Understanding PSAT raw score conversion

I'm a bit confused about how the PSAT raw score is converted to the final score. Can someone explain the process or direct me to a reliable source that can help me understand the conversion?

Sure! I'd be happy to explain the process to you. The PSAT is scored on a scale of 320 to 1520, and is made up of two sections: Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (ERW) and Math. The process of converting your raw scores into a final score can be broken down into three steps:

1. Finding raw scores: Your raw scores are simply calculated by adding up the number of questions you answered correctly in each section. For instance, if you answered 40 questions correctly in ERW and 35 questions correctly in Math, then your raw scores would be 40 in ERW and 35 in Math.

2. Calculating section scores: To convert your raw scores into section scores, you'll need to use a scoring chart specific to the PSAT version you took. The scoring charts can typically be found on the College Board's website or in the PSAT's Official Student Guide. These charts show the raw score conversion to section scores on a scale of 160 to 760 for each section. For example, if your raw score of 40 in ERW translates to a section score of 670, and your raw score of 35 in Math translates to a section score of 630, then those are your section scores.

3. Computing the final score: To find your final PSAT score, add your section scores in ERW and Math together. In our example, you'd add 670 (ERW) and 630 (Math) to get a total score of 1300.

It's important to note that the conversion process is not always linear. The exact conversion may vary depending on the specific PSAT version you took and its level of difficulty. It's also worth noting that the SAT score conversion is slightly different, so you can't directly compare your PSAT scores to SAT scores without considering the scaling differences.

I hope this helps you understand how your PSAT raw scores are converted into section scores and your final score! Good luck!