SAT Suite
What's a Good PSAT/NMSQT Score?
When you check your Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) score you might ask: “What does this score mean?” Or, “did I get a good score?”
What’s a good score?
If you’re wondering if your score is “good,” you’re not alone. Just as with the SAT, the answer is “it depends” on what path you’re considering after high school. And a good score for a student that’s hoping to go to a more selective college will be different from a good score for a student that’s planning to go to a less selective college, or a student not planning to go to college at all. No matter how you score, the PSAT/NMSQT is great practice for the SAT and a planning tool as you prepare for life after high school.
Your PSAT/NMSQT score is just for you—and you don’t need to worry about colleges or universities seeing it. Learn more about the benefits of a PSAT/NMSQT score.
What does my score mean?
Your PSAT/NMSQT score ranges from 320 to 1520 points and is the sum of your Math and Reading and Writing scores. The PSAT/NMSQT tests the same skills as the SAT, but in a way that makes sense for your grade level. Since the tests share a common scale, the highest score you can get on the PSAT/NMSQT is 1520, compared to 1600 for the SAT.
Next Steps: What happens after you get your score?
Your score tells you how you did on the test, but it could also connect you to scholarship opportunities. You can also see what your strengths are and where you might want to improve if you plan to take the SAT.
Once you’ve viewed your scores, in the BigFuture School mobile app or the pdf given to you by your school, are released, follow these steps for success on the SAT and beyond:
- Explore BigFuture to search over 3,000 college profiles and access thousands of scholarships.
- Connect to Career Possibilities: You can identify jobs that may be a good fit based on how your assessment performance aligns to the math, reading, and writing skills associated with that career.
- As always, if you have a College Board account, you can get score information online.
If you’re thinking about taking the SAT, consider setting your own personal target score. It will give you motivation to practice, and you’ll know how to focus that practice.
Pat Yourself on the Back—You Did Great!
If you’re happy with your PSAT/NMSQT score, congrats! If you thought you would do better, practice, practice, practice, with help from Khan Academy®, to do better on the SAT. No matter what, your score is a great benchmark to help you plan for your future.
Now you’ve got a head start on the SAT, and you can use your PSAT/NMSQT scores to access free, personalized SAT practice—so, you’ve done a great job! And don’t forget to check out AP Potential™, Career Search, and the other free tools available to help you get ready for college and after.
