The PSAT and SAT are similar in format and content, but the PSAT is shorter and has slightly easier questions. The PSAT is used as a practice test for the SAT and also serves as the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. The PSAT tests the same subjects as the SAT: reading, writing and language, and math with calculator and without calculator, but the PSAT is slightly easier than the SAT.
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PSAT to SAT Score Conversion
Here is an estimated PSAT to SAT score conversion table and associated SAT percentile. There is no direct conversion as the PSAT is slightly different that the PSAT, so the two scores are not able to be accurately converted.
Use this table to estimate your SAT score based on your PSAT score.
| PSAT Score | Projected SAT Score | SAT Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| 1520 | 1600 | 99+ |
| 1510 | 1590 | 99+ |
| 1500 | 1580 | 99+ |
| 1490 | 1560 | 99+ |
| 1480 | 1540 | 99 |
| 1470 | 1520 | 99 |
| 1460 | 1500 | 98 |
| 1450 | 1480 | 97 |
| 1440 | 1470 | 97 |
| 1430 | 1460 | 96 |
| 1420 | 1450 | 96 |
| 1410 | 1440 | 95 |
| 1400 | 1430 | 95 |
| 1390 | 1420 | 94 |
| 1380 | 1410 | 94 |
| 1370 | 1410 | 94 |
| 1360 | 1400 | 93 |
| 1350 | 1390 | 93 |
| 1340 | 1380 | 92 |
| 1330 | 1370 | 91 |
| 1320 | 1360 | 91 |
| 1310 | 1350 | 90 |
| 1300 | 1350 | 90 |
| 1290 | 1340 | 89 |
| 1280 | 1320 | 87 |
| 1270 | 1310 | 87 |
| 1260 | 1310 | 87 |
| 1250 | 1300 | 86 |
| 1240 | 1290 | 85 |
| 1230 | 1280 | 84 |
| 1220 | 1270 | 83 |
| 1210 | 1260 | 82 |
| 1200 | 1250 | 81 |
| 1190 | 1240 | 79 |
| 1180 | 1230 | 78 |
| 1170 | 1220 | 77 |
| 1160 | 1210 | 76 |
| 1150 | 1200 | 74 |
| 1140 | 1190 | 73 |
| 1130 | 1180 | 72 |
| 1120 | 1170 | 70 |
| 1110 | 1160 | 69 |
| 1100 | 1140 | 66 |
| 1090 | 1130 | 64 |
| 1080 | 1120 | 63 |
| 1070 | 1110 | 61 |
| 1060 | 1100 | 59 |
| 1050 | 1090 | 58 |
| 1040 | 1080 | 56 |
| 1030 | 1070 | 54 |
| 1020 | 1060 | 52 |
| 1010 | 1060 | 52 |
| 1000 | 1050 | 51 |
| 990 | 1040 | 49 |
| 980 | 1030 | 47 |
| 970 | 1020 | 45 |
| 960 | 1010 | 44 |
| 950 | 990 | 42 |
| 940 | 980 | 40 |
| 930 | 980 | 40 |
| 920 | 970 | 37 |
| 910 | 960 | 35 |
| 900 | 940 | 32 |
| 890 | 940 | 32 |
| 880 | 930 | 30 |
| 870 | 910 | 27 |
| 860 | 910 | 27 |
| 850 | 900 | 26 |
| 840 | 890 | 24 |
| 830 | 880 | 23 |
| 820 | 870 | 21 |
| 810 | 850 | 19 |
| 800 | 850 | 19 |
| 790 | 830 | 16 |
| 780 | 820 | 15 |
| 770 | 810 | 13 |
| 760 | 800 | 12 |
| 750 | 790 | 11 |
| 740 | 770 | 9 |
| 730 | 760 | 8 |
| 720 | 750 | 7 |
| 710 | 750 | 7 |
| 700 | 740 | 6 |
| 690 | 720 | 4 |
| 680 | 710 | 3 |
| 670 | 700 | 3 |
| 660 | 690 | 2 |
| 650 | 690 | 2 |
What is on the PSAT?
The PSAT tests the same subjects as the SAT: reading, writing and language, and math with calculator and without calculator. The test is divided into two sections: Math and Evidence-Based Reading and Writing.
The Math section tests your ability to solve problems using mathematical concepts and skills, and covers topics such as algebra, geometry, and trigonometry. The Math section is divided into two parts: one where you can use a calculator and one where you cannot.
The Evidence-Based Reading and Writing section tests your ability to read, analyze, and interpret a variety of texts, as well as your ability to write clearly and effectively. This section includes a reading test, which includes passages from literature, social science, and natural science texts, and a writing and language test, which includes passages that test grammar and usage skills.
The PSAT test is shorter than the SAT, with a total testing time of 2 hours and 45 minutes, and it does not have an essay section.
How is the PSAT Scored?
The PSAT is scored on a scale of 320 to 1520, with a maximum possible score of 760 for each of the two sections: Math and Evidence-Based Reading and Writing. The scores from the two sections are then added together to get the overall score.
Each correct answer earns you one point, and there is no penalty for guessing or leaving a question blank. However, some questions are worth more than one point, depending on their level of difficulty.
The PSAT is scored differently than the SAT, as the PSAT is scaled to a different range and uses a different method of determining student scores. The PSAT scores are not directly comparable to the SAT scores, but they are used to provide a general idea of how well a student may do on the SAT.
The PSAT is also used to qualify students for the National Merit Scholarship Program, which is a scholarship program for high-achieving high school students. The cutoff scores for qualifying for the National Merit Scholarship Program are determined by the scores of all test takers in each state.
PSAT Raw Score to Scaled Score Conversion Table
| Raw Score (# of correct answers) |
Reading Test Score |
Writing and Language Test Score |
Math Test Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 48 | 760 | ||
| 47 | 380 | 750 | |
| 46 | 380 | 740 | |
| 45 | 370 | 730 | |
| 44 | 370 | 380 | 720 |
| 43 | 360 | 380 | 710 |
| 42 | 360 | 370 | 690 |
| 41 | 350 | 360 | 670 |
| 40 | 350 | 350 | 650 |
| 39 | 340 | 340 | 640 |
| 38 | 340 | 340 | 630 |
| 37 | 330 | 330 | 620 |
| 36 | 320 | 330 | 610 |
| 35 | 320 | 320 | 600 |
| 34 | 310 | 320 | 600 |
| 33 | 300 | 310 | 590 |
| 32 | 290 | 300 | 580 |
| 31 | 290 | 300 | 580 |
| 30 | 280 | 290 | 570 |
| 29 | 280 | 290 | 560 |
| 28 | 270 | 280 | 560 |
| 27 | 270 | 270 | 550 |
| 26 | 260 | 270 | 540 |
| 25 | 260 | 260 | 540 |
| 24 | 250 | 260 | 530 |
| 23 | 250 | 250 | 530 |
| 22 | 240 | 250 | 510 |
| 21 | 230 | 240 | 500 |
| 20 | 230 | 230 | 490 |
| 19 | 220 | 220 | 480 |
| 18 | 220 | 220 | 470 |
| 17 | 210 | 210 | 460 |
| 16 | 200 | 200 | 450 |
| 15 | 200 | 200 | 440 |
| 14 | 190 | 190 | 420 |
| 13 | 180 | 180 | 410 |
| 12 | 170 | 170 | 400 |
| 11 | 170 | 160 | 380 |
| 10 | 160 | 160 | 370 |
| 9 | 160 | 150 | 350 |
| 8 | 150 | 140 | 330 |
| 7 | 140 | 140 | 310 |
| 6 | 130 | 130 | 290 |
| 5 | 120 | 130 | 270 |
| 4 | 110 | 120 | 250 |
| 3 | 100 | 110 | 230 |
| 2 | 100 | 100 | 210 |
| 1 | 90 | 90 | 180 |
| 0 | 80 | 80 | 160 |
Examples of PSAT Score Calculations
100% Correct on PSAT: 1520 (760 on Verbal and 760 on Math)
If you get 100% correct on the PSAT in all sections, this would be your estimated score:
Reading:
100% of 47 questions is 47 questions correct.
With a scaled score of 380
Writing & Language:
100% of 44 questions is 44 questions correct.
With a scaled score of 380
Math:
100% of 48 questions is 48 questions correct.
With a scaled score of 760
90% Correct on PSAT: 1420 (710 on Verbal and 710 on Math)
If you get 90% correct on the PSAT in all sections, this would be your estimated score:
Reading:
90% of 47 questions is 42 questions correct.
With a scaled score of 360
Writing & Language:
90% of 44 questions is 40 questions correct.
With a scaled score of 350
Math:
90% of 48 questions is 43 questions correct.
With a scaled score of 710
80% Correct on PSAT: 1290 (660 on Verbal and 630 on Math)
If you get 80% correct on the PSAT in all sections, this would be your estimated score:
Reading:
80% of 47 questions is 38 questions correct.
With a scaled score of 340
Writing & Language:
80% of 44 questions is 35 questions correct.
With a scaled score of 320
Math:
80% of 48 questions is 38 questions correct.
With a scaled score of 630
70% Correct on PSAT: 1200 (600 on Verbal and 600 on Math)
If you get 70% correct on the PSAT in all sections, this would be your estimated score:
Reading:
70% of 47 questions is 33 questions correct.
With a scaled score of 300
Writing & Language:
70% of 44 questions is 31 questions correct.
With a scaled score of 300
Math:
70% of 48 questions is 34 questions correct.
With a scaled score of 600
60% Correct on PSAT: 1100 (540 on Verbal and 560 on Math)
If you get 60% correct on the PSAT in all sections, this would be your estimated score:
Reading:
60% of 47 questions is 28 questions correct.
With a scaled score of 270
Writing & Language:
60% of 44 questions is 26 questions correct.
With a scaled score of 270
Math:
60% of 48 questions is 29 questions correct.
With a scaled score of 560
50% Correct on PSAT: 1030 (500 on Verbal and 530 on Math)
If you get 50% correct on the PSAT in all sections, this would be your estimated score:
Reading:
50% of 47 questions is 24 questions correct.
With a scaled score of 250
Writing & Language:
50% of 44 questions is 22 questions correct.
With a scaled score of 250
Math:
50% of 48 questions is 24 questions correct.
With a scaled score of 530
