Help Deciphering the PSAT 8/9 Scoring Chart?

Can somebody explain the PSAT 8/9 scoring chart to me? I'm not 100% clear on how to interpret it. Is it purely based on how many questions you get right?

Sure, I'd be happy to assist in explaining the PSAT 8/9 scoring. The scoring does initially and at its base come from how many questions you get right, but a simple count doesn't provide the final score you see.

For the PSAT 8/9, the College Board actually uses a process called equating to account for slight variations in difficulty between different test forms. This way, no one is advantaged or disadvantaged for getting an easier or harder version of the test on different dates.

The process starts with a "raw score," which is simply the number of questions you answered correctly. There is no penalty for wrong answers, so your raw score is the total number of correct answers.

This raw score is then converted to a "scaled score" on a scale of 120 to 720 for each section (the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing section and the Math section). The total PSAT 8/9 score range is 240-1440 when you add these two sections together.

The conversion from raw score to scaled score is done using a conversion chart, which changes slightly for each test date. The reason for this is that it equates different versions of the tests tackling any slight variations in difficulty.

When you receive your score report, it will include a lot more data than just the scaled score, such as your percentile rank. This shows how you did in comparison to other test-takers.

In short, the final score on your report is not a simple count of the questions you got right, but rather a more complex calculation designed to fairly compare performances across different test forms.

Always remember that these standardized test scores are just one part of your academic profile, there's also emphasis on maintaining good grades and participating in meaningful extracurricular activities.