Every year, about 3.5 million high school sophomores and juniors across the United States take the Preliminary SAT (PSAT). If you’re a junior, earning a top score on the PSAT can put you in position to win the National Merit Scholarship, so you may want to consider taking a prep course or preparing for the exam through other means.

If you are considering preparing for the PSAT, we have put together a list of our favorite online prep courses as well as alternative prep options.

Check out our handpicked list of PSAT prep courses and find your best fit! 

What to look for in a prep course

There are qualities and features that signal a good PSAT prep course. Here are a few to look for when choosing a test-prep provider: 

• Practice tests: “Practice makes perfect” may be a cliche, but it is certainly true when it comes to the PSAT. Success on the PSAT is primarily due to strong time management and the use of test-taking strategies. The more times you take the PSAT and the more familiar you are with the content and format of the test, the better you will do. The test is long and jam-packed with questions. If you want to do well, you’ll need to train your focus and endurance so you can do your best when the test date finally comes.
• Strategies: Standardized tests aren’t a pure test of aptitude or intelligence, even if the College Board would like you to think they are. The truth is, test-taking is a skill that you can practice, you can significantly increase your test score by learning test-taking strategies. The best prep classes understand this and teach you not only about the content of the exam but about various strategies you can use to work through the test more efficiently and select answers more accurately. 
• Customization: Every teacher knows that every student is different and has unique strengths and weaknesses. The best courses do not have a generic study plan that is the same for all students. Rather, they should be customizable for each student’s strengths and weaknesses. You should be able to focus on areas of weakness as well as choose specific types of study prep that fit your learning style.
• Variety of content: A good prep course will offer you a variety of tools to sharpen your test-taking skills. While practice tests are important, you should also have access to other study tools like flashcards, short quizzes, and study games. 
• Time flexibility: A strong course should be able to fit into your busy schedule. Make sure that the course you choose works with the demands of your schedule. The best online courses should have content available 24/7 so you can study whenever you find the time to do so. Some even have tutors available at all hours via live chat or video chat.
• Price: Preparing for the PSAT is important, but you don’t need to pay through the nose. If you’re taking the PSAT, the SAT is just around the corner. It may be wise to wait to break out the big bucks for preparation for the big test.

Our favorite online PSAT prep courses

When it comes to online PSAT prep courses, a few providers stand above the rest. These are our favorite courses for ambitious students hoping to raise their score:

PrepScholar PSAT Online Prep Course

PrepScholar is one of the leading providers for online PSAT and SAT prep alike. Their official PSAT course comes with hundreds of hours worth of content with customizable learning plans. PrepScholar guarantees a 150+ point score increase on your PSAT — if you don’t improve by that margin, you will get your money back.

• Practice tests: PrepScholar’s “Complete PSAT Online Prep” Course includes two full, timed practice tests in addition to over 7,100 practice questions.
• Strategies: PrepScholar’s courses include a focus on PSAT strategies. Per PrepScholar’s PSAT Prep Course web page: “One of the main reasons [that students underperform on the PSAT] is that the PSAT requires thinking in specific ways that you’re not used to and never learned in school. You can definitely master these methods, but it takes training and an awareness of strategy. We teach you how to think correctly about the PSAT.” 
• Customization: PrepScholar’s courses are uniquely customizable. At the outset, you will take a diagnostic quiz that identifies your specific areas of strength and weakness and builds a program based on your skill level. You will be given problems in each subject area tailored specifically to your skill level, and the program continuously updates, so that the level of difficulty increases in relation to your improvement.
• Variety of content: PrepScholar offers a focused curriculum with a limited variety of content. PrepScholar’s lessons typically include readings, videos, practice questions and quizzes, and full practice tests.
• Time flexibility: PrepScholar’s curriculum is very flexible and allows you to set your own study schedule each week. Students and parents receive weekly email reports detailing lessons completed and hours studied, effectively holding students accountable to the schedule they set. PrepScholar also provides detailed study plans with step-by-step instructions on what and when to study, but students are free to choose what subject to work on in the short term.
• Price: $397

Kaplan PSAT Prep Self-Paced Course

Kaplan is one of the biggest names in test prep, and its self-paced PSAT Prep Course upholds its reputation. Kaplan’s course offers a strong variety of content, is highly customizable, and teaches time-tested strategies.

• Practice tests: The Kaplan PSAT Prep Course includes two full practice tests with a score analysis.
• Strategies: Kaplan’s course includes lessons on every single course topic as well as strategies from the “Kaplan Method” for each section on the test.
• Customization: Kaplan’s PSAT Prep Course is highly customizable. You’ll take a diagnostic practice test at the outset that will allow you to identify where you need to improve. Throughout the course, you’ll receive performance summaries highlighting your strengths and weaknesses, progress reports, and homework tracking.
• Variety of content: Kaplan offers a variety of tools to help you learn the PSAT material to your best ability. Upon signing up for the course, you’ll receive a PSAT Course Book to supplement your course. The course also includes 20 hours of video lessons and a mobile app that allows you to access 170 practice questions from wherever you want.
• Time flexibility: Kaplan’s online PSAT course is entirely self-paced, allowing you to study on your own accord. 
• Price: $299

Princeton Review PSAT Cram Course

Princeton Review has long been one of the most popular test prep services and offers both in-person and online lessons and tutoring. Princeton Review’s PSAT Cram Course is an online program that includes practice tests, video lessons and drills, live online classroom instruction, and an online student portal. They separately offer one-on-one PSAT tutoring as well for a different price.

• Practice tests: Princeton Review’s PSAT Cram Course includes two full-length practice tests and full score reports. You also may sign up for free online or in-person practice PSATs at any time on Princeton Review’s website.
• Strategies: Princeton Review’s PSAT Cram Course is designed to teach you the necessary strategies and testing skills in a short amount of time. You’ll learn strategies for each section of the test.
• Customization: While the actual content of Princeton Review’s PSAT Cram Course is not fully customizable, it does have some features that create a personalized experience, including live classroom instruction and an online student portal that includes resources to track your progress. If you want a more personalized experience, consider Princeton Review’s full-service private tutoring.
• Variety of content: Princeton Review’s PSAT Cram Course includes standard and straightforward content assortment. The course includes video lessons, live online classroom instruction, practice drills, full-length practice tests, practice questions, and access to a student portal with additional resources to track your progress. 
• Time flexibility: Princeton Review allows you to set your own study schedule and access learning content whenever. You will have to sign up for online classroom instruction, but you can select the blocks of time that work best for you. 
• Price: $399

Other ways to prepare for the PSAT

PSAT prep classes are not for everyone. If you don’t expect to score in the top 1% of your state’s test-takers, it may not make sense to spend hundreds of dollars on a PSAT prep course. Fortunately, prep courses are not your only option for PSAT preparation.

Here are a few alternate ways to prepare for the PSAT:

Take a free PSAT practice test

Many different study sites and educational resources offer free PSAT practice tests. Taking a practice test allows you to get an early sense of what to expect on the PSAT without having to go through (and pay for) a full course.

Many different services offer in-person practice tests, but many are also available online such as Khan Academy. Also, as mentioned above, there’s Princeton Review, which has both options and provides you with a full score report after you’ve finished your practice test.

Take a SAT prep course

While the PSAT and SAT are different, their content and structure are very similar. One way to prepare for the PSAT is to start preparing for the big one early on. 

See our full guide to SAT prep courses for our favorite options.

Purchase a PSAT prep book

Another low-cost PSAT prep method is buying a PSAT prep book and preparing on your own. 

For a comprehensive prep book for beginners, we recommend The Princeton Review’s Cracking the PSAT/NMSQT.

For experienced test-takers who want to sharpen their skills, we recommend Barron’s PSAT/NMSQT 1520 with Online Test, a challenging book that will bring out the best in students aiming for a high score.

Conclusion

While it is not necessary for every student to prepare for the PSAT, it can help strong performers push their scores into the 99th percentile of their state, qualify for the National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist round, and earn a shot at a $2,500 scholarship. 

If that describes you, our favorite PSAT prep courses should help you take your score to the next level. Otherwise, consider our alternative methods to boost your score.

Whether you’re planning on taking an online prep course, working with a tutor, preparing on your own, or taking the test for the first time … happy testing and good luck!