PSAT 8/9 Percentiles: How do they work?

Hey guys, I recently took the PSAT 8/9 and I'm a bit confused about the percentile thing. How do percentiles work and what do they say about my performance on the test? Any guidance is appreciated!

Hello! Percentiles are used to compare your performance on the PSAT 8/9 with other students in your grade who took the test. In simple terms, percentiles represent the percentage of test-takers who scored lower than you. For example, if your percentile is 75, that means you performed better than 75% of the test-takers, and the remaining 25% did better than you.

The PSAT 8/9 provides two types of percentiles:

1. User Percentile: This compares your scores to the scores of all other test-takers in your grade who took the test within the most recent year. It helps you see how well you performed relative to your peers at the national level.

2. Nationally Representative Sample Percentile: This percentile compares your performance to a larger group that includes students from a variety of educational backgrounds, including those who didn't take the PSAT 8/9. It's meant to give you a sense of how your scores compare to a broader population.

Keep in mind that the PSAT 8/9 is an early-stage assessment meant to help you get a feel for the test and identify areas where you can improve. These percentiles can be a useful indicator of your strengths and which areas might need additional focus for future tests like the PSAT/NMSQT or the SAT. Don't stress too much about the percentiles at this stage – use them as a guide for improvement. Good luck!