You do not need a conversion chart to turn a PSAT score into an SAT score. College Board puts the PSAT 8/9, PSAT 10, PSAT/NMSQT and SAT on one common score scale, so your PSAT score is your estimated SAT score if you had taken the SAT on the same day. A 1200 on the PSAT/NMSQT predicts about a 1200 on the SAT. Your real SAT can come out higher, because you take it later, after more school and practice; College Board calls that difference growth.
What College Board says
In its Spring 2026 score guide for educators, College Board writes that a student who scored 500 in Math on the PSAT 10 "would be expected to also get a 500 on the SAT, PSAT/NMSQT, or PSAT 8/9 if they had taken any of those tests on that same day; a score of 500 represents the same level of academic achievement on all 4 assessments."
PSAT to SAT conversion table
Because the scale is shared, the conversion is one to one. The only difference is where each test's scale stops.
| Your PSAT total | Same-day SAT estimate |
|---|---|
| 900 | 900 |
| 1000 | 1000 |
| 1100 | 1100 |
| 1200 | 1200 |
| 1300 | 1300 |
| 1400 | 1400 |
| 1520 (PSAT/NMSQT or PSAT 10 max) | 1520 or higher: the PSAT cannot measure above 1520 |
| 1440 (PSAT 8/9 max) | 1440 or higher |
Section scores work the same way. A 650 in PSAT Reading and Writing predicts about a 650 in SAT Reading and Writing that day.
Why your SAT can come out higher
The estimate assumes the same day. You will probably take the SAT months later, and College Board treats any difference as growth. Its example: a student with a 500 Math on the PSAT 10 who earns a 550 the next year "has shown a growth of 50 points." How much you grow depends on what you do between the tests. Students who practice their weak skills give themselves the best chance.
Your score report also shows a score range, which College Board describes as how much your score would likely vary if you took a different form under the same conditions. Use the range, not one exact number, when you plan.
Is my PSAT score good for my grade?
College Board publishes grade-level benchmarks. If you meet or exceed them, College Board considers you on track to be college ready.
| Grade (test) | Reading and Writing benchmark | Math benchmark |
|---|---|---|
| 8th grade (PSAT 8/9) | 390 | 430 |
| 9th grade (PSAT 8/9) | 410 | 450 |
| 10th grade (PSAT 10) | 430 | 480 |
| 11th grade (PSAT 10) | 460 | 510 |
Source: College Board, Spring 2026 PSAT 10 and PSAT 8/9 Understanding Scores for Educators.
The benchmarks mark "on track," not "great." If you are aiming at selective colleges or National Merit, you will want to be well above them. For National Merit, what counts is your Selection Index, not your total. See the state cutoffs in our National Merit guide.
Turn your PSAT into a higher SAT.
Take a free full-length Digital SAT practice test to see where you stand now, then practice the skills that cost you points.
How to use your PSAT to plan the SAT
- Start from your section scores. Your PSAT Reading and Writing and Math scores are your SAT starting points.
- Pick a target. Decide what SAT score your colleges want, and find the gap from your PSAT.
- Read the skill breakdown. Your score report shows how you did across the test's skill areas. Those are your practice list.
- Retest with a practice SAT. After a few weeks, take a full-length practice test and compare. Our free PSAT score calculator and study plan generator help you track it.
- Book a date. The next SAT dates are December 5, 2026 and March 6, 2027. See our December 2026 SAT guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is the PSAT score the same as the SAT score?
On the same day, yes. College Board uses one common scale, so a PSAT score predicts the same SAT score if both were taken that day.
What is a 1200 PSAT in SAT terms?
About a 1200 on the SAT if taken the same day. With more learning and practice before the SAT, you can score higher.
Why does the PSAT only go up to 1520?
College Board says each test's range reflects grade-level appropriateness within the common scale. The PSAT/NMSQT and PSAT 10 stop at 1520, the PSAT 8/9 at 1440, and the SAT at 1600.
What is a good PSAT score for a 10th grader?
College Board's 10th grade benchmarks are 430 in Reading and Writing and 480 in Math. Meeting both means you are on track for college readiness.
Sources
- College Board, Spring 2026 PSAT 10 and PSAT 8/9 Understanding Scores for Educators (common score scale, growth example, grade-level benchmarks).
- College Board, Understanding PSAT/NMSQT Scores (score ranges).
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the PSAT score the same as the SAT score?
On the same day, yes. College Board uses one common scale, so a PSAT score predicts the same SAT score if both were taken that day.
What is a 1200 PSAT in SAT terms?
About a 1200 on the SAT if taken the same day. With more learning and practice before the SAT, you can score higher.
What is a good PSAT score for a 10th grader?
College Board's 10th grade benchmarks are 430 in Reading and Writing and 480 in Math. Meeting both means you are on track for college readiness.