| 400 | 630 |
| 500 | 710 |
| 600 | 800 |
| 700 | 880 |
| 800 | 970 |
| 900 | 1,050 |
| 1,000 | 1,140 |
| 1,100 | 1,220 |
| 1,200 | 1,300 |
| 1,300 | 1,390 |
| 1,400 | 1,470 |
| 1,500 | 1,560 |
| 1,520 | 1,570 |
Converting your PSAT/NMSQT score to a predicted SAT score provides valuable insight into your college admissions potential. Our calculator leverages the official College Board concordance tables to deliver precise estimations based on statistical correlations between these two important standardized tests.
The PSAT/NMSQT (Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test) is a standardized test administered by the College Board and cosponsored by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. It serves multiple purposes:
The PSAT consists of two main sections:
Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (EBRW)
Math
The total testing time is 2 hours and 45 minutes, with an additional 10-15 minutes for administrative tasks.
The PSAT/NMSQT is typically offered in October of each year, with primary and alternate test dates. Most students take it in their junior year (11th grade), though many schools also offer it to sophomores (10th grade) for practice. Some schools also administer the PSAT 8/9 for 8th and 9th graders as early preparation.
The PSAT and SAT assess nearly identical skills and knowledge areas:
Both tests have eliminated the essay portion and do not directly test vocabulary through sentence completion questions. Instead, they emphasize contextual vocabulary in reading passages.
While similar in format, there are important differences:
| Feature | PSAT/NMSQT | SAT |
|---|---|---|
| Score range | 320-1520 (total), 160-760 (per section) | 400-1600 (total), 200-800 (per section) |
| Test duration | 2 hours, 45 minutes | 3 hours |
| Reading questions | 47 questions | 52 questions |
| Writing questions | 44 questions | 44 questions |
| Math questions | 48 questions | 58 questions |
| Question difficulty | Moderately challenging | More challenging with higher-level concepts |
| Penalty for guessing | No (same as SAT) | No |
| Adaptive testing | No | Digital SAT uses adaptive testing |
The SAT includes some more advanced mathematical concepts not found on the PSAT, particularly in areas of trigonometry and complex algebra. The SAT's content is calibrated slightly higher to provide greater differentiation among high-scoring students.
The 80-point difference in maximum scores reflects the SAT's inclusion of more difficult questions designed to differentiate among high-achieving students. This is why a direct conversion is necessary rather than simply adding points.
The College Board developed their concordance tables through extensive psychometric analysis of students who took both exams. This isn't a simple addition of points—it's a sophisticated statistical mapping that accounts for:
This results in a non-linear conversion where the point difference varies across the scoring spectrum.
Your predicted SAT score should be considered within a confidence interval of approximately ±40 points. For example, a predicted score of 1350 suggests your likely SAT performance would fall between 1310-1390 without additional preparation.
This variance accounts for:
The percentile ranking of your PSAT score may differ from the equivalent SAT score. Generally, achieving a particular score on the SAT is considered more difficult than achieving the concordant score on the PSAT. This means your SAT percentile may be slightly higher than your PSAT percentile for concordant scores.
Understanding your projected SAT score allows you to:
For high-scoring students, the PSAT/NMSQT serves as the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. Understanding how your PSAT score translates to the SAT can help contextualize your National Merit standing:
Your converted SAT score provides additional context for understanding these achievements in terms of college admissions standards.
Based on your converted score, consider these preparation approaches:
| Predicted SAT Range | Recommended Strategy |
|---|---|
| Below 1200 | Focus on foundational content mastery and test-taking strategies |
| 1200-1350 | Target specific content weaknesses and timing efficiency |
| 1350-1450 | Emphasize advanced problem-solving and elimination of careless errors |
| Above 1450 | Perfect challenging question types and maintain consistent performance |
The PSAT to SAT conversion can be applied to section scores (Math and Evidence-Based Reading & Writing) as well as the total score. Analyzing these converted section scores helps identify specific areas needing attention.
The PSAT provides valuable preparation for the SAT in several ways:
Most students who use their PSAT experience strategically see significant improvement on their SAT scores beyond the statistical prediction.
Our calculator implements the complete College Board concordance table with precision data points for all possible PSAT scores between 400 and 1520. When a score falls between two reference points, the calculator uses appropriate rounding to the nearest 10-point increment to ensure accuracy.
The conversion relies on these key principles:
The College Board periodically recalibrates their concordance tables based on evolving test performance data. Our calculator incorporates the most recent official concordance information available, ensuring your prediction reflects current statistical relationships between the exams.
While our calculator provides valuable insights, users should understand these important limitations:
This PSAT to SAT conversion calculator provides a statistically sound starting point for understanding your potential SAT performance. Use this prediction as a foundation for setting realistic goals, planning your preparation strategy, and making informed decis