What's a good PSAT score?

Hey guys, I'm trying to gauge what a solid PSAT score is. I want to know what score range I should aim for to be competitive. Any insights?

A good PSAT score depends on your goals and the context of your overall academic profile. Generally, a competitive PSAT score is one that places you in the top 10-15% of test-takers nationally.

To give you a better idea, here's a breakdown of approximate percentiles for different PSAT score ranges:

- 1200+: Above the 90th percentile, which is considered very competitive

- 1100 – 1190: Between the 75th and 90th percentiles, considered strong

- 1000 – 1090: Between the 50th and 75th percentiles, considered average

Please keep in mind that the maximum PSAT score is 1520, as opposed to the SAT, which has a maximum of 1600.

If you're aiming for National Merit Scholarship recognition, you'll want to have an especially strong PSAT score. The minimum score to qualify for National Merit varies by state, but typically, it hovers around the 99th percentile, which translates to a PSAT score of around 1400 or higher. You can find more information about specific National Merit cutoffs on CollegeVine's blog: https://blog.collegevine.com/national-merit-cutoffs

Ultimately, your goal should be to perform at your personal best and use your PSAT score as a benchmark that can inform your SAT/ACT preparation. If you can identify areas in need of improvement early on, you'll be better prepared to achieve a competitive SAT/ACT score, which is ultimately more consequential for college admissions and scholarships. In other words, the PSAT is primarily a practice test for the SAT, to help you identify your strengths and weaknesses, rather than a test that carries significant weight on its own.

Good luck with your studying, and aim high!