Understanding Your Child’s PSAT Score
Breaking Down the Score Report
Like the SAT, the PSAT has two sections: Evidence-Based Reading/Writing and Math.
The PSAT is scored out of 1520 (while a perfect score on the SAT is 1600). The PSAT report provides percentiles for each section, which allows students and parents to understand where a student is scoring versus the national average.
On their PSAT score report, juniors receive a Selection Index score that is used to determine their qualification for National Merit Scholarship eligibility. The score is calculated by doubling the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing score, adding the math score, and dividing the sum by 10.
The National Merit Scholarship Corporation compares a student’s score to the eligibility score for that student’s home state. Some states require higher scores than others for National Merit Scholarships. For example, California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York typically have higher cutoff scores than other states. Juniors will be notified the following September if they qualify as semifinalists.
Reasons for Sophomores and Juniors to Take the PSAT
Sophomores
Can use the PSAT score to help them determine whether they want to focus on preparing and taking the SAT or ACT test for college admissions. After taking the PSAT, a student may want to try taking a diagnostic ACT test and compare the scores (and their test experiences) to determine which standardized test they will focus on in junior year.
The section scores on the PSAT can also identify areas in which the student is stronger and which areas they may need support.
Juniors
The PSAT score can potentially qualify the student for National Merit Scholarship status.
If the student hasn’t chosen between the ACT and SAT, the PSAT score can be useful in determining which test the student should prepare for and take. The score can also provide a sense of how much preparation the student will need, which can be helpful in creating a plan for which official test dates to register for and take.
Students and parents can use the PSAT score as a guide to creating a preliminary college list. By translating the PSAT score into a comparable SAT score, families can check a student’s qualification for specific colleges by comparing it to the reported middle 50% range of SAT scores for that specific school.
Who Does Not Need to Take the PSAT?
Juniors who are not focused on qualifying for National Merit Scholarship and those who have already completed their official ACT or SAT testing do not need to sit for the PSAT if it is optional for their school.
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