---
title: "PSAT 8/9 Prep and PSAT 10 Math: Grades 8 to 10"
description: "PSAT 8/9 prep and PSAT 10 math for grades 8 to 10: the 44-question Math section, how the domain weights differ, 2026-27 testing windows, scores and practice."
canonical: https://learn.modernagecoders.com/psat-8-9-math-prep
source: src/pages/psat-8-9-math-prep.html
---
> PSAT 8/9 prep and PSAT 10 math for grades 8 to 10: the 44-question Math section, how the domain weights differ, 2026-27 testing windows, scores and practice.

In short

College Board gives the PSAT 8/9 to students in grades 8 and 9 and the PSAT 10 to tenth graders, during the school day. On both, math means 70 minutes, 44 questions and the Desmos calculator. Total scores run 240 to 1440 on the PSAT 8/9 and 320 to 1520 on the PSAT 10; National Merit uses neither. Younger students learn this math with us live online, alone or in a batch, with the SAT Math Prep course as the test-format strand.

Building toward the SAT

## Three courses for PSAT 8/9 and PSAT 10 math

Younger students usually need algebra and middle school foundations first; the SAT course brings in test format once those are steady.

[![SAT Math 800 Prep course thumbnail](/images/sat-math-prep.webp)  PSA / 01 SAT Suite math The digital format, Desmos and the four domains. Open the syllabus →](/courses/sat-math-prep-course)[![Algebra Foundations course thumbnail](/images/algebra-foundations.webp)  PSA / 02 Algebra foundations Algebra is the largest PSAT 8/9 domain. Open the syllabus →](/courses/algebra-foundations-masterclass)[![Middle School Mathematics Mastery course thumbnail](/images/middle-school-maths.webp)  PSA / 03 Middle school math Ratio, percent and geometry for eighth graders. Open the syllabus →](/courses/comprehensive-middle-school-mathematics-mastery)

Side by side

## What is the difference between the PSAT 8/9 and the PSAT 10?

Grade, score scale, testing window and domain weights. The timing and the number of math questions are the same.

| Feature | PSAT 8/9 | PSAT 10 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Usual grades | 8 and 9 | 10 |
| Whole test | 2 hours 14 minutes | 2 hours 14 minutes |
| Math section | 44 questions, 70 minutes, two modules | 44 questions, 70 minutes, two modules |
| Calculator | Desmos or approved handheld, whole section | Desmos or approved handheld, whole section |
| Total score | 240 to 1440 | 320 to 1520 |
| Math score | 120 to 720 | 160 to 760 |
| 2026-27 windows | October 1 to 30, 2026; March 1 to April 30, 2027 | March 1 to April 30, 2027 |
| National Merit entry | No | No |

Sources: College Board's [2026-27 PSAT 8/9 Student Guide](https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/media/pdf/psat-8-9-student-guide.pdf), [PSAT 10 Student Guide](https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/media/pdf/official-student-guide-psat-10.pdf), [What Do My SAT Suite Scores Mean?](https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/scores/what-scores-mean) and [SAT Suite Test Dates and Deadlines](https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/sat/dates-deadlines), read 31 October 2026. We are not connected with College Board.

### What College Board says the PSAT 8/9 is for

The 2026-27 guide says the PSAT 8/9 "is designed to be taken as you start your high school journey" and that "Your results will help establish a baseline" and help teachers focus instruction.

It also notes that the PSAT 8/9 "follows the same timing as all other tests in the SAT Suite, so you'll be preparing yourself for the same format as the PSAT 10 and the SAT."

### Neither one is the National Merit test

National Merit entry comes only through the PSAT/NMSQT, normally in grade 11. The NMSC pages in College Board's fall guide state it in capitals: "The PSAT 10 and PSAT 8/9 will NOT be considered for entry to the National Merit Scholarship Program."

That takes the pressure off. A PSAT 8/9 or PSAT 10 score is information, not a verdict.

Domain weights

## What math is on the PSAT 8/9, and how is it different from the PSAT 10?

Both tests use four content domains, but the PSAT 8/9 gives Algebra and data more questions and Advanced Math fewer, and its geometry domain leaves out trigonometry.

| Domain | PSAT 8/9 | PSAT 10 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Algebra | 16 to 18 | 13 to 15 |
| Advanced Math | 7 to 9 | 12 to 14 |
| Problem-Solving and Data Analysis | 9 to 11 | 7 to 9 |
| Geometry (8/9) or Geometry and Trigonometry (10) | 4 to 6 | 4 to 6 |

### Reading the PSAT 8/9 column

On the PSAT 8/9, Algebra has 16 to 18 of the 40 scored questions and Problem-Solving and Data Analysis has 9 to 11, against 13 to 15 and 7 to 9 on the PSAT 10. That is the math of grade 7 to Algebra 1: linear equations and functions, systems, ratios, rates, percentages and data.

The guide lists the PSAT 8/9 geometry skills as "Area and volume; Lines, angles, and triangles, including right triangles", without trigonometry.

### Reading the PSAT 10 column

On the PSAT 10, Advanced Math rises to 12 to 14 questions: equivalent expressions, nonlinear equations and functions such as quadratics and exponentials. Right triangle trigonometry joins the geometry domain.

A tenth grader who has finished Algebra 1 but not yet started Algebra 2 will find the Advanced Math questions the least familiar part of the test.

Some things are identical across the two guides. A module holds 22 questions, 2 of them pretest items that are never scored; difficulty climbs through each module; and students can open a reference sheet, "a list of common formulas", during Math. Roughly 30% of math questions come with a real-world or science context, per College Board.

2026-27 dates

## When is the PSAT 8/9 and the PSAT 10 in 2026-27?

Your school chooses the day inside College Board's windows and registers you. Students do not sign up on their own.

| Term | Tests in the window | Window |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Fall 2026 | SAT School Day, PSAT/NMSQT and PSAT 8/9 | October 1 to 30, 2026 |
| Spring 2027 | SAT School Day, PSAT 10 and PSAT 8/9 | March 1 to April 30, 2027 |

1. **Ask the counselor which test and which window.** Some schools give the PSAT 8/9 in the fall, some in the spring.
2. **Prepare the device.** Most schools use school-managed devices; if yours allows a personal device, Bluebook must be installed beforehand.
3. **Request accommodations early.** The PSAT 8/9 guide says some requests can take 7 weeks to review, and that some One-Time Supports can be requested "for PSAT 8/9 only" when less time remains.
4. **Homeschooled students, contact a participating school.** College Board asks away students to reach out at least four weeks before the window begins.
5. **Know the retest rule.** The guide says each student "can only obtain one valid score during the testing window", with retests only for irregularities.

Some score features also differ by grade. The PSAT 8/9 guide says ninth graders may opt in to the Connections feature, "but it is not available to 8th graders taking the test." Your school will explain how and when scores are released.

Using the score

## Do you need to study for the PSAT 8/9?

Not in the cramming sense. College Board describes the PSAT 8/9 as a baseline. The useful preparation is familiarity with the format plus steady school math.

### What a little preparation does

A student who has seen Bluebook, the Desmos calculator and the module structure once will spend test time on math rather than on the screen. College Board offers a test preview and full-length adaptive PSAT 8/9 practice tests in Bluebook.

Beyond that, the best preparation for the PSAT 8/9 is the ordinary math of grades 7 to 9 done well, especially linear relationships and percentages.

### What the score report is for

The score report shows performance in each content area. College Board describes the knowledge and skills section as a way "to identify content areas you may want to focus on to practice and improve."

A low Algebra area in grade 8 is a reason to strengthen Algebra 1, not to drill PSAT questions. A strong report is a reason to keep going, perhaps into competition math.

| What the report shows | What we would usually do next |
| --- | --- |
| Algebra is the weakest area | Linear equations, functions and systems, steadily, over a term |
| Problem-Solving and Data Analysis is weakest | Ratios, percentages and reading tables and graphs |
| Advanced Math is weakest (PSAT 10) | Quadratics and exponentials, often ahead of Algebra 2 |
| Geometry is weakest | Angles, triangles, area and volume, with the reference sheet |
| All areas strong | Keep up school math; consider competition math or early SAT practice |

Worked examples

## Three problems at PSAT 8/9 and PSAT 10 level

Our own problems in the domains that carry the most PSAT 8/9 weight. They are not College Board items.

| Data used (GB) | 0 | 2 | 5 | 8 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly bill (units) | 15 | 23 | 35 | 47 |

1. **Check the rate is constant.** From 0 to 2 GB the bill rises 8, so 4 per GB; from 2 GB to 5 GB it rises 12, again 4 per GB, and the last step of 3 GB adds another 12. A constant rate means a linear rule.
2. **Read the starting value.** At 0 GB the bill is 15, so the y-intercept is 15.
3. **Write the rule.** y = 4x + 15, where x is gigabytes and y is the bill.
4. **Use it.** At 12 GB, y = 4 x 12 + 15 = 63.

| Step | Reasoning |
| --- | --- |
| 1. Rise as a multiplier | 25% up means x 1.25 |
| 2. Fall as a multiplier | 20% down means x 0.80 |
| 3. Combine | 1.25 x 0.80 = 1.00 |
| 4. Conclusion | Back to exactly the starting price |
| 5. Why the intuition fails | The 20% is taken from a larger number, so it removes as much as the 25% added |

| Step | Reasoning |
| --- | --- |
| 1. Use the fact | Angles on a straight line add to 180 degrees |
| 2. Equation | 3x + 15 + 2x + 40 = 180, so 5x + 55 = 180 |
| 3. Solve | 5x = 125, so x = 25 |
| 4. The angles | 3(25) + 15 = 90 and 2(25) + 40 = 90 |
| 5. Notice | Both are 90 degrees: the lines are perpendicular |

Practice and plans

## An original practice set, and plans for grade 8 and grade 10

Ten problems we wrote at PSAT 8/9 and PSAT 10 level, with answers, then two short plans.

| # | Domain | Problem | Answer |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | Algebra | Solve 7 - 2x = 15 | x = -4 |
| 2 | Algebra | Slope through (2, 3) and (6, 11) | 2 |
| 3 | Algebra | Solve 2x + y = 9 and x - y = 3 | x = 4, y = 1 |
| 4 | Algebra | Solve 3x + 4 > 19 | x > 5 |
| 5 | Data | A recipe uses 3 cups of flour for 4 loaves. Flour for 10 loaves? | 7.5 cups |
| 6 | Data | A 60-minute show: 15 minutes are ads. Percent ads? | 25% |
| 7 | Data | Mean of 12, 15, 18 and 23 | 17 |
| 8 | Advanced (PSAT 10) | Factor x^2 + 7x + 12 | (x + 3)(x + 4) |
| 9 | Geometry | Volume of a cube with edge 4 cm | 64 cubic cm |
| 10 | Geometry and Trigonometry (PSAT 10) | Right triangle, hypotenuse 10, angle 30 degrees: opposite side? | 5 |

1. **Grade 8, a month before the window.** One Bluebook test preview, then weekly practice on linear relationships, percentages and angle facts alongside school math.
2. **Grade 8, the week before.** One full-length adaptive practice test in Bluebook, mainly to get used to two modules and the Desmos calculator.
3. **Grade 10, a term before the spring window.** A practice test, then quadratics and exponentials if Advanced Math is weak, since it carries 12 to 14 questions on the PSAT 10.
4. **Grade 10, after scores.** Use the content areas to plan grade 11, when the PSAT/NMSQT and the SAT follow.

From grade 8 to grade 11

## How the SAT Suite steps up, year by year

Our summary of the sequence, using the facts College Board publishes for each test.

| Year | Usual test | What it is for |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Grade 8 or 9 | PSAT 8/9, scored 240 to 1440 | A baseline at the start of high school |
| Grade 10 | PSAT 10 in spring, scored 320 to 1520 | Progress check; no National Merit entry |
| Grade 11 | PSAT/NMSQT in fall | National Merit entry for most students |
| Grade 11 or 12 | SAT, scored 400 to 1600 | College admission where required |

### For parents of eighth graders

Keep it light. A familiar format and solid Algebra 1 matter more than practice questions.

Ask the school when results come back and how it uses them.

### For tenth graders

Advanced Math is the domain that grows most from the PSAT 8/9. Start quadratics early if you can.

Next year's PSAT/NMSQT is the one that counts for National Merit.

The catalogue

## Math courses for grades 7 to 10

Foundations, Algebra 1 and test format, taught live.

I

### Middle school

Grades 7 and 8

PSA / M / 01

#### Middle school math

Ratio, percent, geometry.

[Open the syllabus](/courses/comprehensive-middle-school-mathematics-mastery)

PSA / M / 02

#### Math competitions

MATHCOUNTS and AMC 8.

[Open the syllabus](/courses/middle-school-math-competitions-course)

PSA / M / 03

#### Math through coding

Functions in Python.

[Open the syllabus](/courses/maths-through-coding)II

### Early high school

Grades 9 and 10

PSA / H / 01

#### Algebra foundations

Algebra 1 in depth.

[Open the syllabus](/courses/algebra-foundations-masterclass)

PSA / H / 02

#### High school math

Geometry to Algebra 2.

[Open the syllabus](/courses/complete-high-school-mathematics-mastery)

PSA / H / 03

#### Statistics and probability

Data and chance.

[Open the syllabus](/courses/statistics-probability-maths-course)III

### Tests ahead

Grades 10 and 11

PSA / T / 01

#### SAT Suite math

PSAT and SAT.

[Open the syllabus](/courses/sat-math-prep-course)

PSA / T / 02

#### ACT math

For ACT schools.

[Open the syllabus](/courses/act-math-prep-course)

PSA / T / 03

#### Competition math

AMC 10 and beyond.

[Open the syllabus](/courses/olympiad-competition-mathematics-mastery)

How lessons run

## Math lessons for younger test takers

Weekdays or weekends, flexible: choose your batch, or for a very personalised plan choose 1-on-1 at your convenience, weekend mornings or weekdays.

Weekdays

After school, paced with class math.

Weekends

Short practice and Bluebook familiarity.

1-on-1

Planned around your school's window.

### School math first

Algebra 1 and data done well.

### Format once

Bluebook and Desmos, without drilling.

### Report-led

We plan from the content areas.

### Age-appropriate

Calm, short sessions for grade 8.

### Toward grade 11

The same blueprint as the SAT.

### Group or private

Fifteen to twenty, or one to one.

Student work

## Work from our students

Younger students often meet functions first by coding them. See [student labs](/student-labs).

![NutriLife AI nutrition coach project screenshot](/images/projects/nutrilife.webp)

AI and ML

#### NutriLife

An AI nutrition coach that reads what you eat and works you toward a target.

by Bhavya · [Open it](https://nutrilife-bhavya.lovable.app)

![Misti AI chatbot for maths and coding screenshot](/images/projects/misti.webp)

AI and ML

#### Misti

A chatbot that answers mathematics and programming questions, built and deployed by a student.

by Harshit · [Open it](https://misti.modernagecoders.com)

![GuardianX AI internet safety assistant screenshot](/images/projects/guardianx.webp)

AI and ML

#### GuardianX

An assistant that helps a young person recognise unsafe situations online.

by Vivaan · [Open it](https://guardianx-cybersaver.lovable.app)

![SkyCast weather forecast application screenshot](/images/projects/skycast.webp)

Web app

#### SkyCast

A weather forecasting site with live conditions for any location.

by Krish

Fees

## Fees

Each month is paid for separately, in US dollars. A few weeks of help around the school's testing window, then a pause, is a perfectly normal way to use us.

Free first class

USD 0

no card required

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a month, billed in US dollars

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Start here

One to one

USD 150

a month, billed in US dollars

- A teacher to yourself
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- Flexible times

Enquire

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Questions families ask

## PSAT 8/9 and PSAT 10 math: common questions

### What math is on the PSAT 8/9?

College Board's 2026-27 guide lists Algebra (16 to 18 questions), Advanced Math (7 to 9), Problem-Solving and Data Analysis (9 to 11) and Geometry (4 to 6). It is mostly the math of grades 7 to 9.

### How many math questions are on the PSAT 8/9?

Forty-four, in two modules of 35 minutes each. Each module has 20 scored questions and 2 unscored pretest questions.

### What is a good PSAT 8/9 score?

The PSAT 8/9 is scored 240 to 1440, with 120 to 720 for Math. College Board describes it as a baseline, so the content-area breakdown on the report is more useful than comparing totals.

### Is the PSAT 10 harder than the PSAT 8/9?

It has the same length and timing, but more Advanced Math (12 to 14 questions against 7 to 9) and trigonometry in the geometry domain. Its scale is 320 to 1520.

### Does the PSAT 10 count for National Merit?

No. College Board's PSAT/NMSQT guide says the PSAT 10 and PSAT 8/9 are not considered for entry to the National Merit Scholarship Program.

### When is the PSAT 8/9 in 2026-27?

College Board lists two windows: October 1 to 30, 2026 and March 1 to April 30, 2027. Your school picks the day and registers you.

### Can you use a calculator on the PSAT 8/9?

Yes, on the whole Math section. The Desmos calculator is built into Bluebook, or students can bring an approved calculator.

### Should my eighth grader prepare for the PSAT 8/9?

A little: one look at the format in Bluebook and steady school math. Heavy drilling is not needed for a test College Board describes as a baseline.

### When are your classes?

Weekdays or weekends, flexible: choose your batch, or for a very personalised plan choose 1-on-1 at your convenience, weekend mornings or weekdays.

### Are you connected with College Board?

No. We are an independent online school. We describe the tests from College Board's published guides and use its free practice in Bluebook as it is.

Elsewhere on this site

## Related pages

Grade-by-grade math support and the tests that come next.

### [Eighth grade math](/online-math-tutor-8th-grade)

The first PSAT 8/9 year.

### [Ninth grade math](/online-math-tutor-9th-grade)

Algebra 1 and the start of high school.

### [Tenth grade math](/online-math-tutor-10th-grade)

The PSAT 10 year.

### [Algebra tutoring](/algebra-tutoring-online-usa)

The largest PSAT 8/9 domain.

### [Middle school math competitions](/math-competitions-for-middle-school-students)

For strong eighth graders.

### [SAT math tutoring](/sat-math-tutoring-online)

Where the sequence leads.

## Related pages in this guide

Part of the guide: [US math placement and college readiness tests](/us-math-placement-and-college-readiness-tests)

### PSAT and PreACT

- [PSAT math prep](/psat-math-prep)
- [PreACT math prep](/preact-math-prep)
- [SAT math tutoring online](/sat-math-tutoring-online)
- [ACT math tutoring online](/act-math-tutoring-online)

### School placement and growth tests

- [MAP Growth math test prep](/map-growth-math-test-prep)
- [i-Ready math help](/i-ready-math-help)
- [Middle school math placement test prep](/middle-school-math-placement-test-prep)
- [Accelerated math program online](/accelerated-math-program-online)

### High school math courses

- [Integrated Math 1 tutoring](/integrated-math-1-tutoring)
- [Integrated Math 2 tutoring](/integrated-math-2-tutoring)
- [Integrated Math 3 tutoring](/integrated-math-3-tutoring)
- [Trigonometry tutoring online](/trigonometry-tutoring-online)
- [Statistics tutoring online](/statistics-tutoring-online)
- [AP Precalculus tutoring online](/ap-precalculus-tutoring-online)

### College placement and credit

- [ACCUPLACER math prep](/accuplacer-math-prep)
- [ALEKS math placement test prep](/aleks-math-placement-test-prep)
- [TSIA2 math prep](/tsia2-math-prep)
- [CLEP College Algebra prep](/clep-college-algebra-prep)
- [CLEP Calculus prep](/clep-calculus-prep)
- [Dual enrollment math help](/dual-enrollment-math-help)

More guides: [US state math tests by state](/us-state-math-tests-by-state) · [US gifted and selective school tests](/us-gifted-and-selective-school-tests-guide) · [Homeschool and school math curricula guide](/homeschool-math-curriculum-guide-usa) · [US math and coding competitions guide](/us-math-and-coding-competitions-guide)

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## Keep exploring Modern Age Coders

### More maths tuition

- [Primary Maths Challenge Practice](/primary-maths-challenge-practice)
- [PSSA Math Practice, Grades 3 to 8: The May 2027 Test](/pssa-math-practice)
- [Precalculus Tutoring Online](/precalculus-tutoring-online)
- [Queensland Academies Entrance Test Maths Practice](/queensland-academies-entry-maths-practice)
- [Quest 11 Plus Maths Practice](/quest-assessments-11-plus-maths-practice)
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- [KS1 SATs Maths Explained](/ks1-sats-maths-explained)
- [MCV4U Calculus and Vectors Tutor: Ontario Grade 12 Help](/mcv4u-calculus-and-vectors-tutor)

### Learn more

- [IOQM, RMO and INMO Preparation Online: India's Olympiad Pathway](/ioqm-rmo-inmo-preparation)
- [Waterloo Math Contests: Gauss to Euclid](/courses/waterloo-math-contests-gauss-to-euclid-course)
- [Russian School of Mathematics Alternative: Compare and Choose](/russian-school-of-mathematics-alternative)
- [College Math Placement Test Prep: ALEKS, ACCUPLACER, TSIA2, CLEP](/courses/college-math-placement-test-prep-course)

### From the blog

- [Maths Learning Guides](/blog/topic/maths)
- [Top 10 Java Programs Every School Student Should Know (With Solutions)](/blog/top-10-java-programs-for-school-students)
- [Top 20 Java Programs for ICSE Class 10 (With Code)](/blog/top-20-java-programs-for-icse-class-10)
- [How to Find HCF and LCM in Python (5 Easy Methods)](/blog/how-to-find-hcf-and-lcm-in-python)

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