Took the PSAT? See what to expect on the SAT

Enter your PSAT score to see how students with similar scores typically perform on the SAT by spring.

Your PSAT score

Math

R&W

MathR&W

Click any number above to type it. Total 320–1520, sections 160–760, in steps of 10. Typed values snap into range.

Typical SAT score change

+36 pts

Typical change: 1200 → 1236

75th

percentile

Your score of 1200 is higher than 75% of SAT test-takers

1190–1280

Students with a 1200 PSAT typically score between 1190 and 1280 on the SAT by spring.

See SAT score percentiles

How this projection is calculated

PSAT and SAT scores use the same vertical scale. A 1200 PSAT represents roughly the same tested skill level as a 1200 SAT at that moment.
The projected spring range comes from College Board data. It shows how students with similar junior-year PSAT scores later performed on the SAT.
The percentile is based on SAT percentiles. It shows where your current score would rank among SAT test-takers.

Took the PSAT as a sophomore?

You have another year of coursework before the junior-year students in this dataset, so use this projection as a rough benchmark rather than a prediction.

National Merit

Your PSAT/NMSQT Selection Index determines whether you may qualify for National Merit recognition.

180

Your Selection Index

(2 × R&W 600 + Math 600) ÷ 10

Your state

Choose your state to compare your Selection Index with its recent Semifinalist cutoff. The national Commended cutoff is 208.

See National Merit cutoffs by state

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PSAT-to-SAT reference data

College Board data behind the score ranges shown above.

PSAT score → typical spring SAT score

PSAT/NMSQT total score (the same number on the SAT scale) and the typical spring-SAT range, 320–1520

1520	1510–1590	1544
1510	1500–1580	1534
1500	1490–1570	1524
1490	1480–1560	1514
1480	1470–1550	1504
1470	1460–1540	1494
1460	1450–1530	1484
1450	1440–1520	1474
1440	1430–1510	1464
1430	1420–1500	1454
1420	1410–1490	1444
1410	1400–1480	1434
1400	1390–1470	1424
1390	1380–1470	1422
1380	1370–1460	1412
1370	1360–1450	1402
1360	1350–1440	1392
1350	1340–1430	1382
1340	1330–1420	1372
1330	1320–1410	1362
1320	1310–1400	1352
1310	1300–1390	1342
1300	1290–1380	1332
1290	1280–1370	1326
1280	1270–1360	1316
1270	1260–1350	1306
1260	1250–1340	1296
1250	1240–1330	1286
1240	1230–1320	1276
1230	1220–1310	1266
1220	1210–1300	1256
1210	1200–1290	1246
1200	1190–1280	1236
1190	1180–1270	1226
1180	1170–1260	1216
1170	1160–1250	1206
1160	1150–1240	1196
1150	1140–1230	1186
1140	1130–1220	1176
1130	1120–1210	1166
1120	1110–1200	1156
1110	1100–1190	1146
1100	1090–1180	1136
1090	1080–1170	1126
1080	1070–1160	1116
1070	1060–1150	1106
1060	1050–1140	1096
1050	1040–1130	1086
1040	1030–1120	1076
1030	1020–1110	1066
1020	1010–1100	1056
1010	1000–1090	1046
1000	990–1080	1036
990	980–1080	1028
980	970–1070	1018
970	960–1060	1008
960	950–1050	998
950	940–1040	988
940	930–1030	978
930	920–1020	968
920	910–1010	958
910	900–1000	948
900	890–990	938
890	880–990	934
880	870–980	924
870	860–970	914
860	850–960	904
850	840–950	894
840	830–940	884
830	820–930	874
820	810–920	864
810	800–910	854
800	790–900	844
790	790–900	843
780	780–890	833
770	770–880	823
760	760–870	813
750	750–860	803
740	740–850	793
730	730–840	783
720	720–830	773
710	710–820	763
700	700–810	753
690	730–830	777
680	720–820	767
670	710–810	757
660	700–800	747
650	690–790	737
640	680–780	727
630	670–770	717
620	660–760	707
610	650–750	697
600	640–740	687
590	710–790	741
580	700–780	731
570	690–770	721
560	680–760	711
550	670–750	701
540	660–740	691
530	650–730	681
520	640–720	671
510	630–710	661
500	620–700	651
490	720–760	729
480	710–750	719
470	700–740	709
460	690–730	699
450	680–720	689
440	670–710	679
430	660–700	669
420	650–690	659
410	640–680	649
400	630–670	639
390	620–660	629
380	610–650	619
370	600–640	609
360	590–630	599
350	580–620	589
340	570–610	579
330	560–600	569
320	550–590	559

Average SAT gain by starting score

Fall junior-year PSAT/NMSQT to first spring junior-year SAT, by starting band

1400–1520	+24	1464	24%	39%
1300–1390	+32	1372	23%	42%
1200–1290	+36	1277	22%	45%
1100–1190	+36	1179	22%	44%
1000–1090	+36	1081	21%	45%
900–990	+38	985	22%	46%
800–890	+44	892	22%	48%
700–790	+53	802	21%	51%
600–690	+87	746	8%	69%
500–590	+151	715	3%	90%
320–490	+239	698	1%	95%

Sort by

1400–1520
Avg gain
+24
Scored lower
24%
1300–1390
Avg gain
+32
Scored lower
23%
1200–1290
Avg gain
+36
Scored lower
22%
1100–1190
Avg gain
+36
Scored lower
22%
1000–1090
Avg gain
+36
Scored lower
21%
900–990
Avg gain
+38
Scored lower
22%
800–890
Avg gain
+44
Scored lower
22%
700–790
Avg gain
+53
Scored lower
21%
600–690
Avg gain
+87
Scored lower
8%
500–590
Avg gain
+151
Scored lower
3%
320–490
Avg gain
+239
Scored lower
1%

"Scored lower" adds the five negative buckets; "gained 50+" the four largest positive ones. Percent columns are College Board's rounded figures, so rows may not sum to exactly 100.

FAQ

Why is this projection lower than the "+80 rule" I saw elsewhere?

A flat “+80” rule oversimplifies the College Board data. Published score gains vary by starting score, and the averages include students who prepared between tests. This tool shows the published average for your score band along with the middle 50% range, rather than adding the same number of points to every score.

What is a good PSAT score for a sophomore or junior?

A good PSAT score depends on your grade and goals. Because the PSAT and SAT use a common score scale, your PSAT gives you a useful sense of where you stand. For sophomores, there’s still plenty of time to improve before taking the SAT. For juniors, your PSAT/NMSQT score also determines your Selection Index for National Merit recognition.

See SAT score percentiles →See National Merit cutoffs →

When do PSAT scores come out in 2026?

For the October 1–30, 2026 in-school testing window, College Board lists student score-release dates of October 22, November 5, and November 12, depending on when your answers are submitted. Students testing through a state program should check their state’s schedule.

Sources: College Board, PSAT/NMSQT Understanding Scores, 2026 (shared vertical scale; its vertical-scaling page puts the all-bands average at +40 total six months on) · College Board, Percentage of Students with Junior-Year Score Gain or Loss (2020 Cohort) (band averages and spread) · College Board, SAT User Percentiles (retrieved 2026-09-06) · Khan Academy and College Board, class of 2017 practice study · state cutoffs compiled from Compass Prep (NMSC does not publish them).