SAT vs PRE SAT

In regard to colleges, the PSAT has no impact on your admission chances, while the SAT typically does. The first major difference is the purpose of each test. Whereas the SAT is a common requirement for college admissions, the PSAT is an SAT practice test and the basis for the National Merit Scholarship Program. In regard to colleges, the PSAT has no impact on your admission chances, while the SAT typically does. Even a super low score on the PSAT would have no effect on your college applications. By contrast, a super low SAT score would likely significantly lower your admission chances.

The PSAT is scored on a scale of 320-1520, while the SAT is scored on a scale of 400-1600. 

This means that the individual section score ranges differ as well. On the PSAT, EBRW and Math are each scored on a scale of 160-760. On the SAT, however, these sections are scored on a slightly bigger scale of 200-800.

Your PSAT score is meant to directly predict your SAT score. So if you get 1200 on the PSAT, you can expect to get roughly the same score if you took the SAT without further preparation. 

Test	Section	Time	# of Questions	Time per Question
PSAT	Reading	60 minutes	48	75 seconds
Writing	35 minutes	44	48 seconds
Math No Calc	25 minutes	17	88 seconds
Math Calc	45 minutes	31	87 seconds
Total	165 minutes	139	—
SAT	Reading	65 minutes	52	75 seconds
Writing	35 minutes	44	48 seconds
Math No Calc	25 minutes	20	75 seconds
Math Calc	55 minutes	38	87 seconds
Essay (optional)	50 minutes	1	50 minutes
Total	180 minutes(230 minutes with essay)	154(155 with essay)	—

Throughout the College Board’s suite of tests, things get a little bit harder. It’s nothing huge; you just might find that the PSAT is more concrete, find-this-detail-in-the-text questions while the SAT is more abstract.

Unlike PSAT-related assessments, which you generally only take if your school is administering them, you can register for and take the SAT multiple times, selecting the administration dates that work best for you. Additionally, many schools, districts, and states participate in SAT School Day, which take place on select dates in the fall and spring, providing students additional dates and testing opportunities.