What's the correlation between PSAT and SAT scores?

Hey everyone, I'm trying to get a sense of how my PSAT score might predict my future SAT score. Are there like, conversion charts or formulas? Any tips from those who've taken both tests would be super helpful!

Hey there! Great question, and it's definitely wise to use your PSAT score as a barometer for the SAT. The College Board, which administers both exams, has a concordance table that estimates the equivalent SAT score for a given PSAT/NMSQT score: https://blog.collegevine.com/psat-to-sat-score-conversion-predict-your-score.

It's not an exact science, but the PSAT score is scaled to match the SAT format, which can give you a ballpark idea of how you might score on the SAT.

For example, if you scored a 1150 on the PSAT, you might be projected to score around a 1180 on the SAT. Keep in mind, the PSAT is slightly easier and shorter than the SAT, so you'll still want to continue preparing for the nuances of the actual SAT. There's also variability in performance due to factors like test anxiety or having a bad day, so take the prediction with a grain of salt.

What I like to tell students is to use the PSAT to identify your strengths and weaknesses. It's a great diagnostic tool. If you did really well in math but struggled a bit in evidence-based reading and writing, you now know where to focus your study efforts for the SAT. Hope this helps, and best of luck in your preparation!