PSAT Results: When You’ll Get Them and How to Use Them

Last updated May 7, 2021

SUBSCRIBE

Sign Up for our Webinar on this subject.

The PSAT is administered in October, and not only can it give you a sense of your potential SAT score, but it also can help inform your preparation for an even better score. Plus, score high enough on the PSAT and you could qualify for the National Merit Scholarship. No wonder it can be an anxious wait for results!

When does the wait come to an end? How can you access and interpret your results? What should your next steps be? Fortunately, you don’t have to wait for those answers.

Copy of Best of luck on your UpcomingSAT (14)

PSAT Results Timeline and Resources

This year, PSAT scores will be available December 11^th. When they are ready, you will receive an email from the College Board that will explain how to create your College Board account and how to use it to access your online score report. Basically, you’ll log in, click on the test you took (e.g. PSAT 10, PSAT/NMSQT), and then view your results.

Your results will be more than just one score. You will see summaries and specific scores for each section of the test (Reading, Writing and Language, and Math), for questions with different difficulty levels, and for questions that measure different skills. In addition, you will see score ranges and percentiles that help you compare your results to your peers’ results and to your educational goals, like whether you are on track to be ready for college. Finally, results will include a National Merit Scholarship Index (each section’s test score added together then multiplied by 2) which determines your eligibility for a National Merit Scholarship. To qualify for the honor of “Commended,” scores are typically in the top 3% compared to the top 1% for semifinalists.

For a more detailed look at when to expect and how to interpret your PSAT score report as well as an overview of some of the useful tools their website offers to better understand and use your results, visit the College Board’s website.

Next Steps

What you do next depends on a few different factors, like what grade you were in when you took the PSAT, if you want to qualify for a National Merit Scholarship, what test you want to take (SAT or ACT), and what colleges you want to apply to. A+ offers advice about choosing between the SAT and ACT, and you can visit College Navigator to explore score requirements of prospective colleges.

Test Prep

For Freshmen and Sophomores. Taking the PSAT as freshmen and sophomores means having more opportunity to assess and address your strengths and weaknesses for your junior year tests. Maybe you got a 29 on Reading with your worst performance on Social Studies passages and more wrong answers on the last passage. If so, practicing Social Studies and working on time management might be good targets for your test prep. Whatever your results tell you, it’s wise to begin incorporating practice into your regular routine. This is especially true if your scores are high enough already that you can prep for the SAT/ACT sometime in the late summer or early fall of your junior year or if you plan on retaking the PSAT to qualify for a National Merit Scholarship.
For Juniors. All juniors who took the PSAT in October, including those who scored well or above their expectations, should use their results to analyze their errors and figure out what to focus on as they prepare for the March (recommended) SAT or for an ACT test.

National Merit Scholarship

For Freshmen and Sophomores. Since the National Merit Scholarship Index (NMSI) range to qualify as a semifinalist is usually in the low 200’s and the range to qualify for the non-scholarship designation as “Commended” is about 20 points lower, those whose PSAT scores give them an NMSI in the upper 100’s or higher should seriously consider doing test prep with the aim of retaking the PSAT as a junior in the hopes of officially qualifying for National Merit recognition.
For Juniors. Those juniors with the potential to meet the NMSI requirement should have taken the test in October 2019 and will likely learn if they have qualified as semifinalists in September 2020. If you do, you will have to further qualify as a finalist by both applying for a scholarship and maintaining a good GPA, receiving the endorsement of a high school official, writing an essay, and earning equivalent SAT/ACT scores.

Final Thoughts

As the December 11^th score release nears, remember to consider your results relative to your future goals (a 1220 might be great for someone aiming for a less selective school) and to remain optimistic that with proper preparation you can get your ideal score—one that will open doors to the scholarships and colleges you apply for as a senior.

At A+ Test Prep and Tutoring, our practices are based on the latest developments in educational theory and research. We have an excellent team of tutors who can help you with standardized testing, executive functioning, or achievement in any other school subject. If you want to find out more about our services, our Client Service Directors Anne Stanley and Susan Ware can be reached at 215-886-9188.

0 Comments

What They're Saying

    EXCELLENT  
  48 reviews on
 
 
         
   Angela Jay 
 2024-02-15
 
 
   Best Decision Ever!

A+ Tutoring proved to be a transformative experience for me, surpassing all my expectations. Without hesitation, I wholeheartedly recommend A+ Tutoring to any parent or guardian seeking academic improvement and aiming to unlock their child’s full potential.

Prior to selecting A+, I carefully researched and evaluated other services. My goals were twofold: to prepare my son for the standardized testing required for preparatory school and college applications, and to enhance his time management skills and study habits.

Mr. John’s personalized approach resonated with my son’s personality and specific learning needs. Despite my son’s demanding sports schedule, Mr. John was incredibly flexible and accommodating. The sessions were comprehensive, combining instruction, engaging conversations, and homework assignments to reinforce existing concepts and introduce new ones in advanced math, English, and science.

The tangible outcomes were apparent: not only did my son’s grades improve by at least one grade level, but he also secured early admission to prep school! Moreover, I observed a significant boost in his confidence and overall demeanor.

I am deeply grateful to Mr. John, Ms. Dorothea, and Mr. Dan for their exceptional dedication and support. They truly went above and beyond to ensure that we felt fully supported throughout the process. Their contributions have made a profound impact on my son’s academic journey, maximizing the value of my investment.
  
 
 
       
   Kenneth Greenspan 
 2023-11-28
 
 
   Extremely professional and thorough
  
 
 
       
   Leah Reinhard Peshek 
 2023-11-15
 
 
   I just wanted to thank A+ for helping my son achieve his goals. He worked with 2 instructors Andrew and Barbara for both the SAT and AP exams. Whatever they did it was magic! Not only did he get the results he wanted- he surpassed them. It was hands-off for me, he scheduled and communicated with his instructors on his own, which taught him responsibility and accountability. Yet, their lesson follow-up emails kept me in the loop. I can’t recommend them any more highly. If you decide to use them you won’t be disappointed, you will see a student who is better prepared for their studies as well as any tests they choose to take- they even seem more mature and confident. A+ I’m giving you an A+ Thank you so much, Leah Reinhard.
  
 
 
       
   Rebekka Hartwell 
 2023-10-28
 
 
   We had a great experience with A+ Test Prep and Tutoring. I appreciated that the tutor tailored the sessions around our daughter's needs and worked with her strengths. I can definitely recommend this program to anyone needing some extra support.
  
 
 
       
   Rhiannon Kelly 
 2023-08-31
 
 
   My son needed assistance preparing for an exam. We reached out to A+ test prep and they were wonderful. They were able to schedule him for tutoring without an delays. Their knowledge, assistance and guidance speaks volumes. A+ exceeded all outlets expectations. Thank you
  
 
 
       
   Andrea Emmons 
 2023-07-06
 
 
   The tutors were terrific, very thoughtful and really understood my child's needs in terms of studying. The hours worked well with our schedule and the homework assigned was super helpful!
  
 
 
       
   V Penz 
 2023-06-22
 
 
   A+ Test Prep provided superior tutoring custom-tailored to meet my son’s specific needs and learning style. His SAT score increased by 160 points with 12 hours of tutoring!!! That put him well-within range for all of the schools to which he is applying. A+ truly listened to make sure they exceeded our expectations starting with matching our son with Rob. He is an experienced tutor who set goals and developed a specialized plan. Rob taught clear, structured, organized lessons, helped my son plan his practice and homework, and taught test stress-management and relaxation techniques. These lessons also helped fill-in gaps from the pandemic.  The writing, reading and math lessons and strategies  Rob taught gave Dylan a strong foundation of critical-thinking skills which will serve him well in college, the work-force, and beyond.  A+ staff, including Rob, gave prompt, detailed and insightful feedback after each session. You will get ENORMOUS value for your financial investment with A+.  I investigated 6 other tutoring companies and am confident A+ was the best for tailoring their tutoring to a program that best fit my son’s learning style!!
  
 
 
       
   Megan Gasper 
 2023-05-26
 
 
   This tutoring program literally changed my daughters test scores by 1000 points, and they were so helpful, and communicative with me the entire time. I really recommend them for every student, whether they are trying to make their test scores better, or make their scores above excellent
  
 
 
       
   Zarah Adams 
 2023-05-04
 
 
   We chose A+ for Preparation to help our daughter prepare for college entrance exams. May daughter had Pam for the verbal portion of the exam. Pam was amazing! She asked about extra-curricular activities and demonstrated genuine interest in my daughter's role as a student in and outside of the classroom. Pam also noted how important these activities are to colleges. John was the tutor for math and science. He helped my daughter feel comfortable and confident in her skills. My daughter's ACT composite score went up 5 points! I would highly recommend A+ for Test Preparation!
  
 
 
  
 
  Load more