What is a good psat score?

A "good" PSAT score depends on your goals. Here's a breakdown:

• National Merit Scholarship Qualification: This is the most competitive goal. To qualify for National Merit recognition (and potential scholarship money), you'll need a score in the top 1% nationally. The exact cutoff varies by state, but generally falls between 1400 and 1500 out of 1520.

• College Readiness Benchmarks: The College Board defines benchmarks for college readiness in both Math and Evidence-Based%20Reading%20and%20Writing. Meeting these benchmarks indicates a good chance of success in introductory college courses. These scores are generally lower than those required for National Merit. Aiming for at least a 480 in each section is a good starting point.

• Personal Improvement: Even if you don't qualify for National Merit, the PSAT is valuable practice for the SAT. A "good" score can simply mean an improvement over your previous practice tests or a score that reflects your understanding of Important%20Test%20Taking%20Strategies. It helps you identify areas where you need to focus your studying.

In short, define "good" for you based on your specific ambitions.