PSAT Scores are Out: What Do They Mean?

In my years as a classroom teacher and school counselor, I spent a morning every October proctoring the PSAT. I passed out test booklets, answer sheets, and No. 2 pencils while reading a script of directions and reminding students to fill in bubbles completely so that scores would be accurate. In more recent years, I helped students download and log in to Bluebook on their devices, preparing to administer the new digital PSAT, a shorter, adaptive test (like its counterpart, the digital SAT) that has now replaced the paper one. Regardless of how it’s delivered, the PSAT remains a valuable tool to help students gain testing experience and plan their preparation for the SAT or ACT in junior and senior year.

If you’re reading this, you may be one of the millions of 9th-11th grade students worldwide who took a PSAT (Preliminary SAT) at your school in October and have just received your scores from the College Board. Whether you took the PSAT 8/9, PSAT 10, or NMSQT (National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test), different test types that we’ve explained before, it’s important to know that the PSAT is not out of 1600 points like the SAT. You can also check your predicted SAT score using our conversion table or on your College Board account, which can help you see where you stand in terms of college admissions.

Although over 80% of colleges in the U.S. are still test optional for admissions, the number of highly selective colleges reinstating testing requirements is rising. As of 2025, all Ivies except Columbia and Princeton now require scores. 

In addition to gathering useful testing data and experience, students taking the PSAT can also qualify for scholarships and recognition awards in 10th and 11th grades. We’ll note 2025 changes to the College Board’s National Recognition Awards below. For more on how the PSAT connects to the National Merit Scholarship Program, be sure to check out our previous blog on PSAT scores and scholarship eligibility.

WHAT IS A GOOD PSAT SCORE?

The National Merit Scholarship Corporation uses a Selection Index, not your score, to determine who makes the cutoff each year. The Selection Index is calculated by multiplying your Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (RW) score by two, adding your Math (M) score, and then dividing the total by 10–resulting in a possible range from 48-228. The specific number needed to qualify for the National Merit Scholarship varies state by state and is determined annually. Expert TTA tutor Heather O’Donovan recommends students aim for a Selection Index around 220 to stay competitive. If students reside in a particularly competitive state like Pennsylvania, California, Connecticut, or New York, they should aim for closer to 223-225.

Separate from National Merit qualifications, Recognition Awards were created by the College Board in the 1980s to address systemic barriers to higher education faced by underrepresented students. In 2025, the awards have been updated and now have three main categories:

• School Recognition Award – Honors the top-performing students in each high school nationwide
• First-Generation Recognition Award – Recognizes students on track to be the first in their family to complete college
• Rural and Small-Town Recognition Award – Highlights outstanding students from smaller or less-represented communities

Recognition award eligibility criteria:

• GPA of 3.3 or higher
• PSAT score taken in 10th or 11th grade that places you in the top 10% of your school or qualifying group in your state (first-generation or rural/small-town students)
• OR two or more AP scores of 3 or higher from 9th-10th grade

Recognition awards can be listed in students’ college applications, though they may not add much new information that can’t be determined elsewhere. Colleges may be particularly interested to see if the student scores in the top 10% at their school, which can help signify that a student is at the top of their class even if the school does not rank. Read more about the awards and how to verify eligibility on the Big Future website.

EXPERT TUTOR TOP TIPS

If you’ve qualified for National Merit status or recognition, congratulations! But fear not if you didn’t, and know that it’s normal for the PSAT to mark the beginning of a standardized testing journey for many students. For students who are worried about their PSAT scores, Heather also offers wise advice and perspective:

As a tutor, I’ve celebrated many, many success stories featuring students who overcame initial dread and disappointment, committed to consistent prep, and saw real results on the other side. The key lies in your commitment to targeted prep. Don’t just crash through practice test after practice test, exhausting all of the good materials that you’ll want for the home stretch of your prep. Instead, isolate question types within the exam’s content domains, analyze them to identify patterns and learn to recognize answer choice trends, and practice with them starting on easy mode before amping up the difficulty level.

Heather also recommends taking practice tests before the PSAT to gain familiarity with the format and timing of the exam. If your school does not offer a PSAT, you can also look into taking a test on your own.

Once you have your PSAT results, we can help you decide if the digital SAT or enhanced ACT is right for you, navigate changes in the testing landscape, and find a test prep program to fit with your goals and budget.

Whether you want to improve your PSAT results, prepare for a real SAT or ACT, or explore personalized tutoring, our expert team at Top Tier Admissions can help!

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Julia Spaht

Senior Private Counselor at Top Tier Admissions

A veteran teacher, advisor, and college admissions counselor, Julia has spent over 15 years coaching students to realize and achieve their full potential. Working in both public and private schools, Julia began her career teaching English and Art History to students in grades 8-12. Julia also has served as a Writing Center Director, Director of Admissions, thesis advisor, and admissions committee member in K-12 private schools, working with a diverse range of students and families at various stages of their educational journeys. Most recently, Julia transitioned into independent and private school college counseling roles, advising students throughout high school on all aspects of the college search and application process. She particularly enjoys connecting with students, learning their interests, and helping them solve problems, build confidence, and achieve their dreams. Her students have been admitted to top schools including Princeton, Cornell, University of Pennsylvania, Dartmouth, Northwestern, Johns Hopkins, Georgetown, University of Southern California, Rice, Tulane, Georgia Tech, Duke, UNC-Chapel Hill, and University of Texas-Austin. Julia graduated magna cum laude with honors from Washington and Lee University, and she also earned an M.Ed. from Vanderbilt and an M.A. from Middlebury College.

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