The first two rounds of PSAT scores are back! Unlike in past (paper-and-pencil) years, when students had to wait nearly two months for PSAT results, this year scores come back about two weeks after a student’s test date. Depending on when you took the test, PSAT scores will be released on three dates: October 24th, November 7th, and November 14th.
Unlike SAT scores, which are out of 1600 (800 per section), PSAT scores are out of 1520 (760 per section). A student’s PSAT score is supposed to represent the score that student would have gotten on an actual SAT had they taken it that same day. That idea is a little confusing, since the two tests are scored on different scales, but the predictive capacity of the PSAT holds up well enough. A PSAT score can be used as a rough estimate of a student’s “starting score” if they haven’t previously taken a diagnostic test.
One drawback to the current version of the PSAT is that the score report gives very little feedback:
– All students receive is four subscores each for Verbal and Math that are out of 7, with the ratings represented by blue bars.
-Students cannot see the problems from their tests.
-If students want personalized feedback, their best bet is to take one of the six official practice tests on Bluebook, which
allow students to see each of the problems they missed.
Families often ask, “what score do I need to qualify for national merit?”
-Qualification is based on the National Merit Index, which is out of 228; the Verbal score is counted twice in this model, and
the math score is counted once (76 x 3 = 228).
-Unfortunately, the cutoff score to qualify for National Merit varies by state, and Massachusetts was tied with DC and NJ for
the highest cutoff score in the country for the Class of 2025 (223).
-As such, very few students qualify for National Merit.
Student feedback on the PSAT was mostly that it was easier than expected. In particular, students who had already taken the SAT in August or October said the test was a lot easier than either of those tests. So, students who have not taken the SAT already should expect that their upcoming SATs in December or March will likely be harder than the PSAT.
Once you have your results back, it’s time to make a testing strategy. Preparation can make a big difference, whether it’s through a class or one-on-one tutoring. We can help you interpret your PSAT results, set a score goal, and begin your preparation process. Give us a call or email to get the ball rolling.
We hope the test went well for everyone! But even if it didn’t, most students end up with much higher scores by the end.
