PSAT Scores Are Out: How to Read Your Results and What to Do Next
Just got your PSAT scores? Learn what your total score, percentiles, section scores, score range, and National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) Selection Index mean, as well as recommended next steps for 8th, 9th, 10th, and 11th graders.
Which PSAT Did You Take?
There are actually three versions of the PSAT:
1. PSAT/NMSQT. Typically taken by 11th graders, this test is the qualifying test for National Merit Scholarship competition. Some 10th graders take it too, but only the qualifying junior-year administration generally counts toward the competition. It is by far the most popular PSAT.
2. PSAT 10. Taken by 10th graders, this test is identical in content and scoring to the PSAT/NMSQT. However, 10th graders are not eligible for National Merit Scholarships based on this test.
3. PSAT 8/9. Taken by 8th and 9th graders, this test contains content that is more aligned with material that 8th and 9th graders might be familiar with.
Is the PSAT the Same as the SAT?
In design and structure, all versions of the PSAT are very similar to the SAT. The PSATs and SAT have the same digital adaptive format, structure, layout, and question types, with meaningful differences in score range and the amount of advanced content.
Because the SAT is designed to be taken by students in late 11th or early 12th grade (of course, many take it earlier), it includes the most advanced content.
Because the PSAT 10 and PSAT/NMSQT are designed to be taken by students in 10th or early 11th grade, they include slightly less advanced content.
Because the PSAT 8/9 is designed to be taken by students in 8th or 9th grade, it includes significantly less advanced content.
How to Interpret Your PSAT Scores
SAT and PSAT Scoring Scales
The SAT is scored from 400 to 1600 points (200–800 for Reading and Writing and 200–800 for Math).
The PSAT 10 and PSAT/NMSQT are scored from 320 to 1520 (160–760 per section) to account for the less advanced material.
The PSAT 8/9 is scored from 240 to 1440 (120–720 per section) because it contains even less advanced material.
This scoring leads to all sorts of myths about how to project PSAT scores to future SAT scores. The most common one we hear is parents who learn that the PSAT is out of 1520 and optimistically expect students to score 80 points higher when they take the SAT (since it’s out of 1600). Here’s the reality, straight from the College Board itself:
This common score scale means that a student who took the PSAT/NMSQT and received a Math section score of 500 would be expected to also get a 500 on the SAT, PSAT 10, or PSAT 8/9 if they had taken any of those tests on that same day; a score of 500 represents the same level of academic achievement on all 4 assessments.
In other words, the PSAT is a useful baseline, not a formula for adding 80 points to project a future SAT score.
Other data you’ll find on the score report and through a student’s College Board account include percentiles and average scores in your school, district, state, country, and among all testers. This is helpful for getting a sense of where you stand relative to other students at your grade level.
What Does My PSAT Score Range Mean?
Your score range is the range of scores you would be likely to earn if you took equivalent versions of the test on different days under the same conditions. It is a useful reminder not to overinterpret a small difference in scores. A 10- or 20-point difference is not necessarily meaningful; look for larger patterns in your section scores and skills instead.
PSAT Benchmarks and Knowledge and Skills
Your score report also includes grade-level college-readiness benchmarks and a Knowledge and Skills breakdown. The College Board benchmarks are 390 in Reading and Writing and 430 in Math for 8th graders; 410 and 450 for 9th graders; 430 and 480 for 10th graders; and 460 and 510 for 11th graders. Meeting a benchmark means a student is considered on track for college and career readiness in that section; it is not a college-admissions target.
The Knowledge and Skills section is often the most actionable part of the report. It breaks Reading and Writing and Math into specific content areas, helping students identify whether their next priority is, for example, Algebra, Advanced Math, Craft and Structure, or Standard English Conventions.
NMSC Selection Index (PSAT/NMSQT Only)
If you took the PSAT/NMSQT, you will also see the NMSC Selection Index, which has a maximum score of 228. This score is used to determine which students qualify for National Merit recognition. Assuming citizenship, enrollment, and score-verification requirements are met, Semifinalist qualification is score-based within each state: students at or above the state cutoff are named Semifinalists; students below it are not. The NMSC is extremely selective: fewer than 1% of students nationwide are selected as Semifinalists. That’s about 16,000 students nationwide each year, typically fewer than 700 students in Pennsylvania.
In Pennsylvania, over the past 10+ years, the cutoff scores for Semifinalists have ranged from 217 to 221. These historical cutoffs are useful context, but they are not official predictions for the current class. Essentially, students with NMSC Selection Index scores above 220 can be pretty confident they will be Semifinalists. Students with scores under 217 can be very confident they will not make the cutoff.
Students who score extremely well but not quite up to the NMSC cutoff may be named National Merit Commended Students. The cutoff to be a Commended Student over the last decade has ranged from 207 to 212.
If you want to know where these NMSC scores come from, multiply your Reading and Writing score by two, add your Math score, and divide by 10.
Are PSAT Scores Important?
Relative to SAT or ACT scores, PSAT scores have no direct role in college admissions. Colleges do not receive PSAT scores. National Merit Semifinalist honors can be included on a college application, but the honor shows colleges primarily that a student is capable of scoring highly on a standardized test, which he or she will usually do through the SAT or ACT.
For the vast majority of students, the PSAT is best thought of as practice: excellent preparation for the SAT, a potentially useful diagnostic baseline (see sections below), and a way to identify what to work on next. National Merit recognition and scholarships can be meaningful for a relatively small group of high scorers, but the PSAT is primarily a planning tool.
What Should You Do Next After Receiving Your PSAT Scores?
For 8th Through 10th Graders Who Took the PSAT 8/9 or PSAT 10
Use this as a benchmark to get a sense of how you’re doing relative to your goals. If you have aspirations of near-perfect scores or plans to apply to highly selective universities, and your section scores are in the 400s or 500s, this should be a wakeup call.
Sure, it’s perfectly reasonable to expect academic growth and development every year and score increases to go along with that. But if you see a wide gap between where you are and where you hope to be, it’s time to be proactive.
Identify areas of weakness. Think about your level of mastery, which may not always align with grades. Are you the kind of student who deeply retains content long after learning it? Do you thrive on midterms and finals? Or is testing a weakness, with your GPA buoyed by homework completion, projects, and test makeups?
Do you deeply understand math—how all the math you’ve ever learned connects and builds on itself? Or do you just memorize steps and formulas, get A’s on tests, and move on?
Do you read extensively for pleasure? A consistent reading habit is one practical way to build the comprehension, vocabulary, and fluency that support strong Reading and Writing performance.
Perhaps now is the time to truly commit to a reading habit and to start seeking out help to more deeply understand math.
For 10th graders, even high-scoring ones, it’s typically [quite early](https://premiercollegeprep.com/blog/2018/11/14/ideal-satact-testing-timelines) to target any SATs or ACTs this school year. For most 10th graders, we recommend diagnostic tests in the spring of 10th grade in order to [make a plan](https://premiercollegeprep.com/process) for targeting an SAT or ACT in junior year.
For 11th Graders Who Took the PSAT/NMSQT
Everything in the PSAT 8/9 and PSAT 10 section above still applies, but since it’s October or November of your junior year, you’ve got more urgency to actively create a test plan.
If you’ve never taken an SAT (real or practice), then the PSAT is a great baseline (i.e. starting point) for the SAT. See “How to Interpret Your PSAT Scores” above.
You should compare that to a diagnostic practice ACT test. All colleges value the ACT just as much as the SAT, so we highly recommend trying an ACT]. It might be a much better test for you and give you much higher score potential.
After that, you can compare the SAT and ACT results, identify the best target test dates, and come up with a preparation plan for an SAT or ACT class, 1-on-1 SAT or ACT tutoring, or independent self-preparation.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Do colleges see my PSAT scores?
No. PSAT scores are not sent to colleges. National Merit recognition, if a student earns it, may later be included on a college application.
What’s a good PSAT score for a junior?
It’s all relative to your goals. If your goal is to attend and graduate from college, a good score is one that meets the college-readiness benchmarks. If your goal is to compete for admission at a highly selective university, you’ll want scores that are much higher. Use each college’s Common Data Set to get a sense.
What does my PSAT percentile mean?
It compares your scores with those of other students in the comparison group listed on your score report. The College Board’s All Tester percentiles are based on the actual scores of recent PSAT test-takers in the relevant grades.
What is a PSAT score range?
It is the range of scores you would likely earn on equivalent tests taken on different days under the same conditions. It is why small score differences should not be overinterpreted.
What are the PSAT college-readiness benchmarks?
They are section-level indicators of whether a student is on track for college and career readiness. They are useful benchmarks, not admissions cutoffs or target scores for selective colleges.
Can a sophomore qualify for National Merit?
No. A sophomore may take the PSAT/NMSQT, but that administration does not qualify the student for National Merit recognition. The qualifying test is generally taken during the junior year.
What PSAT score is needed for National Merit?
There is no single total PSAT score that guarantees National Merit recognition. NMSC uses the Selection Index, and Semifinalist cutoffs vary by state and by year.
When are National Merit Semifinalists announced?
NMSC announces Semifinalists through high schools in the fall of senior year. Check with your school counselor for the current timeline and official notification.
How is the PSAT Selection Index calculated?
Reading and Writing is double-counted. To obtain your Selection Index score, multiply your Reading and Writing score by two, add your Math score, and divide by 10.
Does my PSAT score predict my SAT score?
Not exactly. The PSAT and SAT share a common score scale, so the PSAT is a useful baseline, but future SAT scores depend on further learning, preparation, and test-day performance.
Can I retake the PSAT?
Students may take PSAT assessments in later grades if their school offers them, but the PSAT is typically only offered once per year. For National Merit, the qualifying administration is generally the PSAT/NMSQT taken in junior year.
Should I take the SAT or ACT next?
If you haven’t tried a real or diagnostic ACT, we highly recommend trying one, then deciding which test is better for you.