I'm trying not to obsess over this but curious minds wanna know – what's the average PSAT score that students typically get? Is there a benchmark we should be aware of, or does it not really matter?
Hey there! No need to stress too much over the PSAT scores, though it's completely normal to be curious about how you compare. The average PSAT score fluctuates slightly each year, but it's typically around the mid-900s to low 1000s out of the maximum 1520 points. To give you a more specific benchmark, the College Board website states that the average score year-to-year is usually about a 920.
While the average can give you a rough idea of what you should be shooting for, keep in mind that, if you want to be named a National Merit Semifinalist, you'll need to aim much higher—likely for 1400 at minimum. On the flip side, if you don't get a chance to study that much and are hoping to just get a sense of your raw abilities, don't worry if your score is below 920. The only thing the PSAT "counts" for is National Merit, as schools will only see your actual SAT score, and there are plenty of other scholarships out there.
Good luck with your test!
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