I took my PSAT and I'm trying to gauge how I would do on the SAT. Is there a reliable way to convert my scores? And if so, what's the process?
You can get a rough estimate of your SAT score from your PSAT score, although they might not be a direct 1-to-1 conversion.
The maximum score on both the PSAT and SAT is 1600, but the PSAT is slightly easier and has a few fewer questions, so a perfect score on the PSAT might not mean you'd get a perfect score on the SAT.
However, for a rough conversion, you can add about 20-40 points to your PSAT score to give you an equivalent SAT score range. So, for instance, if your PSAT score was 1150, you might expect an SAT score in the range of about 1170-1190.
This is just a guideline, and remember that a lot of factors can affect your score on test day, like how well you manage your time and the specific questions you get. Keep in mind that the SAT typically includes more difficult questions than the PSAT, making the tests not exactly equivalent.
I'd recommend using your PSAT score to identify areas where you can focus your studying for the SAT. Then, consider taking a few SAT practice tests (you can use the Bluebook™ app for this) to get a more accurate idea of how you're likely to perform.
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