Students take the PSAT during school hours in the month of October. The actual date is set by the school where the student is scheduled. Not all schools offer the PSAT, and the ones that do may charge students a fee.
The PSAT is most important for 11th graders, because it allows them to participate in the National Merit Scholarship competition and primes them to get ready for the actual SAT. However, the PSAT is also offered to 8, 9, and 10th graders. The version of the PSAT offered to 8th and 9th graders is different from the one taken by 10th and 11th graders.