Highest PSAT Score

Many high school students take the PSAT test administered by the Collegeboard, to give the students a sense of how the SAT looks like. 

The highest PSAT score is a total of 1520 composite score.

Though the PSAT score does not affect the college admission process like the SAT and ACT, the PSAT score has an indirect effect on your college admission for a few or many students, likewise scoring the highest is PSAT has its perks.

Well, in this article we will see, what is the highest PSAT score, the benefits of scoring high and how is PSAT scored. Keep reading this article to get tips on how to score high in PSAT. 

What is the PSAT?

The PSAT, which was initially called Pre-SAT, is a standardized test conducted by the College Board to the 10th and 11th grades. It is the same College Board which administers the SAT, the main purpose of the PSAT is to give the students a taste of how the SAT looks like. So is the PSAT just a demo-testing? The answer is no, scoring a good PSAT score makes you eligible for the National Merit Scholarship, so it is also referred to as the NMQST (National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test)

Though the PSAT scores are not considered in the college admissions, it helps you estimate how well you could perform in the SAT test. This can be done using the PSAT to SAT conversion chart. After all, the SAT scores play a crucial role in the student’s college admission process.

The College Board has initiated PSAT9 and PSAT10 for high school freshman and sophomore years.

How is the PSAT Scored?

To understand the PSAT score range, subscores, and cross-test scores, you will need to understand how the PSAT scoring works. Here’s what you need to know about  PSAT scoring.

The scoring mechanism of PSAT and SAT are structured very similarly to each other. The PSAT is divided into two sections - the EBRW (Evidence-Based Reading and Writing) and the Math section. Each section is scored from a range of 160 to 760 just as aforementioned.

The EBRW section can be broken down into two sections of tests,

• The Reading Test.

• The Writing & Language Test.  

Likewise even the Math section is broken down into two sections of tests 

• Math (No Calculator Section)

• Math (Calculator section)

Now that we have seen the format of PSAT, we will see how it is scored, starting with the calculation of raw scores, it’s simply calculated from the total questions answered correctly,  then the total raw scores derived are used to calculate the scaled scores. These scaled scores are calculated by using the equating process, which is used to ensure the standardization of the test, then finally the scaled scores for each section (EBRW and Math) are added together to arrive at the total composite score.

For example, let’s say a student has taken the PSAT test, and the result is as follows in the table

Sections	Raw Scores	Scaled Scores
EBRW	32	690
Math	37	740

So if the student’s Scaled scores are 690 in EBRW and 740 in Math, then the composite score would be 1430.

Now that we have seen how PSAT is scored, the highest PSAT score you could get is 1520, to achieve that, you’ll need to get a scaled score of 760 in each section.

In addition to the scaled scores and composite scores, there are subscores and cross-test scores. These scores are used to measure your skills and knowledge in specific areas.

Subscores

Subscores are calculated from subsections of EBRW and Math. it is scored on a scale ranging from 1-15, the subsections are as follows:

EBRW (Evidence-Based Reading and Writing)

• Command of Evidence

• Words in Context

• Expression of Ideas

• Standard English Conventions

Math

• Heart of Algebra

• Problem Solving and Data Analysis

• Passport to Advanced Math

Cross-Test Scores

Cross-test scores are scored on a scale ranging from 8-38. The subsections in the cross-test scores are as follows:

• Analysis in History/Social Studies

• Analysis in Science

The following table shows the breakdown of scores in each section and subsections( Subscores and Cross-test scores)

PSAT Section	Score Range
EBRW (Evidence-Based Reading and Writing)	160-760
Reading	8-38
Writing and Language	8-38
Command of Evidence	1-15
Words in Context	1-15
Expression of Ideas	1-15
Standard English Conventions	1-15
Math	160-760
Math (test Score)	8-38
Heart of Algebra	1-15
Problem Solving and Data Analysis	1-15
Passport to Advanced Math	1-15
Composite Score (EBRW + Math)	320-1520
Cross-Test Scores	__
Analysis n History/ Social Studies	8-38
Analysis in Science	8-38
Selection Index	48-228

Also Read: SAT Score Range

What is the highest PSAT Score (2020-2021)?

The PSAT consists of two main sections (EBRW -Evidence-Based Reading & Writing and Math). The scores are scaled from a range between 160 to 760 for each section which is derived from the raw scores and the total composite PSAT score will range from 320 to 1520, considering 320 as the lowest score and 1520 as the highest score one could get. The composite score is derived from the scaled scores.

Here is a comprehensive chart of PSAT scores for high school sophomores and juniors.

High school sophomores

Percentile	Math Score	EBRW Score	Composite Score
99  (Best)	710-760	700-760	1370-1520
90 (Excellent)	580-590	610	1180
75  (Good)	520	540	1060
50  (Average)	450-460	460-470	920

High school juniors

Percentile	Math score	EBRW score	Composite score
99 or 99+ (Best)	750-760	730-760	1460-1520
90 (Excellent)	640	650-660*	1290
75 (Good)	570	590	1150-1160
50 (Average)	490-500	510-520*	1010
25	420-430	430	860
10	370-380	360-370	750
1 or 1- (Poor)	160-300	160-300	320-630

Benefits of scoring the perfect PSAT score

Many high school students don’t take the PSAT Test into serious consideration, it’s because they think that it is just a practice test for SAT, and it doesn’t have any effect in the college admission process. But as mentioned earlier scoring a high PSAT or a good PSAT has its perks.

It is a practice test, yes that’s true. It is administered by the College Board so that the students may taste a little on how SAT looks, but apart from that, PSAT is a very good predictor of your SAT score, your PSAT percentile can be so similar to SAT except for the fact that PSAT is just slightly different in the scale, so your actual points in the SAT may differ a little.

The more important perk that you get after taking high scores in PSAT provides a wide source of college scholarship opportunities. And most importantly it qualifies you for the National Merit Scholarship. A student who scores in the top 1% will be eligible for this scholarship. Scoring the highest will make you eligible.

Tips to Score the Maximum PSAT score

Here are a few tips to help you score a perfect PSAT score.

1. Be Deaf

It is so good to pretend as deaf because it doesn’t matter if you’re confident enough or not, but it is far better than losing hope by cynicism and discouragement from friends and family. Just ignore the negativity and keep focusing.

2. Get a study plan

Now you know that 1520 is the highest score, and that is what you are aiming for, plan accordingly, and work on it with full concentration.

3. Group work is better

Surround yourself with smart people, and make friends with one who is serious about PSAT, study with them, group study works depending on the type of people you surround yourself with.

4. Practice makes a man better

Practice makes anyone better in any task he practices. As we all know, that so keep practicing and practicing until you are sure that you can score the highest in the PSAT.

Conclusion

A good PSAT score is an encouragement to score top-notch points in the SAT. It does not only cater to SAT but, also serves as a bridge to qualify for the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. Applicants are encouraged to treat the PSAT with equal importance ( as SAT) and commit fully to invest their 100 percent in scoring outstanding marks.

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• What is the Highest Possible SAT Score?

• What is a Good PSAT Score?

• PSAT to SAT conversion