PSAT Score Calculator
Add up your PSAT/NMSQT total score, calculate your National Merit Selection Index, and check the College Board grade-level benchmarks.
Your PSAT/NMSQT total score is your Reading and Writing score plus your Math score. Each section is scored from 160 to 760, so the total runs from 320 to 1520. Your National Merit Selection Index is (2 × Reading and Writing + Math) ÷ 10. For example, 620 + 500 = a 1120 total and a 174 Selection Index.
- Total = Reading and Writing + Math (320–1520).
- Selection Index = (2 × Reading and Writing + Math) ÷ 10 (48–228).
- Grade 11 benchmarks: 460 Reading and Writing, 510 Math. Grade 10: 430 and 480.
How to Use the PSAT Score Calculator
- Total & Selection Index: enter your Reading and Writing and Math scores from your score report or a practice test, and pick your grade. You get your total, your Selection Index and whether you met each College Board benchmark.
- Math score I need: enter a goal Selection Index and your Reading and Writing score to see the lowest Math score that reaches it.
How the Digital PSAT/NMSQT Is Scored
| Test | Total score | Each section |
|---|---|---|
| PSAT/NMSQT | 320–1520 | 160–760 |
| PSAT 10 | 320–1520 | 160–760 |
| PSAT 8/9 | 240–1440 | 120–720 |
| SAT (for comparison) | 400–1600 | 200–800 |
The PSAT/NMSQT has two sections, Reading and Writing and Math, each split into two modules. Your number of correct answers is converted to a section score. College Board’s practice tests give that conversion as a range, so a practice score is an estimate.
PSAT Score Formulas
Selection Index = (2 × Reading and Writing + Math) ÷ 10
- Reading and Writing 620, Math 500: total 1120; index (1,240 + 500) ÷ 10 = 174
- Reading and Writing 700, Math 680: total 1380; index (1,400 + 680) ÷ 10 = 208
- Reading and Writing 480, Math 520: total 1000; index (960 + 520) ÷ 10 = 148
Reading and Writing counts twice in the Selection Index, so 10 extra points there add 2 points to your index, while 10 extra points in Math add 1.
PSAT Benchmarks by Grade
College Board sets grade-level benchmarks that show whether you are on track for college readiness by the time you take the SAT.
| Grade | Reading and Writing | Math |
|---|---|---|
| 11th grade | 460 | 510 |
| 10th grade | 430 | 480 |
Source: College Board, PSAT/NMSQT Understanding Scores (Fall 2026).
What Is a Good PSAT Score?
- Meeting both benchmarks means you are on track for the SAT college readiness benchmarks.
- Percentiles on your score report compare you with 10th and 11th graders from the last three testing years. In College Board’s example, a 1120 total was at the 75th percentile for an 11th grader.
- For National Merit, what matters is the Selection Index, not the total. Strong Reading and Writing scores help most because they count twice.
National Merit and the Selection Index
The PSAT/NMSQT is the qualifying test for the National Merit Scholarship Program. The National Merit Scholarship Corporation uses your Selection Index (48–228) to choose Commended Students and Semifinalists. Semifinalist cutoffs are set state by state each year, so the score you need depends on your state and class. Check the current figures on nationalmerit.org.
PSAT vs SAT
Both tests are digital, adaptive and scored on the same kind of scale, but the PSAT/NMSQT tops out at 1520 instead of 1600. Ready for the real test? Use the SAT score calculator and check upcoming SAT test dates. Considering the ACT instead? Try the ACT score calculator.
Tips to Raise Your PSAT Score
- Focus on Reading and Writing for National Merit. It counts twice in the Selection Index.
- Use official practice tests. College Board’s practice tests for the digital PSAT come with scoring tables.
- Answer every question. There is no penalty for wrong answers.
- Review your score report. It shows which skills cost you the most points, so you know what to practise for the SAT.
Colleges look at grades as well as test scores, so keep track of your high school GPA too.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is the PSAT scored?
The PSAT/NMSQT has two sections, Reading and Writing and Math, each scored from 160 to 760. Your total score is the sum of the two, from 320 to 1520.
How do I calculate my National Merit Selection Index?
Double your Reading and Writing score, add your Math score, and divide by 10. For example, 620 Reading and Writing and 500 Math give (1240 + 500) ÷ 10 = 174. The index runs from 48 to 228.
What is a good PSAT score?
A good first goal is to meet the College Board grade-level benchmarks: 460 Reading and Writing and 510 Math in 11th grade, or 430 and 480 in 10th grade. In College Board’s own example, an 11th grader with a 1120 total was at the 75th percentile.
What PSAT score do I need for National Merit?
There is no single score. The National Merit Scholarship Corporation uses the Selection Index and sets a separate Semifinalist cutoff for each state every year, plus a national Commended level. Check nationalmerit.org for the current year’s figures.
Does the PSAT count for college admissions?
No. Colleges do not use PSAT scores for admission. The PSAT/NMSQT is practice for the SAT and the entry test for the National Merit Scholarship Program for juniors.
How does a PSAT score compare to the SAT?
The PSAT/NMSQT uses the same type of scale as the SAT but tops out lower: 320–1520 instead of 400–1600, and 160–760 per section instead of 200–800. A PSAT score is a rough guide to how you might score on the SAT at the same point in time.
Can I calculate my PSAT score from the number of questions I got right?
Only with the conversion table for that exact test. College Board publishes a raw-score conversion table with each official practice test, and it gives a score range rather than one number. Use it, then enter your section scores here.
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