As I'm prepping for the PSAT, I realized I don鈥檛 know how long the test actually is. I'm trying to work on time management, so could someone help me out with how long are PSATs and any strategies you used to keep pace during the exam?
Hey there! The PSAT is 2 hours and 45 minutes long. It's broken down into three sections: Reading, Writing and Language, and Math. You'll have 60 minutes for the Reading section, 35 minutes for Writing and Language, and 70 minutes for Math (with 45 minutes for the calculator-allowed part and 25 for the no-calculator part). To manage your time, practice with timed sections during your study sessions. An example strategy is to aim to spend about 1 minute per question on the Reading section, and slightly under that for the Writing section. For Math, pace yourself based on the difficulty鈥攄on鈥檛 get stuck on a hard problem and lose time for easier ones. Use practice tests to build your speed and track your progress. Don鈥檛 forget to simulate the testing environment as closely as possible when you practice, which will help you with pacing on the actual day. Good luck!
黑料不打烊鈥檚 Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.