What is a good PSAT score for your child's grade?

From College Board's report on the 2025-26 school year. The 10th and 11th grade numbers include students who took the PSAT/NMSQT or the PSAT 10.

“Top 25% from” is the 75th percentile: 75% of students in that grade scored at or below it. The last column shows how many students scored 1200 or more.

Two sections, one total. Every PSAT has a Reading and Writing score and a Math score. The total is the two added together (College Board, PSAT 8/9).

• PSAT/NMSQT and PSAT 10: each section is 160 to 760, the total is 320 to 1520.
• PSAT 8/9: each section is 120 to 720, the total is 240 to 1440.

The PSAT uses the same scale as the SAT. A 500 in Math on the PSAT means about the same as a 500 on the SAT taken the same day.

The percentile. A percentile says how many students scored the same or lower. The 70th percentile means your child did as well as or better than 70% of students in their grade. The report shows the “All Tester” percentile: students in the same grade who took that test in the last 3 years. Your report’s percentile may differ a little from this guide, because it uses a different group of students.

The score range. Under each score, the report shows a range: how much the score would likely vary on another version of the test, under the same conditions. One number is never the full story.

The benchmark. For each section, the report shows a grade-level benchmark. College Board calls students at or above it “on track” for college. For Math, it is 430 in 8th grade, 450 in 9th, 480 in 10th and 510 in 11th (College Board).

When scores come out. For the fall 2026 test at school, students get scores on October 22, November 5 or November 12, depending on when the school sent in the answers. State testing programs can have other dates (College Board).

• Average: 917 (Reading and Writing 467, Math 450).
• Top half: 910 or more.
• Top 25%: 1050 or more.
• About the top 10%: 1200 or more.

Most sophomores take the PSAT for practice. The score does not go to colleges, and for almost every student only the 11th grade PSAT/NMSQT counts for National Merit. Use the report to choose what to practice before junior year.

• Average: 1000 (Reading and Writing 509, Math 491).
• Top half: 990 or more.
• Top 25%: 1150 or more.
• 1200 or more: about 20% of juniors.

This is the year that counts for National Merit. Use the results to choose what to practice before the SAT.

Most 9th graders take the PSAT 8/9. Check the test name on the report first.

• Average: 863 (Reading and Writing 440, Math 422).
• Top half: 850 or more.
• Top 25%: 980 or more.

College Board itself says there are no “good” or “bad” scores on the PSAT 8/9, just information (College Board). We agree. A freshman score shows where to start.

• Average: 810 (Reading and Writing 413, Math 398).
• Top half: 800 or more.
• Top 25%: 910 or more.

The PSAT 8/9 gives your child a starting point. Use the report to choose what to practice next.

The total hides a lot. Look at the Math score alone, next to the average and the benchmark for the grade (College Board).

Read the last column again. In every grade, most students are below the Math benchmark. If your child is too, they are in the majority.

Find the weakest Math area. The report shows how your child did in each of the 4 Math areas (College Board):

• Algebra: linear equations and systems.
• Advanced Math: quadratics, exponentials and other nonlinear equations.
• Problem-Solving and Data Analysis: ratios, percentages, and reading data.
• Geometry and Trigonometry: area, volume, angles and triangles, plus right-triangle trig. On the PSAT 8/9 it is Geometry only, with no trig (College Board).

Start with the weakest one. One area at a time is much easier than “get better at math”.

Some questions may be on topics your child has not had yet. Advanced Math is about quadratics and exponentials, which many schools teach in Algebra 2. A 9th or 10th grader who has not had Algebra 2 yet has not seen much of it. That is the order of the classes, not a problem with your child. Ask the math teacher which topics are new and which need more practice.

The PSAT/NMSQT in 11th grade is also the entry to the National Merit Scholarship Program. National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) does not use the total score. It uses the Selection Index printed on the report, from 48 to 228. To get it, double the Reading and Writing score, add Math, then divide the total by 10 (College Board).

About 1.3 million students enter each year, almost all of them juniors. About 50,000 score high enough for recognition, and they hear through their school the next September. NMSC sets the Semifinalist cutoff for each state, so it changes by state and by year (NMSC). We do not give cutoff numbers here. Only NMSC can say what they are.

Free first. College Board points to most of these in its guide to the score report (College Board):

• The math teacher. Bring the report. Ask which Math area matches what your child has had in class.
• Official SAT Prep on Khan Academy. Free practice for the same Math areas (Khan Academy).
• Bluebook practice tests. Full practice tests from College Board, free (College Board).
• Free SAT tutoring on Schoolhouse.world, and school tutoring if the school has it.

Start with free help. If your child keeps getting stuck, ask the teacher what kind of help would work.

Then paid, if free is not enough.

• A human tutor. The better choice when your child needs someone in the room, help to get organized, or help in many subjects. See what a math tutor costs.
• Sophie, our own tutor. PSAT Math and SAT Math, from $8 an hour. About Sophie.

What does this score mean for the SAT? See PSAT vs SAT.