Unveiling the Truth: Do Colleges Really Care About Your PSAT Scores?
For many high school students, the PSAT (Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test) is a familiar rite of passage. You're shuffled into a large auditorium, given a test booklet, and told to do your best. But once the test is over and the scores are released, a common question arises: Do colleges even look at PSAT scores for admission? The answer, while seemingly straightforward, has nuances that are important for students and parents to understand.
Demystifying the PSAT: More Than Just a Practice Test
The PSAT serves multiple purposes, making it a valuable experience for high schoolers, not "just some random test in 10th and 11th grade". Produced by the College Board, the same organization that administers the SAT, the PSAT is typically taken during a student's sophomore or junior year. While colleges don't directly use PSAT scores for admissions decisions, the test offers several benefits:
- Preparation for the SAT: The PSAT is essentially a practice version of the SAT, mirroring the format, content, and question types. It allows students to familiarize themselves with the test environment, timing constraints, and overall experience.
- Identification of Strengths and Weaknesses: The PSAT provides a breakdown of a student's performance in different subject areas, such as math, reading, and writing. This allows students to identify their strengths and weaknesses, enabling them to focus their study efforts on areas where they need the most improvement.
- Exposure to Standardized Testing: For many, the PSAT is their first experience with this type of test and is also a good opportunity to get used to the pressure of completing sections within a specific time frame.
- Building Confidence: Ultimately, a good score on the PSAT does not guarantee a strong score on the SAT, nor does it mean students don't need to study for the SAT, experts say. Likewise, a low score doesn't always forecast poor performance ahead. But students shouldn't underestimate the PSAT's significance.
- Practice for the Real Deal: Just as sports teams play exhibition games prior to the regular season or musical casts run dress rehearsals, the PSAT allows students to work out the kinks ahead of time.
The National Merit Scholarship Connection
One of the most significant aspects of the PSAT is its role in the National Merit Scholarship Program. The PSAT's alternate name is the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, or NMSQT. Strong results on the PSAT will put you in the running for a one-time $2,500 scholarship to a first-choice college later on down the road. The National Merit Scholarship Corp. uses PSAT scores to determine which test-takers will become semifinalists in the National Merit Scholarship Program.
Semifinalists, who are competing against other students in their state, must then complete the National Merit Scholarship Program's Online Scholarship Application and meet other requirements to become finalists, including taking the ACT or SAT and earning scores that "confirm" their PSAT score, according to the OSA. Winners are chosen from the list of finalists by a committee of college admissions officers and are awarded a $2,500 scholarship.
Semifinalists and finalists and are also eligible for college- and corporate-sponsored merit scholarships. They vary in value but can be substantial, and some are renewable. Texas Tech University, for example, offers a full ride to both in-state and out-of-state National Merit finalists who declare the school as their first choice on the OSA, while Fordham University in New York covers full tuition for selected semi-finalists and finalists.
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To participate in the National Merit Scholarship Program, students must sit for the PSAT as a junior either in lieu of or in addition to testing as a sophomore. The PSAT 10 and the PSAT 8/9 do not qualify students for National Merit-related scholarships.
To qualify as a semi-finalist, a student must score at or above the selection index for the state. It is a state-relevant index- students in certain states score on average higher than students in other states. Thus, approximately the top 1% of scorers in New Jersey will have a higher index score than the top 1% of scorers in, for example, New Mexico. For the Class of 2026, New Jersey, the District of Columbia and Massachusetts had the highest score cutoff in the country- 225.
If a test taker qualifies as a semi-finalist, there is then a finalist round that requires submission of an application via the high school (about 90% or higher of semifinalists become finalists).
Scholarships of $2,500 are awarded to NMS winners (approximately 50% of finalists). But the big money doesn’t come from the National Merit Scholar Foundation; rather, some colleges provide automatic or competitive (by selection) merit aid to winners that can be extremely generous, including full tuition and even some full ride scholarships. See which colleges offer scholarships to National Merit Finalists.
Commended scholars are assessed on a national, not state, basis. The National Merit Scholarship Program provides this designation to the top 3% of PSAT takers nationally. The Commended Scholar cutoff for the class of 2026 is 210 (up from 208 last year). This is also a huge honor, and Commended scholars should be proud!
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The scholarship committee converts your PSAT score using the Selection Index. They make this calculation by doubling your Reading and Writing score and adding it to your Math score. They then divide the result by 10 to get a number between 48 and 228.
PSAT Scores as Predictors of SAT Performance
Students' PSAT scores are a snapshot of where they are academically and can give them an idea if they're on track to be college ready, says Ginger Fay, global director of partnerships of Georgia-based Applerouth Tutoring Services.
The PSAT is scored similarly to the SAT, with a potential total score range of 320 to 1520. (SAT scores range from 400 to 1600.) The average score is about 920, and a score between 1210 and 1520 would put that student in the top 10% of test-takers, according to the College Board.
Taking the PSAT can help students start making improvements and get a sense of what kind of score to expect on the SAT, says Jolyn Brand, founder of Brand College Consulting. “It’s a good barometer of where you are,” she says. "So if a kid is performing a lot lower than they expected or might be hoping, at least they can kind of reset their expectations and not apply to Harvard, and can start looking at schools that are reasonable given their SAT range."
At College Coach, we advise students to give themselves a rough estimate of their junior SAT by taking the combined score of their sophomore PSAT, multiplying by 10, and adding 100 points. You can also look at your subject breakdown to get a sense of your point of emphasis as you engage in test prep. If you have a 71 on the math and a 53 on the critical reading section, you’re probably going to want to spend more time on critical reading than math to bring your score up: there’s more room for growth there, and you can establish consistency across subjects.
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Students can link their College Board and Khan Academy accounts to get automatic personalized recommendations based on their PSAT score and complete practice exams that target the specific areas they need improvement in. Because improvements between SAT retakes are often minimal, this practice could help students start with a higher baseline score when they sit for the official SAT, Brand says.
A score doesn’t occur in a vacuum, and its value doesn’t either, so the definition of “good” depends on your goals. Remember that a PSAT score will usually translate to a SAT score about 60-80 points higher with no prep and often 100-200+ points higher with dedicated preparation.
PSAT Estimated Score Ranges:
- 1350+ Students who wish to attend the most highly selective schools, including schools like MIT, Stanford, and those in the Ivy League, will often score in the high 1300s or low 1400s on the PSAT.
- 1200s - Students who wish to attend selective schools with acceptance rates in the 30%-40% range will often score in the 1200s on the PSAT.
- 900s-1100s - Students who wish to attend somewhat selective schools with mid-range acceptance rates in the 50-80% range.
Why Colleges Primarily Focus on the SAT/ACT
Colleges primarily rely on the SAT or ACT for admissions purposes because these tests are designed to assess a student's readiness for college-level work. The SAT and ACT are more comprehensive and rigorous than the PSAT, and they provide a standardized measure that allows colleges to compare applicants from different high schools and backgrounds.
Colleges don't use PSAT scores for admissions decisions because the purpose of the test is to help you practice for the SAT. Instead, they consider other factors, including your SAT or ACT score, your GPA, and the rigor of the courses you've taken. This begs the question - do colleges look at PSAT scores for any other purpose? The short answer is no.
College admissions counselors focus on things such as GPA, courses taken, extracurricular activities and your personal statement.
Test-Optional Policies and the Role of the PSAT
It's important to note that many colleges have adopted test-optional policies, meaning that students are not required to submit SAT or ACT scores as part of their application. In these cases, colleges place greater emphasis on other factors, such as GPA, coursework, essays, and extracurricular activities.
While Reed is not known (at all!) for sports, I was able to find my competitive outlet with the ultimate Frisbee team as a player and, when I graduated, a coach. After nine wonderful years at Reed, I left Portland to pursue a M.A. at the Stanford Graduate School of Education. When I graduated and joined College Coach, I was living in Palo Alto, California, an experience that helped me learn so much about the UC and CSU system and high school programs all around the Bay Area.
Even in a test-optional environment, the PSAT can still be a valuable tool for students. It provides an opportunity to assess their skills, identify areas for improvement, and prepare for the SAT or ACT if they choose to take those tests. Furthermore, strong performance on the PSAT can still qualify students for National Merit Scholarships, regardless of whether they submit SAT/ACT scores to colleges.
Maximizing the Benefits of the PSAT
To make the most of the PSAT experience, students should:
- Prepare for the test: Utilize practice tests, study guides, and online resources to familiarize themselves with the format, content, and question types. Khan Academy provides free personalized test prep for both the PSAT and SAT.
- Take the test seriously: Approach the PSAT with a positive attitude and put forth their best effort.
- Analyze their scores: Carefully review their score report to identify strengths and weaknesses.
- Use the results to guide their SAT/ACT preparation: Focus their study efforts on areas where they need the most improvement.
- Link your PSAT scores to Khan Academy and use the free resources there to focus on your areas that need improvement. www.KhanAcademy.org.
- Use your scores to determine if and when you want to prepare for the SAT or ACT. Some students will perform better on the ACT than the SAT, so I always encourage a practice ACT as a comparison point before moving forward with either test.
Beyond the Score: The Bigger Picture
While the PSAT score itself may not directly impact college admissions decisions, the skills and knowledge gained through preparing for and taking the test can be beneficial in the long run. The PSAT helps students develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and time management skills, which are essential for success in college and beyond.
Scores are just one part of the picture in college admissions, and a strong transcript is almost universally considered more important than SAT scores alone.
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