What Is a Good PSAT Score? [2024 Updated]

The PSAT exam, or preliminary SAT, is a practice test for the real SAT exam. Students who do well on the PSAT in their junior year of high school are eligible for the National Merit Scholarship for their graduate studies. Typically, there are two types of PSAT: the PSAT 8/9, which is taken by students when they are in 8th–9th grade, and the PSAT for high school juniors. However, only the PSAT is considered when checking for scholarship eligibility, so scoring a good PSAT score is the top priority.

Each year, scholarships worth $18 million are given out to students who excel in this exam, making it an important exam for a student’s academic life. Most high schools offer a PSAT exam and do not require any type of fee. However, if a high school does not administer the PSAT exam, a student can still take the exam by paying an $18 fee.

The PSAT exam is 2 hours, 45 minutes long, and comprises 4 different sections. Each section tests a different skill set and is scored based on various sub-scores. The overall exam is divided into two parts: reading and writing and mathematics. Each of these two parts varies in the number of questions and timing.

To be well prepared for this exam, students need to properly understand the structure of the exam for proper time management and preparation. Read below this article to find out Good PSAT Score based on Percentiles, Academic Benchmarks and Merit.

What Is a Good PSAT Score?

Students who are in the top 1% of all the test takers are awarded the national merit scholarship. Therefore, it becomes essential for students to score as high as possible in order to win the scholarship. Being in the top 10% of the test takers puts you in a pretty safe spot.

A good PSAT score falls between 1210 and 1520, placing you in the top 10%. On average, people score around 920 on the PSAT, and if you get a perfect score, you’ll have 1520. Your PSAT score gives a good idea of how well you might do on the SAT.

To understand how well you’re preparing for the PSAT compared to others, check which percentile your score falls into. For example, a score of 1440 out of 1520 puts you in the 99th percentile range. This means that your score is better than that of 99% of the text takers.

Turn Your Dreams Into Reality

The PSAT exam is all based on high school knowledge and is slightly easier than the SAT, so every student is capable of giving the PSAT without worrying too much. However, skills like time management and structural thinking can improve your scores significantly. The strategies below can help you live your dream of a high PSAT score:

1. Begin With the Easy Questions

Start the test by looking at the questions in each section and solving the ones that seem the easiest first. Since each question is worth the same points, it’s smart to earn points from the simple ones first.

2. Skip the Tough Ones For Now

If you stumble upon a hard question, don’t waste too much of your time on it. Skip it and remind yourself to come back to it later. This strategy can help you manage your time well without wasting it all on just one question.

3. Eliminate Wrong Answers

When you are unsure about a question, rather than making a random guess, you can use the process of elimination to identify answers you know are wrong. This improves your chances of getting the answer right.

4. Solve Time-Consuming Questions After Easy Ones

Once you’ve answered all the easy questions, go back and spend time on the more time-consuming ones that you initially skipped. To manage your time well with these difficult questions, spend more time on the questions that you have more confidence in.

5. Address the Most Difficult Questions Last

Save some time at the end to figure out the toughest questions. If you’re unsure about an answer, try to eliminate the incorrect choices and make an educated guess. Always remember that there’s no penalty for wrong answers, so it’s better to guess than to leave a question unanswered.

What is the PSAT score range, and what does it mean for you?

The PSAT score ranges from 320 to 1520 in increments of 10. Each part of the test is graded on a scale from 160 to 760, going up in increments of 10 points. These scores add up to give you a total PSAT score of 1520. The PSAT scores are set up in such a way that most people score around 920. This score is right in the middle of the range between 320 and 1520. From the past scores, it is seen that the average PSAT scores are 920 for 10th graders and 1010 for 11th graders.

The PSAT consists of two main sections: Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (EBRW) and Maths. Each section is scored on a scale of 160–760, which gives a minimum of 320 and a maximum of 1520. Your overall PSAT score is calculated by adding your EBRW and math section scores together. This score reflects your performance on the test and gives you a fair idea of how ready you are for college-level work.

By taking the PSAT 8/9 and PSAT 10, you can easily determine your overall performance against all the students based on your percentile. This percentile will give you a good idea of your score and where you stand amongst your peers and other students.

What Is a Good PSAT Score Based on Percentiles?

PSAT scores are often interpreted through percentiles, which compare your score to that of your peers and other test-takers. The percentile you are at indicates the percentage of test takers who scored lower or the same as you.

Scoring above the 50th percentile means you performed better than half of the test-takers. A good PSAT score is typically considered to be in the 75th percentile or higher, indicating that you scored higher than 75% of test-takers. Percentiles vary each year based on the number of test takers and other academic factors. To stay above the 75th percentile, you need to score a minimum of 590 in the EBRW section and 570 in the math section for an overall score of 1150.

Students are advised to take the PSAT 10 before giving the actual PSAT so that they can understand in which percentile their score lies. This can help them get ready for the actual PSAT by strategically planning their study time based on their weaknesses and strengths in the PSAT 10 exam.

What Is a Good PSAT Score Based on Academic Benchmarks?

The academic benchmarks are set by the College Board, which is a non-profit organisation that creates and administers all the standardized tests for college admissions.

The College Board provides benchmarks to help you understand how your PSAT scores compare to those of other test-takers and provides you with a brief idea of how ready you are for college. The benchmarks show how likely it is for someone to get at least a C grade in their first college course on a similar subject that gives credit.

To get a good PSAT score according to academic standards, try to reach or go higher than the following scores:

• Math: 510-760
• EBRW: 460-760
• Total: 970-1520

If you are able to reach near or more than these standard scores, it shows that you are well-prepared academically and are likely to do well in college-level academics. Remember that the overall goal of taking the PSAT and SAT is to make students ready for college; therefore, students should look at the exam from the same point of view as any other exam and feel confident about their future academic journey.

What Is a Good PSAT Score for National Merit?

The PSAT exam is conducted to find eligible students for the National Merit Scholarship. The top 1% of juniors who take the test get a chance for these special scholarships. To have this opportunity, you must be among the best 1% of all juniors across the country, and that usually means getting a high score on the PSAT.

The National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) uses the Selection Index score to select the semifinalists. The selection index score ranges from 48 to 228 and can be calculated by adding up the math, reading, and writing raw test scores and doubling them. For example, if you scored 24 on reading, 20 on writing, and 40 on math, then your total raw score will be 84, and doubling it will give you a selection index score of 168.

The Selection Index score required to be eligible for the National Merit Scholarship Programme is different based on the year you take the test and the state you live in. Each state has its own score requirement for semifinalists; this can vary from 209 to 222. In order to qualify for the National Merit Scholarship, you need to achieve a minimum score of 35 on each of the three test sections.

Being a National Merit finalist is a dream for all students. If you work hard, score well, and become a finalist or semifinalist, it can really help you boost your college application and help you secure many more scholarships for your college studies.

Do colleges care about your PSAT score?

Usually, when applying to colleges, your PSAT scores don’t affect your admission chances. Most colleges don’t get your PSAT scores, and they don’t use them to decide if you will be getting an acceptance letter or not. However, having exceptionally high scores can definitely boost your chances of acceptance and getting scholarships.

If you do really well on the PSAT and become a National Merit semifinalist or a commended student by being in the top 4%–5% of the test-takers, you should mention your PSAT score and achievement in your college application. Being a National Merit semifinalist or commended student can make your application stronger and will definitely get colleges to see you as an exceptional student.

Even if you don’t have top PSAT scores, colleges mainly look at your SAT or ACT scores. Factors such as your grades, activities, essays, and recommendations play a major role in your application process and can help you get accepted even without high PSAT scores.

Conclusion

It’s important to know what makes a good PSAT score so that you can plan for your future. A good PSAT score is usually in the top 25%, which indicates that you did better than most of the students. If you meet or exceed the College Board’s academic goals, you will get a good idea of your college readiness. A high PSAT score might get you into the National Merit Scholarship Programme, which will give you a credited lifetime opportunity for scholarships and recognition across the country.

Even though most colleges don’t look at your PSAT scores for admission purposes, being a National Merit semifinalist or commended student can make your college applications stand out. In the end, your PSAT score helps you see where you’re strong and where you can improve as you get ready for college and other tests.

What is a Good PSAT Score – FAQs

1. What is an impressive PSAT score?

Answer:

An impressive PSAT score is between 1210 and 1520; this will place you in the top 10% of test takers. The average PSAT score is around 920, and a score of 1520 is considered to be the perfect score. However, to be eligible for the National Merit Scholarship, you need to be in the top 1% and score about 1440.

2. What is the average PSAT score for an 11th grader?

Answer:

An average PSAT score of around 920 falls right in the middle of the minimum and maximum scores (320–1520).

3. Is 1000 a bad PSAT score?

Answer:

A score of 1000 is around the national average of 920. If you score 1000 in your PSAT, then you fall near the 50th percentile. This means that you scored better than or equal to 50% of all the test takers.