Understanding the Conversion of SAT Score to PSAT

Hey everyone, I recently got my SAT scores and, out of curiosity, I'm trying to figure out what that score would translate to on the PSAT. Is there a reliable conversion chart or method I could use?

Hello! That's an interesting inquiry. Interestingly, the scoring for the PSAT and SAT are a bit different, even though the tests are fairly similar in content. The main divergence lies in the scoring scales:

- The PSAT score range is 320-1520

- The SAT score range is 400-1600

The SAT score range is wider, meaning an SAT score tends to be a little bit higher than an equivalent PSAT score, but not by much. Generally speaking, adding about 90-120 points to your PSAT score could provide a ballpark SAT equivalent, based on various estimates.

For example, a PSAT score of 1250 is roughly equivalent to an SAT score of around 1350. However, be cautious with this guideline as it may not be completely accurate due to slight disparities in the ranking percentiles between the two exams.

If you're aiming for a particular PSAT score, taking PSAT practice tests and then adding those 90-120 points to your result can give you an idea of where you're at. But really, the best way to gauge your potential PSAT performance is by taking PSAT practice tests.

Remember the PSAT doesn't include quite everything the SAT does - it's a bit shorter and doesn't contain the hardest questions that can appear on the SAT. Thus, while SAT scores can certainly provide an indication of how you might perform on the PSAT, it's not a definitive measurement.