The PSAT (usually taken in fall of a student’s junior year, or sometimes earlier) is a practice SAT that can help students to plan for the SAT, which is used for college admissions.
Based on PSAT scores, students can predict what kind of scores they’re likely to receive on the SAT. Students can learn more about that projected SAT score and decide whether that’s a good score for their goals.
If these SAT scores won’t be competitive scores for the colleges and universities where the student hopes to apply, then they know they’ll need to study more!
PSAT to SAT Conversion
Planning to take the SAT? Check that you know everything covered by the test with this free study guide:
PSAT vs SAT
The PSAT is a standardized test used to assess students’ readiness for college. There are several different versions of the test:
PSAT 8/9: designed for 8th and 9th graders, scored from 240–1440
PSAT 10: the full PSAT test, but administered to 10th graders in the spring, scored from 320–1520
PSAT/NMSQT: the full PSAT test administered to 10th graders and 11th graders in the fall (when taken in 11th grade it counts for the National Merit Scholarship competition), scored from 320–1520
All versions of the PSAT are designed to lead up to the SAT, which is the test that students for applying to college:
SAT: the big college admissions test, usually taken in the spring of 11th grade, scored from 400–1600
The PSAT is nearly identical to the SAT, just marginally shorter and easier.
For most students, scores for the PSAT don’t really matter for college admissions. The only way that PSAT scores can have a direct impact on college admissions is if students score in the top 3% of all the students in their state. High-scoring students on the PSAT can earn big-name awards and scholarships from the National Merit competition, including full-ride scholarships at some colleges.
Read more: Does the PSAT matter?
That means that the majority of students can treat the PSAT like a practice SAT, but ambitious students who tend to do well on tests might want to take it more seriously. Learn more about the National Merit scholarship competition:
Read more: PSAT cutoff scores for National Merit
If you want to know whether you have a reasonable shot at making the cutoff score for National Merit status, or if you want to aim at achieving that high score on the PSAT, feel free to reach out to me (Emily) at info@ivybloomacademics.com. I was a National Merit Scholar myself (the top award, given to only 2500 students in the country annually) and I’ve helped several of my students achieve this prestigious scholarship.
Converting PSAT scores to SAT scores
The PSAT is designed to give students and families a prediction of how they might score on the SAT.
Typically a student’s SAT score is a little higher than their PSAT score. Use this table to predict your SAT score based on your PSAT score:
Converting PSAT scores to SAT scores
| PSAT score | Projected SAT score |
|---|---|
| 400 | 630 |
| 450 | 670 |
| 500 | 710 |
| 550 | 760 |
| 600 | 800 |
| 650 | 840 |
| 700 | 880 |
| 750 | 920 |
| 800 | 970 |
| 850 | 1010 |
| 900 | 1050 |
| 920 | 1070 |
| 940 | 1080 |
| 960 | 1100 |
| PSAT score | Projected SAT score |
|---|---|
| 980 | 1120 |
| 1000 | 1140 |
| 1020 | 1150 |
| 1040 | 1170 |
| 1060 | 1190 |
| 1080 | 1200 |
| 1100 | 1220 |
| 1120 | 1240 |
| 1140 | 1250 |
| 1160 | 1270 |
| 1180 | 1290 |
| 1200 | 1300 |
| 1220 | 1320 |
| 1240 | 1340 |
| PSAT score | Projected SAT score |
|---|---|
| 1260 | 1350 |
| 1280 | 1370 |
| 1300 | 1390 |
| 1320 | 1410 |
| 1340 | 1420 |
| 1360 | 1440 |
| 1380 | 1460 |
| 1400 | 1470 |
| 1420 | 1490 |
| 1440 | 1510 |
| 1460 | 1520 |
| 1480 | 1540 |
| 1500 | 1560 |
| 1520 | 1570 |
Wondering what your projected SAT score means? Check out these guides for different SAT scores, including example lists of colleges where that score would be a “good score”:
Guide for 1100 SAT | 1200 SAT | 1300 SAT | 1400 SAT | 1500 SAT
How to improve your projected SAT score
It’s normal to want your eventual SAT score to be higher than the score predicted by your PSAT score.
Fortunately, it’s definitely possible to improve your SAT score with the right practice and review!
Over the past decade, I’ve helped hundreds of students to raise their SAT scores and improve their chances of admission at their dream schools. I’m a Princeton grad who was a top-1% scorer on the SAT on my first try, and I have a lot of great strategies for reaching one’s full potential on the test.
Get started by downloading this free study guide for the SAT:
More of my best SAT advice is available for free here, but I also teach students one-on-one.
With individual test prep, we’re able to immediately target a student’s individual weak spots and find the best strategies that will work for their strengths.
If you’d like to start 100% customized private SAT prep, sign up here or email me (Emily) at info@ivybloomacademics.com.
Happy studying!