| Total Time Limit | 145 Minutes |
| Fees | vary from school to school |
| Negative Marking | No |
| Official Website | collegeboard.org/psat-8-9 |
Like the SAT and other PSAT tests, the PSAT 8/9, designed for eighth- and ninth-graders, includes a Reading Test, a Writing and Language Test, and a Math Test. Regarding the main focus areas, the content of each section is comparable across the different PSAT and SAT versions.
PSAT 8/9 Date
Schools offer the PSAT 8/9. Schools choose the date to provide the test; this date can be between late September and the end of April, excluding the first two weeks of April.
The PSAT 8/9 takes 2 hours and 25 minutes and includes 3 tests: (1) the Reading Test, (2) the Writing and Language Test, and (3) the Math Test. Most of the questions are multiple-choice, though some math questions ask you to write in the answer rather than select it.
The following table shows how much time you get for each test and the number of questions for each test:
| Section | Time Limit (minutes) | Number of Questions |
|---|---|---|
| Reading | 55 | 42 |
| Writing and Language | 30 | 40 |
| Math | 60 | 38 |
| Total | 145 | 120 |
Scoring
- Rights-only scoring (a point for a correct answer but no deduction for an incorrect answer; blank responses have no impact on the score)
Score Reporting
- Scored on a scale of 240–1440, the sum of the two section scores (Evidence-Based Reading and Writing and Math) ranged from 120– 720. The Math Test is divided into two sections: one without a calculator (13 questions in 20 minutes) and one with a calculator (25 questions in 40 minutes).
Conclusion
These tests can be extremely daunting. However, remember that any standardized test is coachable. It’s a beatable test. The PSAT 8/9 doesn’t measure what matters. It measures neither intelligence nor the depth and breadth of your learning in school. The PSAT 8/9 is an opportunity to prepare for the tests that matter: the PSAT/NMSQT and the SAT. The PSAT 8/9 plays no role in college admissions. It’s just a practice test for the SAT.