2024 PSAT Student Guide Writing Sections

Craft and Structure:

• Measures the comprehension, vocabulary, analysis, synthesis, and reasoning skills and knowledge needed to understand and use high-utility words and phrases in context, evaluate texts rhetorically, and make connections between topically related texts\

• Words in Context; Text Structure and Purpose; Cross-Text Connections

• 13–15 questions

Information and Ideas:

• Measures comprehension, analysis, and reasoning skills and knowledge and the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, and integrate information and ideas from texts and informational graphics (tables, bar graphs, and line graphs)

• Central Ideas and Details; Command of Evidence (Textual, Quantitative); Inferences

• 12-14 questions

Standard English Conventions:

• Measures the ability to edit texts to conform to core conventions of Standard English sentence structure, usage, and punctuation

• Boundaries; Form, Structure, and Sense

• 11-15 questions

Expression of Ideas:

• Measures the ability to revise texts to improve the effectiveness of written expression and to meet specific rhetorical goals

• Rhetorical Synthesis; Transitions

• 8-12 questions

taken from the College Board 2024 PSAT/NMSQT Student Guide