PSAT Scores: What is considered a good score?

Quick Notes:

PSAT scores help identify the subject areas and topics where a student needs to study more to be fully prepared for the SAT.

To ensure you have a competitive score you should work towards getting an index score above the minimum score required by your state.
The state index scores change each year.
Use PSAT practice tests to make sure you are prepared for the PSAT and improve overall scoring.
Smart Edition Academy has several PSAT online course options if you need more help.

PSAT 8/9 Online Course

If you want the best chance for scoring high then the Smart Edition PSAT 8/9 course will provide all the material and resources you need to succeed on the test so you can go on to crush the SAT.

PSAT Scoring Scale

The main benefit of taking the PSAT is to help identify the subject areas you need to continue to study more so you can be fully prepared for the SAT. For this reason it’s really important to understand how the PSAT scoring works.

A students PSAT score comes in different versions but the one to pay attention to is what’s called the scaled score which is a result of the section scores which range from 320 – 1520 and is a combination of the math and the evidence based reading and writing skills sections (EBRW).

Each section has an individual score range which is the same for each section, that range is 160 – 760. You can calculate your score by combining the two scores, so for example if you scored a 550 on the math section and a 600 on the EBRW section your total score would be 1150.

Your scaled score is derived from what’s called your raw score which is based on the number of questions you answered correctly in each section, the raw scores range from 8 to 38.

The test administrator College Board takes into account the difficulty level of each question on the test in a formula only they have so it’s not known exactly how they calculate the difficulty level of each question into your scaled score.

According to the College Board the meaning of scaled scores is:

“This common score scale means that a student who took the PSAT 10 and received a Math section score of 500 would be expected to also get a 500 on the SAT or the PSAT 8/9 if they had taken either of those tests on that same day; a score of 500 represents the same level of academic achievement on all three assessments.”

You can read more about how scores are calculated on the official College Board website.

According to the College Board the meaning of scaled scores is:

Good PSAT Scores

Scores in the 950-1080 range are considered good, and scores above 1080 are excellent. Top colleges generally consider anything above 1200 to be competitive. If you’re aiming for Ivy League schools, your goal should be 1450 or higher.

However a good PSAT score is not exactly the right question to ask. The reason is that the PSAT is a test that indicates your strengths and weaknesses in each subject so that you can focus your studying and coursework to improve your scores on the actual SAT. In other words it’s a benchmark, and it’s your benchmark, not anyone else.

Ivy League PSAT scores

To be eligible for Ivy League school admission, students must start early by taking the PSAT exam. The PSAT is a practice test for the SAT that the College Board offers. Ivy League schools do not in any way use your PSAT scores for the admissions process but the PSAT is a leading indicator of your SAT score which is heavily used by Ivy League schools in the admissions process.

High school juniors usually take it in preparation for taking the SAT during their senior year. Scores on the PSAT range from a low of 320 to a high of 1520. The average score for Ivy League schools is 1460.

There are eight Ivy League schools in the United States, and they are some of the most prestigious universities in the world. They are: Brown University, Columbia University, Cornell University, Dartmouth College, Harvard University, Princeton University, the University of Pennsylvania, and Yale University. These schools are known for their rigorous academic programs and competitive admissions processes.

To get into an Ivy League school, students need to have a high PSAT score and strong grades. They also need to be well-rounded individuals with extracurricular activities and community service experience. The admissions process is very competitive, and only the best students are admitted to these prestigious schools.

If you’re dreaming of attending an Ivy League school, start preparing now by taking practice tests and studying hard!

PSAT Scores Needed for a scholarship?

To earn a National Merit Scholarship award, students need to score in the 99th percentile or top 1%. The average score requirement is 215, but this varies from state to state.

If a student is applying for private scholarships using PSAT scores as their source for qualification, this will vary from organization to organization. For example, the Telluride Seminar Scholarships or the National Scholarship Service have different score requirements.

Does a PSAT score predict SAT score?

As a high schooler, you’re probably familiar with the PSAT. It’s a test taken by millions of juniors every year and is often seen as a practice SAT. But does a PSAT score predict your future success on the SAT?

The answer is yes and that is one of the main purposes of taking the PSAT. The PSAT is meant to give you a strong indication of what your SAT score would be if you had to take the SAT on that same day, after all the P in PSAT stands for preliminary SAT.

One thing to note however is that the PSAT is a slightly easier test but not by much. The expectation is that the PSAT scores you receive will help guide what you focus your future high school course work on, which in turn will result in higher scores in any particular section when you take the SAT.

What percentile is National Merit PSAT?

Students must score in the 99th percentile in order to be a semifinalist for the National Merit Scholarship award. Every state has what’s called an “index score” and every state has a slightly different score. It’s important to check what your state’s minimum index score is.

The average is 215. However, some states like Maryland and California require scores as high as 224. It’s always a good idea to aim to score a few points higher than the state’s minimum requirement. The National Merit PSAT candidates must score in the top 1%.

Do universities look at PSAT scores?

Colleges and universities do not look at your PSAT score, it is only intended to be an indicator of how you would score on the actual SAT.

Your actual SAT score is what schools will use to determine the strength of your application along with several other factors such as your GPA, extracurricular activities and any other unique experience you may have.

Do PSAT Scores really matter?

There are two answers for the question of does the PSAT score really matter. Well..yes and no. I know, maybe not what you wanted to hear but we’ll explain.

In the long term big picture your PSAT score does not matter because it will not be sent to any colleges you are applying to. If you did not score well on the PSAT again that doesn’t really matter, your score is just for you.

In the short term, yes your PSAT score does matter and the reason is because it’s a strong indicator of how you would do on the SAT, so if scoring high on the SAT is important to you then you will want to take your PSAT score more seriously. Your score will help you assess what subjects you to work towards improving during your remaining time in high school so you can get the best possible SAT score.

What qualifies for a National Merit Scholar?

The National Merit Scholarship Program is a competition for high school students in the United States to compete for college scholarships and is overseen by the Merit Scholarship Corporation.

In order to be eligible for the National Merit Scholarship award a student must meet the criteria which are to be currently enrolled in a high school in the United States and to take the PSAT/NMSQT test in their third year of high school. You can read more details on the NMSQT qualification process on the National Merit website.

The next qualifying aspect of the award will be based on your PSAT/NMSQT score which has to be extremely competitive, in fact you need to score in the top 1% of test takers in your specific state, this is called your index score.

Every state has a different index score but the average index score to qualify as a National Merit Scholar is 215.

Most recently, the PSAT 8/9 or PSAT 10 scores were not a consideration or factor when selecting their semi-finalists. Only PSAT/NMQST scores will be used for eligibility.