Kind of stressing a little bit, not gonna lie. Does anyone know how the PSAT is scored? I mean I took it and all, but I want to understand how they come up with those numbers. Also, what’s a good score? Thanks!
Hey there! No need to stress—the PSAT scoring can be a bit confusing, but I've got you covered. Each section (Evidence-Based Reading and Writing, and Math) is scored on a scale of 160 to 760, leading to a total score range of 320 to 1520 when the two sections are combined. Keep in mind, this is different from the SAT which has a range of 400 to 1600. For both tests, the scores are the result of your raw score, which is simply the number of questions you answered correctly, with no penalty for incorrect answers. In other words, a wrong answer earns you just a 0, not a -1.
As for what's considered a 'good' score, that depends on your personal goals and the averages in your area. However, scores above 1200 are typically considered strong, as they usually fall within the 90th percentile (meaning you did as well or better than 90% of test-takers). If you're aiming for National Merit recognition, you'll have to shoot even a little higher, as the qualifying score varies by state but usually falls above the 1400 mark.
Hope this clears things up!
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