Understanding the PSAT Score Release: Dates, Access, and Significance
Many students anxiously await their PSAT scores, wondering when they will be released and how to interpret them. The PSAT, or Preliminary SAT, serves as a practice test for the SAT and can qualify students for the National Merit Scholarship Program. Here's a comprehensive guide to understanding the PSAT score release process.
What is the PSAT?
The PSAT, or Preliminary SAT, serves as a practice test for the SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test), which juniors and seniors in high school take for college admission. In fact, your PSAT score is intended to be a good estimate of how you’ll do on the actual SAT. What's more, since the structure of the SAT is so similar to that of the ACT, you can use the PSAT to prepare for the ACT as well. (Note, though, that there are a handful of differences between the two tests, the biggest of which is the inclusion of a Science section on the ACT.
The test can also qualify students for the National Merit Scholarship Program. Several scholarships use PSAT/NMSQT scores to find eligible juniors. If you scored high enough on the PSAT (and are a junior), you might qualify as a Semifinalist for the National Merit scholarship competition. Becoming a Semifinalist for this program is contingent only on your PSAT scores. If you become a Semifinalist, note that becoming a Finalist requires a little more effort, including keeping up your GPA.
PSAT Test Dates
This school year the test is being given on these dates:
- October 1 through Oct. 31, 2025
- March 2 through April 30, 2026
School districts decide during which time period students will take the test. The exact logistics of taking the PSAT also depend on your school. To make sure you're not stuck without a PSAT score, ask your school by September 1 how they plan to prepare for and administer the test.
Read also: Comprehensive PSAT Guide
PSAT Scoring and Duration
The test has two sections - reading and math. You can score between 160 and 760 on the sections. A perfect score would be 1,520. PSAT scores only go up to 1520 instead of 1600 as they do on the SAT. The reason for this is that the SAT has higher-level reading passages, tests trickier grammatical rules, and includes more trigonometry and harder math.
The test takes about 2 hours and 15 minutes. The test is offered to high school freshmen, sophomores and juniors.
When to Expect PSAT Scores
PSAT scores are available online 2-4 weeks after the test date, according to the College Board. PSAT scores are released in October and November. Scores for the 2024 PSAT will be released on three separate dates. So if you take the PSAT on, say, October 9, you'll get your score by October 24. Students who take the test should expect to receive their scores in 4 to 6 weeks. Students who took the test in October should receive their scores in November.
Scores for in-school testing during the month of October will be given to students on Oct. 23, Nov. 6, and Nov. PSAT scores for the October test will be available over the next few weeks, with the first release date set for Oct. 24.
How to Access Your PSAT Scores
If you provided your mobile number on test day, you'll receive a text message with access to the BigFuture School mobile app. Providing your mobile number during exam setup allows you to securely access the app. in-school test takers age 13 and older (PSAT 8/9, PSAT 10, PSAT/NMSQT, and SAT School Day) who provide a mobile number during exam setup. Access your scores easily, explore personalized guidance, use interactive tools, and when available, discover nonprofit colleges and programs that could be a great fit after high school. BigFuture School is your free, go-to app to get more out of your test scores, right from your phone.
Read also: Receiving Your PSAT Scores
Once downloaded, you can view your score on BigFuture School. To get your score, you can ask your school counselor for a PDF copy or you can use the BigFuture School app if you provided your cellphone number on testing day.
As always, you can view your scores online with a personal College Board account. If there’s any chance you have already created a College Board account, don’t make a new one. Multiple accounts can make it difficult to get your PSAT/NMSQT score and other important information. Once you've logged in, click "PSAT/NMSQT, PSAT 10, and PSAT 8/9 Scores" to get to your PSAT scores. Schools do still have the option to print their student score reports and distribute them, but it isn’t required.
Interpreting Your PSAT Score
The wait for PSAT results can be nerve-wracking. It's likely your first time taking an SAT-like test, and the PSAT can give you a sense of what range your final SAT score is likely to be.
Don't despair if you get a low PSAT score. Rather than beating yourself up over what you did wrong, try to focus on figuring out why you did poorly on a given section. Was it because you’d never taken a standardized test before and got nervous? Whatever the reasons for your issues, make sure to start your SAT or ACT prep by addressing your weaknesses revealed by the PSAT. The process of analyzing your errors will be helpful even if you scored extremely well on the PSAT, since the content on the PSAT and SAT aren't exactly the same.
Want to see how your score stacks up against other students’ scores? Already taken the PSAT as a junior? Start to plan out when you’ll take the SAT with our up-to-date list of test dates.
Read also: Ace the PSAT 8/9
Additional Resources
The K-12 score reporting portal offers educator score reports with aggregate and detailed data.
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