A good PSAT score depends on what you want it to tell you. Among 11th graders who took the PSAT/NMSQT, a total of about 980 sits at the 50th percentile, 1100 at the 69th and 1200 at the 82nd. The College Board's on-track benchmarks for juniors are 460 in Reading and Writing and 510 in Math. National Merit recognition takes far higher scores.
Where this information comes from
- Score ranges, benchmarks, the Selection Index and National Merit steps come from the College Board's Fall 2026 PSAT/NMSQT Understanding Scores guide and its 2026 PSAT/NMSQT Student Guide, checked October 28, 2026.
- Percentiles come from the College Board's published table of PSAT/NMSQT nationally representative and user percentiles. Percentiles shift a little from year to year, so the percentile printed on your own score report is the one to trust.
- Score release dates come from the College Board's score release page for fall 2026 in-school testing.
- PSAT-to-SAT growth comes from the College Board's March 2026 report on students who took two of its tests between fall 2023 and spring 2025.
- We don't list past National Merit cutoff scores here: they change every year and by state, and we could only find them on unofficial sites.
How the PSAT is scored
The PSAT/NMSQT has two sections, Reading and Writing and Math. Each is scored from 160 to 760, and the two add up to a total from 320 to 1520. Your report also shows a National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) Selection Index, from 48 to 228, which is used only for the National Merit program.
The PSAT shares a score scale with the SAT. The College Board puts it this way: a student who earns a 500 in Math on the PSAT/NMSQT would be expected to earn about a 500 on the SAT if they took it the same day. The SAT runs higher, to 1600, because it is written for older students. So your PSAT score is a fair early look at where your SAT score may land.
| What's reported | How it's figured | Range |
|---|---|---|
| Reading and Writing | Section score | 160–760 |
| Math | Section score | 160–760 |
| Total score | Sum of the two sections | 320–1520 |
| NMSC Selection Index | (2 × Reading and Writing + Math) ÷ 10 | 48–228 |
PSAT percentiles: where common scores fall
A percentile tells you what share of a comparison group scored at or below you. The College Board publishes two kinds. User percentiles compare you with students in your grade who actually took the test in recent years; this is close to the All Tester percentile on your score report. Nationally representative percentiles come from a research sample weighted to stand for all U.S. students in that grade, including those who never take the PSAT, so they run a little higher.
| Total score | 11th grade, user percentile | 11th grade, nationally representative | 10th grade, user percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1500 | 99+ | 99+ | 99+ |
| 1450 | 98 | 99+ | 99+ |
| 1400 | 96 | 99 | 99 |
| 1300 | 91 | 96 | 97 |
| 1200 | 82 | 90 | 92 |
| 1100 | 69 | 79 | 82 |
| 1000 | 53 | 59 | 69 |
| 980 | 50 | 55 | 65 |
| 900 | 36 | 37 | 51 |
| 800 | 19 | 18 | 30 |
Source: College Board, PSAT/NMSQT Nationally Representative and User Percentiles, checked October 28, 2026.
The same score means a little more in 10th grade than in 11th, because sophomores have a year less of school behind them. That is why a 1000 sits at the 69th percentile for 10th graders and the 53rd for 11th graders.
From PSAT to SAT: how scores tend to change
On average, students score higher on the SAT than they did on the PSAT. The College Board followed students who took two of its tests between fall 2023 and spring 2025 and measured the average change. These are the three paths most juniors take:
| First test | Then the SAT | Students | Average gain, Reading and Writing | Average gain, Math | About, in total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSAT/NMSQT, fall of 11th grade (fall 2023) | Spring of 11th grade (spring 2024) | About 814,000 | +21 | +22 | +43 |
| PSAT/NMSQT, fall of 11th grade (fall 2023) | Fall of 12th grade (fall 2024) | About 381,000 | +35 | +33 | +68 |
| PSAT 10, spring of 10th grade (spring 2024) | Spring of 11th grade (spring 2025) | About 263,000 | +35 | +36 | +71 |
Source: College Board, Student-Level Growth Estimates for the SAT Suite of Assessments (March 2026), Table 2. Totals are the two section averages added together.
These are averages across many students, not a forecast for any one person. The College Board notes that they describe score changes it observed, not how much anyone learned, and that the students in each group chose to retest. Some students gain far more than the average, and some gain less or none. More time between tests tends to mean a larger gain: juniors who waited until senior fall gained about 25 points more than those who retested that spring.
Three ways to decide whether your score is good
1. Are you meeting the benchmarks?
The College Board sets a benchmark for each section, based on expected growth toward its SAT college-readiness benchmarks. Meeting one means you're considered on track for that section.
| Grade | Reading and Writing | Math |
|---|---|---|
| 10th grade | 430 | 480 |
| 11th grade | 460 | 510 |
If you're below a benchmark, it points to the skills worth practicing, not a ceiling. Your report breaks each section into four content areas so you can see where the practice would help most.
2. How does it compare with the colleges you're looking at?
Because the PSAT and SAT share a scale, you can set your PSAT total beside the SAT ranges colleges report for admitted students. Our guide to what makes a good SAT score shows how far each SAT score reaches across 335 colleges. Many colleges are also test-optional, and a score is one part of an application, read alongside your classes, grades and what you've done with your time.
3. Are you aiming for National Merit?
Only the PSAT/NMSQT counts, and only in the year it is taken as the qualifying test, usually junior year. The PSAT 10 and PSAT 8/9 don't count. Recognition goes to the highest-scoring 50,000 or so of about 1.3 million entrants, measured by the Selection Index rather than the total score.
How National Merit works
The Selection Index counts Reading and Writing twice. With a 620 in Reading and Writing and a 500 in Math, the College Board's worked example comes to 174: (2 × 620 + 500) ÷ 10.
For students who took the PSAT/NMSQT in October 2026, the 2028 competition runs like this:
| Stage | About how many | How they're chosen | When students hear |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entrants | 1.3 million | Took the PSAT/NMSQT and met program requirements | October 2026 |
| Semifinalists | More than 16,000 | Highest scorers in each state; each state's share is set by its share of graduating seniors, so cutoffs differ by state and year | Early September 2027 |
| Commended Students | About 34,000 | One national Selection Index cutoff, which varies from year to year | Late September 2027 |
| Finalists | About 15,000 | Semifinalists who meet academic and other requirements | February 2028 |
| Merit Scholarship winners | About 6,700 | Chosen from Finalists | From March 2028 |
Source: College Board, 2026 PSAT/NMSQT Student Guide. Commended Students don't continue in the scholarship competition, though some are considered for Special Scholarships from corporate sponsors (about 620 of these are awarded).
When PSAT scores come out (fall 2026)
The fall 2026 in-school testing window ran from October 1 to October 30. Your release date depends on when your school sent in answers, not on the day you sat for the test.
| If your school submitted answers by | Scores available to students |
|---|---|
| October 9, 2026 | October 22, 2026 |
| October 23, 2026 | November 5, 2026 |
| October 30, 2026 | November 12, 2026 |
U.S. students 13 and older who gave a mobile number on test day can see scores in the BigFuture School app. Your school also receives a score report to go over with you. If you tested through a state program, your state sets its own timing.
What to do with your score
- Read the whole report, not only the total. The section scores, benchmarks and content areas say more about what to practice than one number does.
- Practice where the report points. The College Board links your results to free practice on Khan Academy and in its Bluebook app.
- Use it to plan your SAT or ACT. Our guide on when to take the SAT or ACT works backward from application deadlines.
- Keep it in proportion. A PSAT score is a practice reading taken partway through high school. It says nothing about where you would belong or thrive.
Lens helps you understand which kinds of colleges fit you, using seven research-backed assessments, so the colleges you compare your scores with start from where you might belong. Start with Lens →
Frequently asked questions
What is a good PSAT score for a junior? It depends on your goal. About 980 is the median among 11th graders who take it, 1100 is at the 69th percentile and 1200 at the 82nd. Meeting both junior benchmarks, 460 in Reading and Writing and 510 in Math, means you're on track.
What is a good PSAT score for a sophomore? The 10th-grade benchmarks are 430 in Reading and Writing and 480 in Math. Among sophomores who take the test, a 1000 is at about the 69th percentile and a 1100 at about the 82nd.
What is the average PSAT score? Your score report shows the average of all testers over the last three years. On the College Board's percentile table, about 980 is the middle score for 11th graders.
What is the PSAT score range? 320 to 1520 for the total, and 160 to 760 for each section. The Selection Index runs from 48 to 228.
When do fall 2026 PSAT scores come out? Between October 22 and November 12, 2026, depending on when your school submitted answers. Students in state testing programs should check with their school.
What PSAT score do you need for National Merit? There's no fixed score. Semifinalist cutoffs are set state by state each year, and the Commended cutoff is set nationally each year, both on the Selection Index. Recognition goes to roughly the top 50,000 of 1.3 million entrants.
Does the PSAT 10 count for National Merit? No. Only the PSAT/NMSQT counts.
Will my SAT score be higher than my PSAT? Often, yes. In the College Board's study of students who tested between fall 2023 and spring 2025, juniors who took the PSAT/NMSQT in the fall and the SAT that spring gained about 21 points per section on average. Those who took the SAT in the fall of senior year gained about 34 per section, or roughly 68 points in total. These are averages, not a promise for any one student.
How much does the PSAT cost? The 2026 PSAT/NMSQT fee is $18, and many schools and districts pay it. Schools may add a small fee for administrative costs.
Related
- What Is a Good SAT Score?
- When and How Often Should You Take the SAT or ACT?
- SAT, ACT and College Application Fee Waivers
- How Many Colleges Should I Apply To?
Sources
- College Board, Fall 2026 PSAT/NMSQT Understanding Scores For Students and Families. Accessed October 28, 2026.
- College Board, 2026 PSAT/NMSQT Student Guide. Accessed October 28, 2026.
- College Board Research, PSAT/NMSQT Nationally Representative and User Percentiles. Accessed October 28, 2026.
- College Board, Score Release Dates. Accessed October 28, 2026.
- College Board Research, Student-Level Growth Estimates for the SAT Suite of Assessments (Zhao, Zhang and Proctor, March 2026).
- National Merit Scholarship Corporation, nationalmerit.org.