What are your chances of acceptance?

Your chance of acceptance
Duke University
Duke University
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 UCLA
UCLA
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Your chancing factors
Unweighted GPA: 3.7
1.0
4.0
SAT: 720 math
200
800
| 800 verbal
200
800

Extracurriculars

Low accuracy (4 of 18 factors)

PSAT to SAT Score Conversion Chart 2024

What’s Covered:

 

If you’ve taken the PSAT, you may be wondering how that translates to an SAT store. Since the PSAT and SAT have different scoring systems and levels of difficulty, your score doesn’t directly translate 1-to-1.

 

Luckily, there is an official concordance table, which we’ll share in this post, along with tips for using your PSAT results to help study for the SAT.

 

PSAT to SAT Score Conversion Chart

 

* The College Board now administers the PSAT 8/9 for 8th and 9th graders and the PSAT 10 for 10th graders. Note that the scores in this table are for the PSAT/NMSQT, and not for other versions of the test.

 

* Note that the PSAT and SAT have different scoring systems, with total scores of 1520 and 1600, respectively.

 

PSAT Score

Predicted SAT Score

400

630

410

640

420

650

430

650

440

660

450

670

460

680

470

690

480

700

490

700

500

710

510

720

520

730

530

740

540

750

550

760

560

760

570

770

580

780

590

790

600

800

610

810

620

810

630

820

640

830

650

840

660

850

670

860

680

870

690

870

700

880

710

890

720

900

730

910

740

920

750

920

760

930

770

940

780

950

790

960

800

970

810

970

820

980

830

990

840

1000

850

1010

860

1020

870

1030

880

1030

890

1040

900

1050

910

1060

920

1070

930

1080

940

1080

950

1090

960

1100

970

1110

980

1120

990

1130

1000

1140

1010

1140

1020

1150

1030

1160

1040

1170

1050

1180

1060

1190

1070

1190

1080

1200

1090

1210

1100

1220

1110

1230

1120

1240

1130

1240

1140

1250

1150

1260

1160

1270

1170

1280

1180

1290

1190

1300

1200

1300

1210

1310

1220

1320

1230

1330

1240

1340

1250

1350

1260

1350

1270

1360

1280

1370

1290

1380

1300

1390

1310

1400

1320

1410

1330

1410

1340

1420

1350

1430

1360

1440

1370

1450

1380

1460

1390

1460

1400

1470

1410

1480

1420

1490

1430

1500

1440

1510

1450

1510

1460

1520

1470

1530

1480

1540

1490

1550

1500

1560

1510

1570

1520

1570

 

Preparing for the SAT is an intense endeavor that can often be stressful. Your PSAT scores, though, can be used as a tool to help predict your SAT score and to guide your studying. Use your predicted SAT score as a starting point, identify areas of weakness to improve upon, and you’ll find that you’re able to increase your score steadily.

 

Differences in the PSAT and SAT

 

1. Scoring Systems

 

The PSAT’s scoring system differs slightly from the SAT’s. For the PSAT, scores in the Verbal and Math sections range from 160 to 760, resulting in a composite score that spans from 320 to 1520. PSAT scores are less than those of the SAT, which has a maximum composite score of 1600 and assigns a score between 200 and 800 to each section.

 

In addition, unlike the SAT, which offers more thorough feedback on student performance, the PSAT scores do not include subscores for particular skills.

 

 

2. Test Length

 

The SAT lasts three hours—or 3 hours 50 minutes with the optional essay—while the PSAT is shorter, at 2 hours and 45 minutes. Compared to the SAT, the PSAT has fewer questions overall and a shorter section length, which may impact test-takers’ need for endurance and pace.

 

 

3. Content and Difficulty

 

Language, Reading, Writing, and Math are covered in both exams. But the SAT covers more ground, particularly in the Math section, where it covers more difficult subjects like complex algebra and trigonometry. In comparison to the PSAT, the SAT’s Reading and Writing parts have texts and questions that are more difficult to understand and need a higher level of analytical ability.

 

 

4. Purpose and Use

 

The PSAT is frequently taken to prepare for the SAT and to meet eligibility requirements for the National Merit Scholarship Program. On the other hand, the SAT plays a crucial role in college admissions decisions as it allows institutions to evaluate candidates’ academic preparedness.

 

Although the PSAT can assist students in determining their areas of strength and weakness before the SAT, the majority of universities will take the SAT results into account when making admissions decisions.

 

 

5. Calculator Usage in Math Section

 

Calculators are allowed during some, but not all, of the Math portion of the SAT and PSAT. Because of its more difficult math material, the SAT frequently calls for more advanced calculator use. This can involve deciphering more intricate data sets and resolving more difficult algebraic problems, while the PSAT calculator section typically consists of simpler data analysis and algebraic questions.

 

How to Use Your PSAT Score

 

Your score report will show your section breakdowns as well as your subscores within each section. Using your subscores, you can hone in on your weaknesses and practice those specific skills. Just look up the subscore name + “SAT practice”, and you can find many free resources, such as Khan Academy.

 

We specifically have guides for these math subsections:

 

Don’t forget to continue to review and practice the sections you’re strong in as well, as you want to maintain your grasp of those.

 

How Your PSAT and SAT Score Impact Your Chances of Acceptance

 

Your PSAT score will not impact your college admissions chances, as there isn’t even space to report them in the Common App. However, if you’re a National Merit Semifinalist or Commended Scholar, you can report that in the Honors section of the application. In this case, this award will certainly be impressive to colleges.

 

The SAT does matter in admissions, even with the expansion of test-optional policies. It’s another data point that colleges use to assess your academic ability, so you should take the test if you can. Your SAT score (if you submitted one), along with your GPA and course rigor, are what selective colleges use to initially screen your application. These data points are turned into a metric called the Academic Index. If you pass the Academic Index threshold, your application will get read, and the qualitative aspects like your essays and extracurriculars will be considered.

 

If you’re wondering what score you’d need to boost your odds of getting into your top choice schools, check out CollegeVine’s free chancing engine, which accounts for every element of your application, from test scores to GPA to extracurriculars and course rigor, to give you your personalized chances of getting into each school on your list. You can enter potential SAT scores to see how well you’d need to do to bump up your chances of acceptance.


Short Bio
Varun is a recent graduate from Arizona State University, Tempe, with a degree in Computer Science. He aims to share his knowledge of computer science, the IB Diploma Program, and all things college-related with high school students. In his free time, he can be found performing DJ sets or cooking!