The Preliminary SAT (PSAT), also known as the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (NMSQT), is a standardized exam used to measure a high school student’s readiness for college-level coursework and determine eligibility for the National Merit Scholarship Program. Understanding your PSAT score is essential for proper preparation and improvement. This article will walk you through the steps to calculate your PSAT score.

Step 1: Understand the PSAT scoring scale

The PSAT consists of three sections: Evidence-Based Reading, Writing and Language, and Math. Each section is scored on a scale of 160 to 760, making for a total possible score of 320 to 1520. Additionally, there are two cross-test scores for Analysis in Science and Analysis in History/Social Studies, each on a scale of 8 to 38.

Step 2: Calculate your raw score

To calculate your raw score, simply count the number of correct answers you got in each section. There is no penalty for wrong answers, so your raw score is essentially the total number of questions you answered correctly.

For example, if you answered 40 out of 47 questions correctly in the Evidence-Based Reading section and 35 out of 44 correctly in the Writing and Language section, your raw scores would be:

Evidence-Based Reading: 40

Writing and Language: 35

Math: Based on the number of correct answers

Step 3: Convert raw scores into scaled scores

After calculating your raw scores for each section, convert them into scaled scores using the PSAT scoring chart provided by College Board. You can find these charts online or by contacting your local school’s guidance counselor.

Using our example from before:

Evidence-Based Reading raw score (40) might translate to a scaled score of around 660

Writing and Language raw score (35) might translate to a scaled score of 640

Similarly, convert your Math raw score to a scaled score.

Step 4: Calculate your total PSAT score

Add up the scaled scores for each section to calculate your total PSAT score. In our example:

Evidence-Based Reading scaled score: 660

Writing and Language scaled score: 640

Math scaled score: (Calculated from your math raw score)

Total PSAT score = 660 + 640 + Math Scaled Score

Step 5: Understand percentile rankings and National Merit Scholarship eligibility

Your PSAT score report will also include data on percentile rankings, which indicate where you stand compared to others who took the test. The higher your percentile, the better you performed relative to your peers. Pay attention to this ranking as it will help you gauge your performance and strategize for future improvement.

To qualify for the National Merit Scholarship Program, you generally need a Selection Index (the sum of your three sectional scores) above a certain threshold. Expect a competition where higher scores can potentially earn scholarships and other academic recognition.

Conclusion

Calculating your PSAT score is an essential part of understanding your progress and refining study strategies moving forward. Use the steps outlined above to analyze and improve upon your performance. Keep practicing consistently, and you’ll be one step closer to acing the SAT and achieving success in college admissions.