When it comes to preparing for the PSAT, there are a lot of resources out there to choose from. We went in and chose the best PSAT study guides to include in your PSAT prep so that you can feel confident in taking the PSAT in October. We chose these as the best PSAT study guides because they are able to break down concepts into an effective and summarized format that will be great for reviewing topics before the PSAT.
Think you may need additional PSAT prep? We got you covered with these PSAT prep books!
In a hurry? Here are our top 3 picks:
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Description: Kaplan offers its own comprehensive PSAT prep book that includes 5 practice tests and proven strategies + online resources. |
Description: Barron's is offering comprehensive review for the PSAT and it includes 4 practice tests + and online timed test option. |
Description: The Princeton Review now offers PSAT prep books - this one includes 2 full-length practice tests, review and techniques for practice questions + online tools and resources. |
Kaplan offers its own comprehensive PSAT prep book that includes 5 practice tests and proven strategies + online resources.
Barron's is offering comprehensive review for the PSAT and it includes 4 practice tests + and online timed test option.
The Princeton Review now offers PSAT prep books - this one includes 2 full-length practice tests, review and techniques for practice questions + online tools and resources.
Best PSAT Study Guides
We’ve got two categories of our best PSAT study guides: Best PSAT Study Guides for Purchase and Best Free PSAT Study Guides. Depending on your budget, you can consider any of these PSAT study guides as a supplement to your PSAT study plan. Still wondering what’s the big deal about the PSAT? Read our article about Why you should take the PSAT.
Looking for an in-person or online PSAT course? Start Here.
Barron’s PSAT/NMSQT Study Guide
Our top pick for the best PSAT study guide, Barron’s PSAT Study Guide Premium has everything you’ll need for your PSAT study needs.
You’ll get a deep dive into each subject testing on the PSAT – Reading, Writing & Language, & Math. You will learn strategies from the author as well as have practice in the review for each chapter.
This is a huge book, as 3 of the 4 PSAT practice tests are printed right in the book. This is a huge bonus if you’re like me and prefer practicing in a physical book rather than online. The 4th PSAT practice test, however, is in an online format. Bear in mind, since the PSAT is taken online on test day, this can help you to feel confident with the digital format. When taking this online practice test with Barron’s, it is with a timed test option to help simulate the real PSAT.
All of the practice questions (in the book as well as online) include detailed answer explanation so that you can better understand where you went wrong through your PSAT test review.
Overall, Barron’s PSAT/NMSQT prep book is a great, comprehensive option for nearly all students.
Digital PSAT/NMSQT Study Guide Premium, 2024
Barron's is offering comprehensive review for the PSAT and it includes 4 practice tests + and online timed test option.
Kaplan PSAT Prep
The only prep book on this list that includes a Higher Score Guarantee, Kaplan guarantees that you will get a higher score on the PSAT or your money back.
The Kaplan PSAT prep book is based around efficiency and finding your weaknesses so that you can focus on them first. Pre-quizzes allow for you to find areas that you already know and to test out of that topic so that you can focus your efforts on areas that are going to lead to score increases.
Keep in mind that the practice tests across editions of the Kaplan prep books may be the same, so do not buy a new edition specifically for more practice tests. If you need PSAT practice tests, you can see our list of the best PSAT practice tests.
Digital PSAT/NMSQT Prep 2024 (Kaplan Test Prep)
Kaplan offers its own comprehensive PSAT prep book that includes 5 practice tests and proven strategies + online resources.
The Princeton Review PSAT Prep
Another great prep book if you’re seeking printed PSAT practice tests over online, The Princeton Review provides 2 full-length PSAT practice tests in the book and one online. Like the other PSAT study guides on this list, all the practice and drill questions come with full and complete answer explanations so that you can review effectively.
For those seeking additional help with math (which, let’s face it, is a lot of PSAT test takers), the Princeton Review offers additional math topics to help you to feel confident going into test day.
Princeton Review PSAT/NMSQT Prep, 2023-2024
The Princeton Review now offers PSAT prep books - this one includes 2 full-length practice tests, review and techniques for practice questions + online tools and resources.
PSAT Prep Study Guide
![PSAT Prep Book 2022-2023 with 3 Practice Tests [6th Edition]](https://testprepnerds.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/513c8y7pI7L._SL500_.webp)
This study guide by Test Prep Books makes our list of the best PSAT study guides for its comprehensive coverage of the PSAT in only 170 pages. With this PSAT study guide, you will receive comprehensive reviews of each section, proven test strategies, and practice test questions. These practice test questions come with detailed answer explanations so that you can fully digest the reason you made mistakes and improve upon them in the future.
We love this PSAT study guide because its format and information makes learning the concepts tested on the PSAT easy. All the extra fat from other PSAT prep books has been cut off to only offer information and questions that you should expect to be on the most recent PSAT test.
Not only will you be able to study the main concepts being tested on the PSAT, but you will also have practice questions after the end of each PSAT section: Reading, Writing & Language, and Math. You are guaranteed to raise your PSAT score after completing this PSAT study guide.
PSAT Prep Book 2022-2023 with 3 Practice Tests [6th Edition]
Feel confident going into the PSAT after studying with this comprehensive PSAT study guide by Test Prep Books - includes 3 practice tests.
PSAT Exam Secrets Study Guide
![PSAT Prep Book 2022 and 2023 [5th Edition]](https://testprepnerds.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/51ybBjbHizL._SL500_.webp)
The PSAT Exam Secrets Study Guide comes at a loftier price than the previously mentioned PSAT study guide but with the name Mometrix behind the study guide, you can rest assured that you are receiving a quality test prep product that is going to simplify the PSAT prep process.
This PSAT prep study guide includes an in-depth overview of the PSAT, a breakdown of the Evidence-Based Reading Test, Math Test, and Writing and Language Test. Each of these sections are laid out and explained in full detail. We find this PSAT study guide to be laid out in a logical format that makes following along with the contents smooth and simple. You will have the opportunity to work through practice PSAT questions as well as look at full explanations of these questions to help improve your ability to answer accurately.
One of the highlights of the PSAT Exam Secrets Study Guide is their 1-2-3-4- Method for writing the essay, which essentially lays out a template to answer any essay prompt both quickly and effortlessly.
PSAT Prep Book 2022 and 2023 [5th Edition]
You don't need to break the bank for this PSAT study guide, which includes 2 full-length practice tests and step-by-step video tutorials.
Related: 11 FREE PSAT Practice Tests
Best Free PSAT Study Guides & Practice Tests
Just because these PSAT study guides are free does not discredit their usefulness in preparing for the PSAT. Check out these 3 free PSAT study guides and practice tests that you can add to your study plan – no strings attached!
The Princeton Review FREE PSAT Practice Test
The Princeton Review offers a free PSAT practice test that can be taken online. They also offer many free live online events that you can sign up for here.
Union Test Prep
Union Test Prep is awesome at creating free study guides for all types of test prep needs. In their free PSAT study guide, they offer a 3-page Math study guide, a 2-page Reading study guide, and a 2-page Writing & Language study guide.
In each of these study guides, you will walk through the general information of the section, terms to know, and then concepts that you need to know and understand for the PSAT. This study guide works a bit differently than the previous PSAT study guides on our list because it does not provide questions to work on but rather just breaks out the concepts you need to remember when walking into test day. It’s a great supplement to whatever PSAT study plan you are currently pursuing.
What the Best PSAT Study Guides Will Cover
PSAT Format
The first step to preparing for the PSAT is nailing down the PSAT format. Even if you aren’t trying to win The National Merit Scholarship, everyone will benefit from understanding the format of the test, including what is tested, what the timing is, how many questions you need to answer, and how the PSAT is scored.
All of the PSAT study guides we listed here provide the basic PSAT formatting and will get you up-to-speed on what the PSAT is and how to get your mind ready for preparing to study for the PSAT. The PSAT is pretty much a trial-run for the SAT, which, along with the ACT, are the qualifying tests required for most college and university admissions. Learn more about the differences between the PSAT vs the SAT.
Practice Questions or Practice Tests
Practicing for the PSAT is one of the best ways to improve your score. The best PSAT study guides provide practice questions that you can work through. These practice questions should cover specific concepts in detail and be used to work through them to better grasp this concept. There are also PSAT practice tests so that you can work through an entire PSAT so that you can feel what it’s like to work through a full PSAT test like you will on test day. Get started with these 11 free PSAT practice tests.
Detailed Explanations
There is no use in working through practice questions if you cannot learn from mistakes. The PSAT study guides we listed here on this page are all full of detailed explanations so that you can understand the principles behind the questions as well as the rationale behind the answers. It’s imperative, in order to improve your score, that you understand why you answered a question correctly and improve upon that.
When to Consider a PSAT Tutor
Depending on your goals, you may be considering hiring a PSAT tutor. For those who are using the PSAT as simply practice for the SAT, hiring a tutor for this test is not necessary. For those who are hoping to qualify for National Merit or achieve top scores for the SAT, however, a PSAT tutor can be extremely beneficial to reach the scores required. If you are considering a PSAT tutor, we recommend opting for the one-on-one PSAT tutoring offered by Varsity Tutors.
Best PSAT Study Guides – Bottomline
Now that you know what to look for in the best PSAT study guides as well as have a general idea of the best guides on the market today, we believe you are fully equipped to begin your PSAT prep journey. At the end of the day, the amount of work and time you put into the PSAT is going to not only improve your PSAT score but will also improve your chances of scoring higher on the SAT as well.
If you’re still unsure of which PSAT study guide is best for you, then you can consider our top pick, the Barron’s PSAT study guide. It includes the most practice tests among the prep books on this list as well as helpful strategy tips from the author.
Digital PSAT/NMSQT Study Guide Premium, 2024
Barron's is offering comprehensive review for the PSAT and it includes 4 practice tests + and online timed test option.
