You wouldn't go for your driver's license test before ever getting behind the wheel, right? In reality, you'd practice your three-point turns and parallel parking first so you're ready and know what to expect when the real test comes. Just as you suspected, this scenario is an analogy for the PSAT. Rather than sitting for it junior year without a practice run, you can improve your performance if you've already taken it in 10th grade. Taking the PSAT as a sophomore is a great, low-pressure way to familiarize yourself with the test, gauge your level, and figure out where you need to improve. With this in mind, we'll look at what PSAT scores are good for sophomores and how to improve them even more for junior year. But first, let's consider how the PSAT is scored. The PSAT is scored between 320 and 1520 points. You'll get two scaled scores between 160 and 760: one for Math and one for Reading and Writing combined (called Evidence-Based Reading and Writing, or EBRW). You'll also get to see how you performed on each of the three sections with a test score between 8 and 38. (This scoring scale differs from that on the old PSAT, which gave you 20-80 points on three separate sections.) The PSAT scoring scale helps you predict your SAT scores. If you score 1500 on the PSAT, you're likely to achieve a similarly high score on the SAT. The scale is shifted about 80 points lower than that of the SAT (which has a total score range of 400-1600) since the PSAT is a slightly easier test. Therefore, you can only compare the scores up to about 1520; beyond that, you can't equate a perfect PSAT score with a perfect SAT score. Your PSAT score report will give you lots of data, including your scaled scores, section scores, and subscores, which further break down your performance. For the sake of figuring out what makes a good PSAT score for a sophomore, let's consider another important piece of data: your percentiles. Percentiles compare your section and composite scores with those of other test takers. So if your Math score falls in the 80th percentile, you've scored equal to or higher than 80% of test takers (and the remaining 20% scored higher than you). Basically, the higher your percentile, the better you scored on the PSAT compared with everyone else. Read on to learn about percentiles and how they can help us answer our question of what's a good PSAT score for a 10th grader. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points? We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now: We can define a "good" PSAT score for a sophomore as one that's higher than the 75th percentile. This means that you scored higher than 75% of other sophomores who took the PSAT. For sophomores, 75th percentile scores are around 520-540 on each section, or 1060 total. An "OK" PSAT score for a sophomore is one that's higher than the 50th percentile, meaning you scored the same as or higher than half of test takers. In contrast, an excellent score is one that's higher than the 90th percentile, or 90% of test takers. This chart shows the minimum section and composite scores you'd need to get in order to hit the 50th, 75th, 90th, and 99th percentiles on the 2021 PSAT:
How Is the PSAT Scored?
What's a Good PSAT Score for a Sophomore?
| PSAT Percentile (10th Grade) | EBRW Score | Math Score | Composite Score |
| 99% (Top) | 700-760 | 710-760 | 1370-1520 |
| 90% (Excellent) | 610 | 580-590 | 1180 |
| 75% (Good) | 540-550 | 520 | 1060 |
| 50% (OK) | 460-470 | 450-460 | 910-920 |
Based on that reasoning, a good PSAT score for a sophomore is a composite score higher than 1060, an OK score is one higher than 920, and an excellent score is anything higher than 1180.
What Do PSAT Score Percentiles Mean?
To understand how we chose the scores to represent "good," "OK," and "excellent" PSAT scores, as well as how you can interpret PSAT scores, you'll need to understand PSAT percentiles. This section will give you a more in-depth look at PSAT percentiles and the information you can get from them.
Your PSAT score report will feature lots of score types and data. Among this data, you'll get not just one but two percentiles comparing your scores with those of other students. These percentiles are called the Nationally Representative Percentile and the User Percentile.
The reason behind using two percentiles remains vague, and some educators have suggested that the College Board uses the Nationally Representative Percentile as a way to inflate students' scores and make the PSAT appear less competitive than it really is.
Regardless, we'll focus on User Percentiles, which compare all students in a grade who typically take the PSAT (as opposed to the other percentile, which includes all students in a grade, even those who didn't take the PSAT—weird, I know).
Below is a chart based on info from the College Board's 2021 PSAT score report, which gives PSAT User Percentiles specifically for 10th graders. As you look through the data, note that the same scores translate to slightly different percentiles. In past years, Math tended to be more competitive than Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (EBRW). Here, the comparisons are less straightforward.
Check out the data, and then read on for further interpretation of how these sections compare.
| PSAT Score | EBRW Percentile (10th Grade) | Math Percentile (10th Grade) |
| 760 | 99+ | 99+ |
| 750 | 99+ | 99+ |
| 740 | 99+ | 99 |
| 730 | 99+ | 99 |
| 720 | 99+ | 99 |
| 710 | 99 | 99 |
| 700 | 99 | 98 |
| 690 | 98 | 98 |
| 680 | 98 | 98 |
| 670 | 97 | 97 |
| 660 | 96 | 97 |
| 650 | 95 | 97 |
| 640 | 94 | 96 |
| 630 | 93 | 96 |
| 620 | 92 | 95 |
| 610 | 90 | 94 |
| 600 | 88 | 92 |
| 590 | 87 | 91 |
| 580 | 84 | 89 |
| 570 | 82 | 87 |
| 560 | 80 | 85 |
| 550 | 77 | 83 |
| 540 | 74 | 81 |
| 530 | 71 | 78 |
| 520 | 68 | 75 |
| 510 | 65 | 73 |
| 500 | 61 | 69 |
| 490 | 58 | 66 |
| 480 | 55 | 62 |
| 470 | 52 | 58 |
| 460 | 49 | 54 |
| 450 | 46 | 49 |
| 440 | 42 | 44 |
| 430 | 39 | 40 |
| 420 | 36 | 36 |
| 410 | 33 | 32 |
| 400 | 29 | 27 |
| 390 | 26 | 22 |
| 380 | 23 | 19 |
| 370 | 19 | 16 |
| 360 | 16 | 12 |
| 350 | 13 | 9 |
| 340 | 10 | 8 |
| 330 | 7 | 6 |
| 320 | 5 | 4 |
| 310 | 3 | 3 |
| 300 | 2 | 2 |
| 290 | 2 | 2 |
| 280 | 1 and below | 1 and below |
In past years, Math was pretty much always more competitive than Reading and Writing; however, Reading and Writing has recently become more competitive. This means that most of the time you'll need to achieve a slightly higher score on EBRW to make it into the same percentile as you did on Math. For example, a Math score of 500 puts you in the 69th percentile, but the same score on EBRW puts you in only the 61st percentile.
Why Are PSAT Scores Important for Sophomores?
Your sophomore year PSAT scores aren’t as important as your PSAT scores from your junior year when you’ll be able to compete for National Merit, but they're still useful.
You can use your sophomore PSAT scores to estimate how well you’ll do on the PSAT next year and on the SAT later on. This can help you gauge how much studying you'll need to do to qualify for National Merit and/or meet your SAT score goals.
Preparing for National Merit as a Sophomore
The National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) identifies juniors who get top scores on the PSAT. Students whose PSAT scores are in the top 1% are named Semifinalists. Reaching this stage can give you a big boost in college admissions and make you eligible for numerous scholarships. Thus, many students who take the PSAT as sophomores do so to prepare themselves for when they take the PSAT as juniors and can compete for National Merit.
There are several things you can do as a sophomore to help you prepare for the PSAT as a junior and potentially qualify you for National Merit. If you're already scoring in the 95th percentile or above as a sophomore, you're well on track to qualifying as a Semifinalist and eventually Finalist.
While these are outstanding scores, National Merit scholarships only go to the top 1% of juniors, so you'll have to do some serious prep to compete with other juniors and bring up your scores to the top of the pack by the following year.
If National Merit is in your sights, you'll want to aim for a score of around 1440 on the PSAT, or about 35-36 as your "test score" on each section (when you take the test as a junior). The exact score you need to qualify varies by state. Check out the cutoff scores here, as well as all the other criteria you must meet to be competitive for National Merit.
Remember, though, that you have lots of time to prepare for both the PSAT and SAT, so if you’re not happy with your scores, there’s still time to develop a solid study plan and improve your scores. Speaking of prep ...
Disappointed with your PSAT performance? Want to improve your PSAT score by 150 points? We have the industry's leading PSAT prep program. Built by Harvard grads and SAT full scorers, the program learns your strengths and weaknesses through advanced statistics, then customizes your prep program to you so that you get the most effective prep possible.
Check out our 5-day free trial today:
What Can You Do to Prepare for the PSAT? 3 Key Tips
There are multiple steps you can take to prepare for the PSAT, both in your sophomore year and junior year. Even a small amount of prep can translate into significant score increases, so be sure to take a look at these tips and make use of them before test day!
#1: Set Target PSAT Scores
Before you take the PSAT your sophomore year, consider setting a target score to give you a goal to aim for while studying and to make sure you're on track to meet your goals for your junior-year PSAT and eventually SAT.
A potential goal could be scoring in at least the 70th percentile, for example. Or you might aim higher, such as the 95th percentile, if you're hoping to qualify for National Merit as a junior.
Once you get the results for your sophomore-year PSAT, you can start to set goals for your junior-year PSAT. Again, if you're aiming for National Merit, you'll need to get a composite score of about 1440 to qualify. With serious prep, you could raise your PSAT score by hundreds of points.
Even apart from all your studying, you're likely to improve regardless since you'll be a year older with an additional year of high school under your belt!
#2: Take PSAT Practice Tests
The best way to improve your PSAT scores is to start practicing! You can use official PSAT practice tests as well as official SAT questions available through the College Boardand Khan Academy (a partner website).
The abundance of practice material for the old (pre-2015) PSAT doesn't have to go to waste either. Many of these questions, especially the Math and reading comprehension ones, are still relevant. Just make sure to familiarize yourself with the changes to the test so you can shift your focus to the most important skills.
If you're disappointed with your sophomore-year PSAT scores, don't worry! You still have plenty of time to learn and practice. Use your feelings as motivation to improve next year through focused, disciplined, and effective test prep.
#3: Target Your Weaknesses
After you've taken your first PSAT practice test, look it over and see which questions you got wrong and which ones you got right. Did you score well on Reading and Writing but struggle with Math? Were there specific types of questions or topics that gave you trouble? Take time to figure out where you need to make the biggest improvements.
Then, get to work targeting those weaknesses. For each question you got wrong on your practice test, look at the correct answer and try to re-solve it, using the correct answer as a guide. If you still can't figure it out, read that question's answer explanation to understand what you did wrong and how to solve it.
When studying, be sure to focus extra attention on your weak areas. Brush up on the topics themselves if you need to, and answer lots of practice problems until you feel more confident. Do all of this, and you'll be well on your way to a great PSAT score!
What's Next?
The PSAT is great prep for the SAT, but you might also be taking the SAT or ACT as practice. Learn about good SAT and ACT scores for sophomores so you can get a better idea of what scores to aim for on test day.
Do your PSAT scores predict your SAT scores? Our guide offers a detailed look at the connection between the two tests and your scores on them.
Got questions about the PSAT format? Read this complete guide to the redesigned PSAT.
Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points? We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:
Rebecca Safier
About the Author
Rebecca graduated with her Master's in Adolescent Counseling from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She has years of teaching and college counseling experience and is passionate about helping students achieve their goals and improve their well-being. She graduated magna cum laude from Tufts University and scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT.
Get Free Guides to Boost Your SAT/ACT
FAQs
What is an okay PSAT score for a sophomore? ›
A result superior to the 90th percentile, or 90% of test takers, is considered outstanding. According to this approach, an average score higher than 1060 indicates a decent PSAT score for a sophomore, above 920 indicates an OK score, and beyond 1180 indicates an excellent score.
What is the average PSAT score for a 15 year old? ›The PSAT scores scale makes it so that most test takers score around 920 (the halfway point between 320 and 1520). And the data backs this up: the average PSAT scores are 920 for 10th graders and 1010 for 11th graders.
Is 1400 a good PSAT score for a sophomore? ›Any PSAT score in the range of 1450-1500 is also a tremendous achievement, and an early indication that a student is academically prepared to pursue applications to top-ranked universities and colleges in the US. If you score between a 1400 and a 1450 you should also be proud.
Is 1000 a good PSAT score for a 10th grader? ›A combined score of 1000 is approximately the national average, which represents the 50th percentile (students who score 1000 score right in the middle, with 50% of the people scoring higher and 50% of the students scoring lower).
What is average PSAT score for 10th grade? ›The average PSAT 10 score is around 920. A score between 1210 and 1520 places you in the top 10% of test takers. The PSAT 10 and the SAT are very similar tests, and your score on the PSAT 10 can give you an idea of how you'll do when you take the SAT.
Do colleges look at 10th grade PSAT? ›College Board does not send PSAT/NMSQT scores to colleges. These scores are not intended to be part of college admission decisions.
What is an impressive PSAT score? ›The average PSAT/NMSQT score is about 920. A score between 1210 and 1520 puts you in the top 10% of test takers. The PSAT/NMSQT and the SAT are very similar tests, so your score on the PSAT/NMSQT can give you an idea of how you'll do when you take the SAT.
Does a 1400 PSAT qualify for National Merit? ›Practically speaking, this means that anyone who qualifies as a National Merit Scholarship semifinalist (PSAT scores of 1400/1520 and up, depending on the state of residence) should be able to easily achieve a confirming score (SAT scores as low as 1320/1600, and ACT scores as low as 26/36), especially given multiple ...
What PSAT score is required for Harvard? ›PSAT Averages
This would put you squarely in the 50th percentile of scoring. But those averages can change depending on the college you're hoping to apply to. For example, the average PSAT score by Harvard admitted students was between 1420 and 1520 (or 210-238 on the old scale).
In general, colleges do not see your PSAT scores, even if you qualify for the National Merit Scholarship Program.
Do sophomore PSAT scores matter? ›
Your counselor can also help you find practice tests (many are online) and give you some helpful hints about test-taking strategy. And remember: PSAT scores from your sophomore year don't count toward National Merit Scholarship eligibility, but PSAT scores from your junior year do count.
What is a good PSAT score for Ivy League? ›If your ultimate goal is to attend an elite university, then you should know that a good PSAT score for Ivy League admission is to be in the 99th percentile or higher. In other words, if your main priority is getting into the Ivy League, you should aim for a composite PSAT score anywhere between 1280 and 1520.
Does your 10th grade PSAT matter? ›If your child is in 10th grade, they can benefit from taking the PSAT 10 in several ways. It identifies their academic strengths and weaknesses early in high school, when there's plenty of time to improve before college. It lets them know which Advanced Placement (AP) courses they're most likely to do well in.
What is the minimum PSAT score for National Merit Scholarship? ›To be competitive for National Merit Semifinalist status, students need to score about 1400 on the PSAT in less competitive states like Wyoming, Montana, and North Dakota . . . or about 1470 on the PSAT in more competitive states like Connecticut or New Jersey.
Is 1150 a good PSAT score 10th grade? ›A score in the 75th percentile is considered the benchmark — usually an 1150 overall. The top 1% of junior test-takers become semifinalists for National Merit scholarships.
Is 1030 a good PSAT score for a 10th grader? ›For 10th grade students taking the test (either the PSAT 10 or the PSAT/NMSQT): 99th percentile and above (“outstanding”): 1370–1520. 90th percentile (“great”): 1170. 75th percentile (“solid”): 1050.
What is a good PSAT score for scholarships? ›| STATE | SELECTION INDEX SCORE |
|---|---|
| California | 222 |
| Colorado | 220 |
| Connecticut | 221 |
| Delaware | 220 |
According to this chart, a good PSAT score for a junior is a composite score higher than 1150, an OK score is one higher than 1000 or 1010, and an excellent score is anything higher than 1280.
Does the PSAT affect your GPA? ›Your PSAT scores won't get you into college or affect your GPA. But if you're a junior, high scores on the PSAT can earn you scholarship dollars, including a National Merit Scholarship.
Is the PSAT a big deal? ›The PSAT won't count towards your college admissions applications, but it is the qualifying test for the National Merit Scholarship . Some of the highest scoring students may win scholarship money, so while you shouldn't stress out about the PSAT, you certainly shouldn't ignore it either.
Is 1170 a good PSAT score for a sophomore? ›
Excellent PSAT Scores: 1170-1350
10th-grade students who scored between 1170 and 1350 on the PSAT test fall within the top 10% of all test takers.
To state the obvious, some of the 50 U.S. states are obviously far more competitive than others—and colleges will keep this in mind during the admission process. The main qualification for National Merit is a high PSAT score (out of 1520). Thus, a high SAT score (out of 1600) will in most cases serve the same purpose.
What percentile is best for PSAT? ›- “Outstanding” – 99th+ percentile. EMRW: 610-720. Math: 580-720.
- “Great” – 90th percentile. EMRW: 520-530. Math: 500-510.
- “Solid” – 75th percentile. EMRW: 470-480. Math: 460.
- “Average” – 50th percentile. EMRW: 410-420. Math: 410.
What is this? Your child's percentiles can give you a good idea of how well they did on the PSAT freshman and sophomore year. For high school freshmen, based on data from test takers during the 2020-2021 school year, a “good” score in the 75th percentile is between 990-1000.
What does a 1420 on the PSAT mean? ›To begin with, the PSAT score range is from 320 to 1520.
The average PSAT score is around 920 (460 in Math and 460 in Evidence-Based Reading and Writing), while an outstanding PSAT score (one that will qualify you as a National Merit Scholarship semi-finalist) is between 1420 and 1480.
The Selection Index is a weighting of your PSAT component scores to determines the level of your recognition within the initial stages of the National Merit program. How is the Selection Index calculated? The Selection Index is double the sum of your Reading, Writing and Language, and Math Test Scores.
What percent of PSAT takers get National Merit? ›They also have to do really, really well on the PSAT. The top 3-4% of scorers are named Commended Scholars—an impressive distinction to put on college applications. The top 1%, or about 16,000 students across the country, are named National Merit Semifinalists.
What's the lowest GPA Harvard accepted? ›You should also have a 4.18 GPA or higher. If your GPA is lower than this, you need to compensate with a higher SAT/ACT score. For a school as selective as Harvard, you'll also need to impress them with the rest of your application. We'll cover those details next.
What is 97th percentile on PSAT? ›A very good PSAT score is in the 93rd percentile among users, and the 97th percentile nationally. These percentiles are equivalent to a 1400 on the SAT. If you're a junior this amounts to about a 1330 on your PSAT. If you're a 10th grader, then ideally we want to see you at 1300.
Does PSAT predict SAT score? ›Neither PSAT to SAT score conversion nor PSAT-to-SAT predictions are a precise science. However, since the PSAT and SAT are scored on differing scales, it can be helpful to view an approximate PSAT to SAT conversion chart that will assist you in predicting your SAT score based off of a PSAT results.
Is the PSAT in sophomore year important? ›
Do I (does my sophomore) need to take the PSAT? No. The PSAT (whether you're a sophomore or a junior, in fact) is not required, and deciding not to take it will not have any negative effects on your college admissions decisions.
How many times can you take PSAT? ›Most students take the PSAT/NMSQT once—in 11th grade. They can take it up to three times in high school but only once a year. Scholarship programs only look at the junior year PSAT/NMSQT score.
Is 1450 a good PSAT score for a sophomore? ›What's a good PSAT score? Students and families often ask us this question. Any score above 1010 is above-average, and a score above 1450 is a top-tier score that makes students competitive for big scholarships and admission to elite colleges.
Do PSAT score matter for scholarships? ›The PSAT gives you an opportunity to understand the standardized test experience. Your scores will not be sent to colleges and do not impact your high school grades. You should still take this test seriously: PSAT scores determine your eligibility for National Merit Scholarships.
How is 990 for a PSAT score? ›| Converted Total Score | 10th Grade | 11th Grade |
|---|---|---|
| 1010 | 67 | 50 |
| 1000 | 65 | 48 |
| 990 | 63 | 47 |
| 980 | 62 | 45 |
Interested students should see their counselor at the beginning of the school year to make arrangements to take the PSAT/NMSQT at the school in the fall. Note: The PSAT 10 and PSAT 8/9 will not be considered for entry to the National Merit Scholarship Program.
Does a bad PSAT score hurt you? ›Your acceptance or rejection into college is much more dependent on the SAT or ACT , so the short answer is “no,” colleges don't care at all about the PSAT. An abysmal score on the PSAT will not have any direct effect on your chances of getting into a college.
Is 1100 a good PSAT score for 10th grade? ›A good PSAT score is a composite score of 1070 or higher, which puts you in the top 25% of all PSAT test takers.
How much scholarship does PSAT give? ›The National Merit Scholarship awards $2,500 to each National Merit Scholar. Every year, around 7,500 high school juniors receive a National Merit Scholarship. In addition to a National Merit Scholarship, students with qualifying PSAT scores can receive merit scholarships offered by businesses and colleges.
What GPA do you need for National Merit Scholarship? ›National Merit Semi-Finalist and Finalist students take their academics seriously. You must maintain a 3.5 or higher GPA to qualify for the application process and maintain that GPA throughout your four years of high school.
What PSAT score is equivalent to SAT? ›
Based on that reasoning, a good PSAT score for a sophomore is a composite score higher than 1060, an OK score is one higher than 920, and an excellent score is anything higher than 1180.
Do 10th grade PSAT scores matter? ›It identifies their academic strengths and weaknesses early in high school, when there's plenty of time to improve before college. It lets them know which Advanced Placement (AP) courses they're most likely to do well in.
What is a good PSAT score for a 14 year old? ›A good PSAT score is considered to be anything above a 1280*. A score of 1280 puts a student in the 95th percentile, meaning they scored higher than 95% of other students who took the test. This score is also above the average score, which is a 920.
Does PSAT matter sophomore year? ›Do I (does my sophomore) need to take the PSAT? No. The PSAT (whether you're a sophomore or a junior, in fact) is not required, and deciding not to take it will not have any negative effects on your college admissions decisions.
What PSAT score do you need for merit scholarship? ›To be competitive for National Merit Semifinalist status, students need to score about 1400 on the PSAT in less competitive states like Wyoming, Montana, and North Dakota . . . or about 1470 on the PSAT in more competitive states like Connecticut or New Jersey.
Which PSAT qualifies for National Merit? ›The 2022 Preliminary S A T/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®) is the qualifying test for entry to the 2024 National Merit Program.
Is 1020 a good PSAT score for a 10th grader? ›For 10th grade students taking the test (either the PSAT 10 or the PSAT/NMSQT): 99th percentile and above (“outstanding”): 1370–1520. 90th percentile (“great”): 1170. 75th percentile (“solid”): 1050.
Which PSAT counts for National Merit? ›Only your junior year PSAT counts toward National Merit distinction and scholarships, though taking the PSAT as a sophomore or freshman can be good practice, especially if you're aiming for top scores. Students who achieve top scores may receive recognition from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.
Do PSAT scores matter? ›The PSAT won't count towards your college admissions applications, but it is the qualifying test for the National Merit Scholarship . Some of the highest scoring students may win scholarship money, so while you shouldn't stress out about the PSAT, you certainly shouldn't ignore it either.
Is 1150 a good PSAT score for a junior? ›
A score in the 75th percentile is considered the benchmark — usually an 1150 overall. The top 1% of junior test-takers become semifinalists for National Merit scholarships.
What is 97th percentile PSAT score? ›A very good PSAT score is in the 93rd percentile among users, and the 97th percentile nationally. These percentiles are equivalent to a 1400 on the SAT. If you're a junior this amounts to about a 1330 on your PSAT. If you're a 10th grader, then ideally we want to see you at 1300.