Digital PSAT / NMSQT
Chase National Merit with the same engine that preps you for the SAT
The PSAT is your first National Merit shot and a low-pressure rehearsal for the SAT. Lotus teaches the same cognitive skills — trap recognition, elimination discipline, pacing — that pay off twice: once in October and again on test day.
No credit card required. One subscription covers SAT + PSAT.
How Lotus gets you National Merit-ready
Four pillars, all shipping. Same engine that preps you for the SAT — because the PSAT is the SAT in rehearsal.
Built for the PSAT/NMSQT path
Aligned to the Digital PSAT's sections, scoring range (320–1520), and question taxonomy.
AI-built study plan
4-phase plan tuned to October test dates, with daily tasks that bank directly into SAT prep.
Cognitive Autopsy
Every wrong answer labels the trap, maps your reasoning, and teaches the defense.
Coach Claude
Streaming AI tutor trained on your personal trap profile. Same tutor in PSAT as SAT.
Built for the PSAT/NMSQT scoring path
The PSAT/NMSQT is your shot at National Merit. Lotus aligns to the Digital PSAT's 320–1520 scoring scale and shares the SAT's question taxonomy — so every hour of PSAT prep banks directly into your SAT readiness.
- Digital PSAT–aligned question bank sharing the SAT taxonomy
- Same Cognitive Autopsy and strategy coaching as the SAT track
- Every correct answer in October compounds into March and May
A 4-phase PSAT plan rebuilt around October
Enter your PSAT date (typically mid-October), target score, study days per week, and minutes per session. Lotus generates a Foundation → Targeted → Review → Final Stretch plan that peaks the week before the test and seamlessly rolls into SAT prep after.
- Summer-to-October pacing that respects the school calendar
- Daily task cards: practice, review, full-length rehearsal, rest
- Automatic rollover to SAT plan after PSAT day
The same coaching that gets seniors to 1500+
When you miss a question in Tutor mode, Lotus labels the trap, maps where your reasoning broke, and prescribes the defense. Coach Claude is a click away — a streaming AI tutor trained on your personal trap profile. Juniors get the same engine that lifts seniors into the top percentile.
- 10 decoded trap types with named countermeasures
- Reasoning replay showing how a top scorer actually solves it
- Coach Claude: up to 10 exchanges per question with streaming responses
Track the habits that carry into SAT day
Not just '% correct by subject.' Five independent axes: trap susceptibility, question-type mastery, elimination skill, reasoning integrity, and confidence calibration. The habits that lift your PSAT also lift your SAT.
- Trap susceptibility lollipop chart across 10 decoded traps
- Question-type heatmap with green/amber/red grading
- Confidence calibration tracking whether your gut matches your accuracy
Test format
What is the Digital PSAT?
The Digital PSAT shares almost everything with the SAT — sections, question types, Desmos access, adaptive module structure — on a 320–1520 scale.
Total time
2h 14min
Sections
Reading & Writing, Math
Adaptive
Two modules
Score range
320 – 1520
Adaptive structure
“I started on Lotus for PSAT in July and rolled straight into SAT prep in November. The same tutor, the same trap profile — it felt like I never stopped.”
[Student name], Lotus PSAT Student
1230 → 1450Lotus vs the rest
PSAT prep is usually bolted onto SAT courses as an afterthought. Lotus is built for both.
| Feature | Lotus | Khan Academy | Bluebook | Typical $$$ prep |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSAT-specific practice | limited | limited | varies | |
| One subscription covers SAT + PSAT | ||||
| Cognitive Autopsy (trap labels) | ||||
| AI tutor with personal trap history | ||||
| Trap susceptibility radar | ||||
| Automatic PSAT → SAT plan rollover |
Choose your PSAT plan
One subscription covers both PSAT and SAT. Prep in summer, compound into the spring.
Includes SAT + PSAT access
Core
Full strategy coaching
$19/mo
- Unlimited questions
- Cognitive Autopsy on every wrong answer
- Coach Claude AI tutor (10 exchanges/q)
- Trap susceptibility profile
- Full 5-dimension analytics
- Email reminders
Pro
Everything + full tests
$39/mo
- Everything in Core
- 3 adaptive full-length tests
- Scaled scoring reports
- AI-generated study plan
- Priority Coach Claude
Physician-led. Data-grounded. Obsessively tested.
Lotus is built by Dr. Mickey Bansal — a physician and healthcare informatician who spent his career turning messy data into better decisions. That same rigor is why Lotus can credibly promise the cognitive skills that compound from PSAT into SAT day.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between PSAT 8/9, PSAT 10, and PSAT/NMSQT?
PSAT 8/9 is for 8th and 9th graders. PSAT 10 is a spring test for 10th graders. PSAT/NMSQT is the fall-of-junior-year test that qualifies you for National Merit Scholarship consideration. Lotus's question bank aligns to the PSAT 10 and PSAT/NMSQT.
When should I start PSAT prep?
The sweet spot is summer before junior year — you have 6–8 weeks of focused time before school starts, and another 6 weeks before the October test. Lotus's study plan generator builds a plan tuned to that calendar.
Does my Lotus subscription cover the SAT too?
Yes — Core and Pro tiers include both SAT and PSAT access in one subscription. When PSAT day passes, your plan automatically rolls into SAT prep. Same engine, same question taxonomy, same Cognitive Autopsy.
How early should I start thinking about National Merit?
If your target is Selection Index territory, start in 10th grade. National Merit cutoffs vary by state and change yearly, but a 1450+ Digital PSAT is a reasonable floor for Commended status and many state thresholds.
How is the Digital PSAT different from the old paper version?
Shorter (2h 14min vs 2h 45min), adaptive (Module 1 routes you to a hard or standard Module 2), and lets you use Desmos across the entire Math section. Lotus's practice mirrors the new format.
Explore the PSAT resource hub
Deeper National Merit and PSAT strategy guides coming as we roll them out.
The Ultimate Digital PSAT Guide
National Merit Cutoffs by State
PSAT Reading & Writing Playbook
PSAT Math Strategy Primer
Selection Index Explained
PSAT 8/9 vs PSAT 10 vs PSAT/NMSQT
Summer Prep Before Junior Year
PSAT to SAT: The Transfer Playbook
Ready to chase National Merit?
Start free this summer. Build the cognitive skills that carry you through October — and right into SAT day in the spring.
Get started freeNo credit card required