Skip to main content
What are your chances of acceptance?
Your chance of acceptance
Duke University
Loading…
UCLA
Loading…
+ add school
Your chancing factors
Unweighted GPA: 3.7
1.0
4.0
SAT: 720 math
200
800
| 800 verbal
200
800

Extracurriculars

Low accuracy (4 of 18 factors)

PSAT vs. SAT: Are the prep strategies similar?

So I’m planning out my study schedule and was wondering how different the PSAT is from the SAT. Should I be prepping the same way for both tests or does the PSAT require a different strategy? Any insight or tips would help, thanks!

a year ago

Hello! It's terrific that you're proactively planning your study schedule. Both tests evaluate similar skills and knowledge, but the SAT is a bit more challenging and lengthier than the PSAT. Broadly, the preparation can be similar — you'll want to practice reading comprehension, grammar, and math skills for both.

However, since the SAT is more in-depth, your prep may include tackling higher difficulty questions and managing your stamina for a longer test. A good strategy is to use the PSAT as a warm-up to identify areas of strength and weakness. Then, as you approach the SAT, focus more intensely on those areas that need improvement.

Also, consider timing — the SAT requires a quicker pace, so practicing under timed conditions can be helpful. As for resources, practice tests are invaluable. They’re available for free on the College Board website, and tools like Khan Academy can be tailored based on your PSAT results to help you in your SAT prep. Best of luck with your studies!

a year ago

About CollegeVine’s Expert FAQ

CollegeVine’s 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.