The PSAT is a national standardized test administered to 10th and 11th graders. Created by the College Board in partnership with the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC), this test is designed to predict what you would score on the SAT without any test preparation.
What’s on the test?
The PSAT consists of a reading/writing section and math section. The reading and writing section focuses on reading comprehension, vocabulary, punctuation, and grammar. The math section tests algebra, problem solving and data analysis, manipulation of complex equations, geometry, and trigonometry. Students are permitted to use a calculator on all math questions.
How the test is scored
The PSAT is scored by section with the two section scores (reading/writing and math) combined for the total score. Scaled section scores range from 160-760 and the total score ranges from 320-1520 (this is different from the SAT total score range of 400-1600). Scores increase in 10-point increments. The knowledge and skills section shows a score range for each question type to help students see their strengths and weaknesses. This section also shows the number of questions tested in each category, though it does not show the exact number that were answered correctly.
Each question is scored as correct or incorrect. There is no penalty for incorrect answers, so guess away!
A student’s raw score, or the number of questions answered correctly, is converted into a reported scaled score. Factors that impact the number of points a question is worth includes the difficulty of the question, skill level differentiation, and ease of guessing.
Knowledge and Skills section
This section displays how a student scored based on question content type in each section, such as expression of ideas, algebra, etc. This section provides the most helpful information when it comes to studying before the next test retake.
Reading and Writing
- Information and Ideas: These questions focus on reading comprehension, analysis, reasoning skills and knowledge. Students are asked to identify central ideas and details; show command of evidence from text, tables, and graphs; and make inferences.
- Craft and Structure: These questions are often the most challenging questions for students. They test a student’s reading comprehension, vocabulary, analysis, synthesis, reasoning skills and knowledge. These questions require students to evaluate the purpose of a text, connect topically related texts, and understand vocabulary words and phrases in context.
- Expression of Ideas: These questions focus on effective organization and development of writing. They may include questions that ask the best placement for a sentence within a paragraph, best transition word, and rhetorical synthesis questions that ask students to find a thesis from bullet points on a research topic.
- Standard English Conventions: These questions focus on grammar, usage, and punctuation. If this score is lower, it’s time to brush up on those grammar skills. One study guide we really like for reviewing grammar rules is The Ultimate Guide to SAT Grammar by Erica Meltzer.
Math
- Algebra: These questions focus on topics found in Algebra I, such as linear equations, word problems, and systems of equations. This area is often a weakness for students since many students have forgotten some of the basics by the time they take the PSAT. If this score is lower, review the basics of algebra. Khan Academy is a great place to start.
- Advanced Math: These questions focus on topics found in Algebra II such as quadratic equations, exponential equations, and appreciation/depreciation. If this score is lower, one of our favorite math review guides is The College Panda ’s SAT Math: Advanced Guide and Workbook for the New SAT.
- Problem Solving and Data Analysis: These questions focus on interpreting data, statistical analyses, probability, variation, etc.
- Geometry and Trigonometry. These questions delve into area and volume, lines, angles, and triangles, right triangles and trigonometry, and circles.
Multistage adaptive testing (MST)
The digital PSAT utilizes multistage adaptive testing, which divides the test into modules. The first module consists of easy, medium, and hard questions. Question difficulty in the second module is determined by how a student responds to questions in the first one. If a student correctly answers the majority of questions in module one, he or she will move on to harder questions in module two. If a student incorrectly answers a large number of questions in section one, he or she will move on to an easier set of questions in module two. This maintains the test’s accuracy while testing with fewer questions in a shorter amount of time.
Benchmarks
Benchmarks predict a 75% likelihood that students would earn a C or higher in first semester college courses. The benchmark total score for 10th graders is 910 and the benchmark total score for 11th graders is 970. Higher scores indicate a student would likely pass the first semester of college while lower scores indicate a student is not prepared for freshman year of college.
The top 10% of test takers score between 1210 and 1520 on the PSAT.
Score percentiles
Percentiles compare individual scores to the scores of high school students nationwide. If a student scored in the 52nd percentile, he or she scored as well or better than 52 of every 100 students. A student’s total and section score percentiles are included on each report next to the numerical scores.
Where to find scores
PSAT scores are often provided by a student’s high school. Additionally, they can be found in the student’s College Board account or the BigFuture School mobile app, if the test taker added a phone number to access the app.
How to use scores
The knowledge and skills section on the score report provides the best information for evaluating test results. This section breaks down scores by content domain. Students can determine which areas they scored well in and which ones they didn’t based on the number of shaded rectangles under each content category. The more rectangles shaded in, the higher the score in that content domain. Students can use this information when prioritizing which content areas to study before taking the next test.
Still unsure what these scores mean or how to use them in preparation for the SAT? Give us a call and we can walk you through it.