Short answer: the average PSAT/NMSQT score was 950 out of 1520 in the 2024-25 school year (485 Reading and Writing, 466 Math), according to College Board's latest national report. Tenth graders who took the PSAT/NMSQT or PSAT 10 averaged 911. Eleventh graders averaged 998.
Average PSAT score by test
These are national mean scores from College Board's 2025 SAT Suite Annual Report. It covers students who tested during the 2024-25 school year.
| Test | Test takers | Total | Reading and Writing | Math |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSAT/NMSQT | 3,085,279 | 950 | 485 | 466 |
| PSAT 10 | 357,706 | 904 | 459 | 445 |
| Both combined | 3,397,371 | 946 | 482 | 464 |
The section averages don't always add up to the total because College Board rounds each mean on its own.
Average PSAT score for 10th graders and 11th graders
College Board also splits the PSAT/NMSQT and PSAT 10 results by grade. If a student tested more than once, the report counts the most recent score.
| Grade | Test takers | Total | Reading and Writing | Math | Met both benchmarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th grade | 1,733,948 | 911 | 465 | 447 | 34% |
| 11th grade | 1,449,296 | 998 | 508 | 490 | 40% |
Eleventh graders averaged 87 points higher than tenth graders. Compare your score with students in your own grade.
Average score vs. the benchmark
The average tells you where you rank. The benchmark tells you if you are on track for college. College Board sets PSAT/NMSQT grade-level benchmarks for each section:
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- 10th grade: 430 Reading and Writing, 480 Math
- 11th grade: 460 Reading and Writing, 510 Math
Notice that the average 11th grader's Math score (490) falls below the 510 Math benchmark. Only 40% of 11th graders met both benchmarks. You can be above average and still have room to grow in Math.
Highest PSAT score possible and the score scale
The PSAT/NMSQT total runs from 320 to 1520. Each section runs from 160 to 760. The PSAT 10 uses the same scale. National Merit uses a separate number, the Selection Index, which runs from 48 to 228. To find it, double your Reading and Writing score, add your Math score, and divide by 10. Our PSAT score calculator does this for you.
Where to find the average on your own score report
Your official PSAT/NMSQT score report shows an average score of all testers from the last 3 years, next to your own score. It also shows your percentile. A 70th percentile score means 70% of students in your comparison group scored at or below you. It also gives you a score range, which shows how much your score would likely vary if you took the test again under the same conditions.
Want to beat the average next time?
The PSAT and SAT share one score scale, so SAT practice builds PSAT skills too.
Related PSAT guides
- What Is the PSAT? PSAT/NMSQT, PSAT 10 and PSAT 8/9 Explained
- PSAT to SAT Score Conversion: What Your PSAT Predicts
- PSAT 10 Guide: Format, Scores and How It Differs
- How to Prepare for the PSAT in 4 Weeks
- How the National Merit Scholarship Works
Sources
- College Board, 2025 Total Group SAT Suite of Assessments Annual Report (accessed October 31, 2026).
- College Board, Fall 2026 PSAT/NMSQT Understanding Scores (accessed October 31, 2026).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average PSAT score?
The average PSAT/NMSQT score was 950 out of 1520 in the 2024-25 school year, according to College Board's national annual report. That breaks down to 485 in Reading and Writing and 466 in Math. The PSAT 10 average was 904.
What is the average PSAT score for 10th graders?
Tenth graders who took the PSAT/NMSQT or PSAT 10 in 2024-25 averaged 911: 465 in Reading and Writing and 447 in Math. College Board's 10th-grade benchmarks are 430 in Reading and Writing and 480 in Math, and 34% of 10th graders met both.
What is the average PSAT score for 11th graders?
Eleventh graders averaged 998 in 2024-25: 508 in Reading and Writing and 490 in Math. The 11th-grade benchmarks are 460 and 510, so the average 11th grader cleared the Reading and Writing benchmark but not the Math one. Forty percent met both.
What is the highest PSAT score possible?
The highest PSAT/NMSQT score is 1520. Each section, Reading and Writing and Math, is scored from 160 to 760, so the total runs from 320 to 1520. The PSAT 10 uses the same scale. The National Merit Selection Index runs from 48 to 228.
Is a 1000 a good PSAT score?
A 1000 is above the 2024-25 national PSAT/NMSQT average of 950 and just above the 11th-grade average of 998. Whether it is good for you depends on your grade and goals, so check your percentile and the grade-level benchmarks on your score report.