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What Is a Good PSAT Score?

The College Board’s PSAT is a great preliminary assessment to see where you stand in terms of standardized testing. You’ll be able to use your results to refine your studying strategy and get an idea of what you may score on tests like the SAT and ACT. But as you get your test results back, you may wonder, “What is a good PSAT score?” The answer to the question can vary based on your goals for testing; everyone performs differently on tests.

To help you better understand your PSAT score, we’ve put together a list of resources to help you understand it. That includes average scores, definitions of terms, and ways that the PSAT is used. We’ll also show you the score you need to become a National Merit Semifinalist. We’ll close by showing you how to convert your PSAT score to an SAT score and some tips for improving your performance.

Related: Free SAT study resources

Definitions of PSAT score terms

Scaled total score

A scaled total score is basically your overall score; this is the metric that most directly correlates to the score you would get on an actual SAT exam. It’s a measure of your total performance that has been standardized to fit results of other PSATs. The maximum score you can earn is 1520.

Scaled section score 

You will receive two scaled section scores: one for your math section, and one for “Evidence-based reading and writing,” or EBRW. Each section is worth half of your scaled total score. So, you can score up to 760 on each section. Your score will always be in ten-point increments. So, it is impossible to earn a scaled section score that is not evenly divisible by ten.

Section test scores

Your section test scores will be somewhere between 8-38. These are the scores you earned on each section, but the College Board has not scaled them yet. The organization will convert them into scaled section scores. Although you only earn two scaled section scores, you’ll earn three section test scores. One will be math, which will entirely constitute your scaled section score for math. The other two will be reading and writing. The College Board will combine your reading and writing section scores to constitute your scaled EBRW score.

Raw scores

Raw scores show you exactly how many questions you got right in each section. You’ll get one point for each correct answer. So, you can earn a maximum of 48 in Math, 47 in Reading, and 44 in Writing. These are useful statistics for studying; you can look at your performance in each section to decide what to study for the SAT.

Don’t miss: Scholarships360’s free scholarship search tool

Subscores

With subscores, we continue to look at your results on a more granular level. Subscores are broken down into seven categories, which are as follows:

• Heart of Algebra
• Passport to Advanced Math
• Expression of Ideas
• Words in Context
• Command of Evidence
• Standard English Conventions
• Problem Solving and Data Analysis

You can receive up to 15 points in each subscore. These are very useful metrics for honing in on your strengths and weaknesses. As you continue to learn what you know and what you need to study, you can use your study time more effectively.

Cross-test scores

Cross-test scores pull from questions throughout the entire test that touch on themes that do not have their own section. These themes are “Analysis in Science” and “Analysis in History and Social Studies.” Even though these are not sections on the exam, they are important skills to hold, and many questions incorporate their themes.

Selection Index score

This score is used by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation to determine who achieves eligibility for the National Merit Scholarship Competition. They calculate the score by adding up all three of the “Section test scores” and multiplying the number by two. 

Percentiles

Your percentile score shows how well you did in relation to other people who took the same test. It is a percentile score, so somewhere between 1 and 100. Your score shows what percentage of other students you tested equal or better to. If your percentile score is 84%, you scored as well or better than 84% of people who took the test.

Don’t miss: SAT math section tips

National PSAT score averages

The average PSAT score in 2021 was approximately 950. So, to score 950 would be to achieve an average score. If you are looking to be in the 90th percentile or perform as well or better than 90% of students, you’d have had to score a 1290 or higher. And to be in the 75th percentile, which is still a remarkable achievement, you’d have to score a 1150 or higher. But remember, a good PSAT score is all relative. What you score will depend on your own strengths and weaknesses with the material and with test-taking.

Also read: ACT vs SAT: How to decide which to take

Converting your PSAT score to an SAT score

Aside from its possibility of qualifying you for the National Merit Scholarship, the PSAT also provides an opportunity to predict your SAT score. Although the PSAT and SAT tests are not identical, they share many similarities. You can use your PSAT score to predict your SAT score fairly accurately using our conversion chart. This is a good way to get a picture of what you might score when it comes time to take the big test. 

Also read: When should you take the SAT or ACT?

Qualifying as a National Merit Semifinalist

Your PSAT Selection Index Score will decide whether you qualify as a National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist. This score will be stacked up against the other scores in your state to determine your eligibility. Though there is no way to be sure of your state’s cutoff year-by-year, you can make predictions based on previous years’ data. Here is a list of each state’s cutoffs for the class of 2021 and 2022. 

State	Selection Index Score for class of 2022	Selection Index Score for class of 2021
Alabama	212	212
Alaska	208	212
Arizona	218	218
Arkansas	211	212
California	221	221
Colorado	217	217
Connecticut	220	220
Delaware	220	219
District of Columbia	224	222
Florida	217	216
Georgia	219	219
Hawaii	217	217
Idaho	214	214
Illinois	218	219
Indiana	215	215
Iowa	211	212
Kansas	215	214
Kentucky	212	214
Louisiana	213	212
Maine	211	213
Maryland	224	221
Massachusetts	221	222
Michigan	217	216
Minnesota	218	218
Mississippi	213	211
Missouri	214	214
Montana	208	210
Nebraska	210	213
Nevada	214	215
New Hampshire	214	215
New Jersey	222	222
New Mexico	210	211
New York	220	220
North Carolina	218	217
North Dakota	207	209
Ohio	215	215
Oklahoma	210	211
Oregon	220	217
Pennsylvania	218	217
Rhode Island	213	216
South Carolina	213	212
South Dakota	210	209
Tennessee	215	215
Texas	220	219
Utah	212	212
Vermont	211	212
Virginia	221	221
Washington	220	220
West Virginia	207	209
Wisconsin	214	213
Wyoming	208	209

Next steps

If you’re shooting to do your best on the PSAT and earn a good score, you’ll want to start studying sooner rather than later. Consider getting a test prep tutor; remember that any preparation for the PSAT will come in handy later as you prepare for the SAT. You can also check out the College Board’s free PSAT study resources on their site.

You can also check out our tips to reduce test-taking anxiety to help you show what you know when test-day rolls around. Finally, if you’re someone who has trouble taking tests, it’s good to remember that you’re not alone. There are many opportunities out there for low test takers, and we can help you find them. As you study for the PSAT, remember that it is not an end-all situation. Its main purpose is to prepare you for the SAT, which you’ll have many opportunities to retake. Good luck and happy studying!

Also see: SAT reading section tips