PSAT – How is the Test Scored?

The PSAT is comprised of two components – Math and Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (EBRW).  EBRW consists of two sections – Reading, and Writing and Language. Your total score is the sum of your scores in all three sections – Reading, Writing and Language, and Math (with and without calculator).  Component scores can range from 160 – 760.  The overall total score can range from 320 – 1520.  Even though the top score a student can earn on the SAT is 1600, the College Board says that you should look at your PSAT score as an indicator of what you’ll score on the SAT.  So if your overall PSAT score is 1300, you can expect to earn a 1390 on the SAT unless you put in more preparation.

The PSAT/NMSQT (Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test) is scored using a specific scoring system. The scoring process involves a combination of raw scores, scaled scores, and percentiles. Here’s a breakdown of how the PSAT is scored:

Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (EBRW):

• Raw Score: You receive a raw score for the EBRW section, which is the sum of the number of questions you answered correctly.
• Scaled Score: The raw score is converted to a scaled score that ranges from 160 to 760. The scaled score takes into account the difficulty of the test and allows for meaningful score comparisons across different test administrations.

Math:

• Raw Score: Similar to the EBRW section, you receive a raw score for the Math section based on the number of questions answered correctly.
• Scaled Score: The raw score is converted to a scaled score ranging from 160 to 760.

Total Score:

• Your total score is the sum of your scaled scores from the EBRW and Math sections, ranging from 320 to 1520.

Selection Index (for National Merit Scholarship consideration):

• The National Merit Scholarship Program uses the PSAT/NMSQT scores to identify and award scholarships to top-performing students.
• The Selection Index is calculated by doubling the sum of the scaled scores from the Math and EBRW sections.
• The Selection Index ranges from 48 to 228.

Percentiles:

• Percentiles indicate how your score compares to the scores of other test-takers.
• For example, if your percentile rank is 85%, it means you scored higher than 85% of test-takers.

It’s important to note that scoring details and scales may vary slightly from year to year based on the specific PSAT version. Also, the PSAT is often used as practice for the SAT, which is the college admissions test, and the scoring mechanisms are similar between the two tests. Always refer to the official College Board website or score report for the most accurate and up-to-date information regarding PSAT scoring.

What is considered a good PSAT score?

A score in the 50^th percentile is “average,” the 75^th percentile is considered above average, the 90^th percentile is “great”, and the 99^th percentile is “excellent”.

*These percentile rankings/scores may vary from year to year.

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