The October 2026 PSAT/NMSQT ran in schools from October 1 to October 30, and the first students saw scores on October 23. On r/PSAT, the loudest complaint is Reading and Writing Module 2, which many students called the hardest part of the test. Nobody knows the class of 2028 National Merit cutoffs yet. The best guide is last year's numbers: the national Commended level fell to 208, and Texas sat at 219.
Quick answers
- Test window: October 1 to 30, 2026, given by schools (College Board testing calendar).
- Scores: students started posting scores on October 23. Schools tested on different days, so scores come out in waves. One student wrote that the next release is November 5; College Board has not confirmed that date on its score page, so check your College Board account or ask your counselor.
- Your Selection Index: double your Reading and Writing score, add your Math score, then divide by 10. The scale runs from 48 to 228.
- Cutoffs: NMSC announces state Semifinalist cutoffs in September 2027. Compass Prep's early range for Texas is 219 to 222; for California it is 219 to 224.
What students said about the October 2026 PSAT
We read the r/PSAT threads posted between October 23 and October 28. Treat this as student reaction, not official data. A post with 13 upvotes is one person's memory of one test form.
Reading and Writing Module 2 felt hard
In an October 27 thread about that day's test, a student who scored 1500 to 1520 on practice PSATs said Module 1 English felt like a typical Module 2, and Module 2 had questions harder than anything in their practice. Replies agreed: "Reading was hella hard," and "there wasn't enough time for reading mod 2 but math mod 2 was really easy." A parent in the Midwest said their son, who usually gets reading modules right, felt the same.
The same thread shows why you should not panic over a hard module. On the adaptive PSAT, a harder Module 2 usually means you did well on Module 1. One parent wrote that their daughter ran out of time on the last math question and still scored 760 in Math.
Easier or harder than last year?
Students split. In "Difficulty for this year's PSAT" (October 24), several juniors said this year felt easier than the 2025 test, and one added that they studied this year and did not last year. That second point matters: feeling better prepared can make a test feel easier.
Expected versus actual scores
In "Those who got the scores: expected vs actual" (October 23), students who thought they missed 5 or 6 Reading and Writing questions reported 700 to 730 in that section. That is a handful of posts, but it suggests a few misses did not sink anyone.
Discussion off Reddit: the equilateral triangle in a circle
On r/PSAT, students asked about a geometry question with an equilateral triangle inside a circle. We cannot see the PSAT itself, but the same question type is in our Digital SAT question banks. Below are the two matching questions, word for word: one from our March 2025 Math question bank and one from our November 2024 Math question bank. Try each before you open the solution.
Question 1 (Hard, March 2025 Math question bank). The perimeter of an equilateral triangle is 876 centimeters. The three vertices lie on a circle. The radius of the circle is w√3 centimeters. What is the value of w?
A) 292 B) 292√3 C) 292/3 D) 876
Show solution
Each side is 876 ÷ 3 = 292. For an equilateral triangle, the radius of the circle through its vertices is the side divided by √3: 292/√3 = 292√3/3. That equals w√3, so w = 292/3. The answer is C.
The traps: A is the side length, and B is what you get if you forget to divide by 3.
Question 2 (Hard, November 2024 Math question bank). An equilateral triangle has a height of 47√3 units. What is the length, in units, of one side of this triangle?
A) 94√3 B) 94 C) 47√3 D) 47
Show solution
The height splits the triangle into two 30-60-90 triangles, so the height is (√3/2) times the side. Set (√3/2)s = 47√3. Divide both sides by √3: s/2 = 47, so s = 94. The answer is B.
The trap: C repeats the height, and A keeps the √3 you should have divided out.
For more circle rules you can check with Desmos, see our circle geometry guide.
Your PSAT shows which skills cost you points.
The PSAT and SAT test the same skills. Take a free full-length Digital SAT practice test and see your weak skills before the SAT.
How your NMSC Selection Index works
College Board's score page gives the formula: double your Reading and Writing score, add your Math score, and divide by 10. That is why Reading and Writing counts twice. Try your own scores in our free PSAT score calculator.
| Section scores (R&W / Math) | Total | Selection Index |
|---|---|---|
| 700 / 760 | 1460 | (1400 + 760) / 10 = 216 |
| 730 / 730 | 1460 | (1460 + 730) / 10 = 219 |
| 760 / 760 | 1520 | 228 (the maximum) |
Same 1460 total, 3 index points apart. A student in "the psat is frustrating" (October 23) pointed this out with their own 700/760 split. If you are a junior aiming for National Merit, Reading and Writing practice moves your index twice as fast as Math practice.
National Merit cutoffs: last year's numbers and early ranges for the class of 2028
NMSC sets a separate Semifinalist cutoff for each state and announces it in September of senior year. The class of 2027 cutoffs (from the October 2025 PSAT) came out on September 9, 2026. Compass Prep reported they were the lowest on record, with every state lower than the year before. The Commended level fell 2 points to 208.
The table shows the class of 2027 actual cutoffs and Compass Prep's estimated range for the class of 2028 (your October 2026 PSAT, if you are a junior). Compass Prep's own author wrote on October 26 that they have "no inkling" yet where 2028 cutoffs will land, so treat them as rough guides.
| State | Class of 2028 (estimate) | Class of 2027 (actual) | Class of 2026 (actual) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 209-216 | 210 | 214 |
| Alaska | 207-217 | 208 | 215 |
| Arizona | 214-220 | 215 | 218 |
| Arkansas | 209-215 | 210 | 215 |
| California | 219-224 | 220 | 224 |
| Colorado | 216-221 | 217 | 219 |
| Connecticut | 219-223 | 220 | 223 |
| Delaware | 218-222 | 219 | 220 |
| District of Columbia | 222-225 | 223 | 225 |
| Florida | 215-219 | 216 | 219 |
| Georgia | 216-220 | 217 | 220 |
| Hawaii | 215-220 | 218 | 219 |
| Idaho | 210-216 | 211 | 215 |
| Illinois | 217-222 | 218 | 222 |
| Indiana | 214-219 | 215 | 218 |
| Iowa | 209-216 | 210 | 214 |
| Kansas | 211-219 | 212 | 216 |
| Kentucky | 210-218 | 211 | 214 |
| Louisiana | 210-217 | 211 | 216 |
| Maine | 211-217 | 214 | 217 |
| Maryland | 220-224 | 221 | 224 |
| Massachusetts | 220-225 | 221 | 225 |
| Michigan | 215-220 | 216 | 220 |
| Minnesota | 213-220 | 214 | 219 |
| Mississippi | 209-215 | 211 | 213 |
| Missouri | 213-217 | 214 | 217 |
| Montana | 207-214 | 208 | 213 |
| Nebraska | 210-216 | 212 | 214 |
| Nevada | 210-218 | 211 | 214 |
| New Hampshire | 213-219 | 215 | 219 |
| New Jersey | 222-225 | 223 | 225 |
| New Mexico | 207-215 | 209 | 210 |
| New York | 219-223 | 220 | 223 |
| North Carolina | 216-220 | 217 | 220 |
| North Dakota | 207-212 | 208 | 210 |
| Ohio | 215-219 | 216 | 219 |
| Oklahoma | 208-216 | 210 | 212 |
| Oregon | 215-221 | 216 | 219 |
| Pennsylvania | 217-221 | 219 | 221 |
| Rhode Island | 212-220 | 213 | 219 |
| South Carolina | 209-217 | 212 | 215 |
| South Dakota | 208-215 | 210 | 211 |
| Tennessee | 213-219 | 214 | 219 |
| Texas | 218-222 | 219 | 222 |
| Utah | 208-216 | 209 | 213 |
| Vermont | 211-217 | 212 | 216 |
| Virginia | 219-224 | 221 | 224 |
| Washington | 220-224 | 221 | 224 |
| West Virginia | 207-212 | 208 | 210 |
| Wisconsin | 211-217 | 212 | 215 |
| Wyoming | 207-213 | 208 | 210 |
| Studying abroad | 222-225 | 223 | 225 |
| U.S. territories | 207-212 | 208 | 210 |
| Commended (national) | 207-212 | 208 | 210 |
Source: Compass Prep, "National Merit Semifinalist Cutoffs Class of 2027 and Beyond," updated September 15, 2026. Estimates are Compass Prep's, not NMSC's.
If you score exactly at your state's cutoff, you qualify. Compass Prep notes that "all students at or above a cutoff qualify."
If you are in 9th or 10th grade
Only the PSAT you take as a junior counts for National Merit (how the three PSATs differ). A 9th or 10th grade PSAT/NMSQT, PSAT 10 or PSAT 8/9 score is practice, and it tells you which skills to work on. The PSAT 8/9 runs from 240 to 1440, and the PSAT/NMSQT and PSAT 10 run from 320 to 1520. If your score report shows weak skills, a year of steady practice on those skills is the cheapest way to raise your junior-year index.
What to do with your score now
- Open the score report, not only the total. Look at the skill breakdown for Reading and Writing and Math. They show where your points went.
- Juniors near the cutoff: compare your index with your state's class of 2027 number in the table above. Within 2 points either way, you are in the uncertain zone until September 2027.
- Semifinalist next fall? Our National Merit guide walks through every step. Students in "so.. now what?" (October 26) explain them too: NMSC names Semifinalists in September, you complete the application, and you need an SAT or ACT score that confirms your PSAT. Keep your grades up, since your transcript goes all the way back to 9th grade.
- Plan your SAT. The PSAT and SAT test the same skills. The next SAT dates are December 5, 2026 (register by November 20) and March 6, 2027. See December 2026 SAT dates.
- Practice the section that counts twice. Reading and Writing doubles in the Selection Index. Start with the 200-word PSAT vocabulary list, then work real Digital SAT Reading and Writing questions in the TTA question bank.
Frequently asked questions
When do October 2026 PSAT scores come out?
In waves, depending on when your school tested. Students posted scores from October 23. Check your College Board account, and ask your counselor if you tested through a state program, because College Board says state program dates can differ.
What PSAT score do I need for National Merit?
It depends on your state and on your Selection Index, not your total score. For the class of 2027, cutoffs ran from 208 in several states to 223 in New Jersey and Washington, D.C.
Was the October 2026 PSAT harder than last year?
Students disagree. Many said Reading and Writing Module 2 was hard, while others found the test easier than 2025. A test that feels hard does not tell you where cutoffs will land, because College Board scales each form.
Does my PSAT score matter if I am a sophomore?
Not for National Merit. It matters as a map of what to practice before your junior PSAT and your SAT.
Sources
- College Board, Understanding PSAT/NMSQT Scores (Selection Index formula, 48 to 228 scale).
- College Board, SAT Suite test dates (fall 2026 in-school window October 1 to 30).
- Compass Prep, National Merit Semifinalist Cutoffs Class of 2027 and Beyond.
- r/PSAT threads posted October 23 to 28, 2026 (student reactions, not official data).
Frequently Asked Questions
When do October 2026 PSAT scores come out?
In waves, depending on when your school tested. Students began posting scores on October 23, 2026. Check your College Board account, and ask your counselor if you tested through a state program.
How is the PSAT Selection Index calculated?
Double your Reading and Writing score, add your Math score, and divide by 10. The scale runs from 48 to 228, so a 730 Reading and Writing and 730 Math gives an index of 219.
What PSAT score do I need for National Merit?
It depends on your state. For the class of 2027, Semifinalist cutoffs ranged from 208 to 223, and the national Commended level was 208. Class of 2028 cutoffs come out in September 2027.
Was the October 2026 PSAT hard?
Many students on r/PSAT said Reading and Writing Module 2 was the hardest part, while others found the test easier than 2025. Perceived difficulty does not predict cutoffs, because College Board scales each form.
Does a sophomore PSAT score count for National Merit?
No. Only the PSAT/NMSQT you take as a junior counts. Earlier scores show which skills to practice.