What is a good PSAT score?
A good PSAT score is one above the average for your grade. In 2024-25, juniors averaged 998 and sophomores 911 on the PSAT/NMSQT and PSAT 10, which are scored from 320 to 1520. For juniors, 1200 or higher put you in about the top 20%. National Merit Semifinalists usually rank in roughly the top 1% of juniors in their state.
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In more detail
There are three PSAT tests. The PSAT 8/9 is for grades 8 and 9 and is scored from 240 to 1440. The PSAT 10 and the PSAT/NMSQT are for grades 10 and 11 and are scored from 320 to 1520. All of them sit on the same scale as the SAT, just with a lower ceiling, so your PSAT score is a fair preview of your SAT score on that day. The PSAT/NMSQT has the same timing as the SAT: 98 questions in 2 hours and 14 minutes.
The College Board's 2025 report gives these averages for 2024-25: 998 in 11th grade, 911 in 10th grade, 852 in 9th grade and 798 in 8th grade. It also sets a readiness benchmark for each section and grade. In 11th grade that is 460 in Reading and Writing and 510 in Math. A score at or above both benchmarks means you are on track for your grade.
The PSAT/NMSQT you take in 11th grade is also the entry to the National Merit Scholarship Program. It uses a Selection Index, twice your Reading and Writing score plus your Math score, divided by 10, on a range from 48 to 228. Semifinalist cutoffs are set state by state and change every year. Colleges do not see your PSAT scores.
PSAT scores by grade, 2024-25 (College Board)
| Grade | Test | Score range | Average | Benchmarks (Reading and Writing / Math) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8th | PSAT 8/9 | 240-1440 | 798 | 390 / 430 |
| 9th | PSAT 8/9 | 240-1440 | 852 | 410 / 450 |
| 10th | PSAT 10 or PSAT/NMSQT | 320-1520 | 911 | 430 / 480 |
| 11th | PSAT/NMSQT or PSAT 10 | 320-1520 | 998 | 460 / 510 |
Step by step
- 1
Open your score report and check your total and both section scores.
- 2
Compare them with the average and the benchmarks for your grade.
- 3
Look at the skill areas in the report to see where you lost the most points.
- 4
If you are a junior aiming for National Merit, work out your Selection Index and compare it with recent cutoffs for your state.
- 5
Turn your weakest skills into an SAT study plan with a test date.
- 6
Take a full SAT practice test a few months later to measure your progress.
How StudyPDF helps
Your PSAT report shows which skills cost you points. Upload your SAT prep book or class notes, and StudyPDF builds quizzes and practice exams on those topics, then tracks your per-concept mastery so the next quiz goes after what you still miss. Set your SAT date in the Plan tab and you get dated sessions up to the test. A free account needs no card.
Sources
See also
- AnswerWhat is a good SAT score?
- AnswerWhat is a good LSAT score?
- AnswerWhat is a good MCAT score?
- AnswerWhat is a good ASVAB score?
- Practice testPSAT Practice Test
- Best picksBest SAT prep apps in 2026: free and paid
- AnswerHow long is the PSAT?
- AnswerWhen do PSAT scores come out?
- AnswerHow many questions are on the PSAT?
- Practice testSAT Math Practice Test
- StudyPDFAI Practice Exams
More questions
What is a good PSAT score for a sophomore?
Anything above 911, the 10th-grade average in 2024-25. A score of 1000 or more put a sophomore in about the top third, and 1200 or more in about the top 9%.
Do colleges see your PSAT score?
No. PSAT scores are not sent to colleges. They help you prepare for the SAT, and the junior-year PSAT/NMSQT is how you enter the National Merit Scholarship Program.
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