What Is Max Score on PSAT? 2024 Scoring Explained
The maximum total score on the PSAT is 1520, made up of 760 on the Math section and 760 on the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (ERW) section. The PSAT—short for Preliminary SAT, the practice test tied to National Merit Scholarship consideration—shares the same scale as the SAT but caps at a lower total. So if you’re asking what is max score on psat, the short answer is 1520 out of 1520.
PSAT Max Score Explained
The PSAT is scored on a 320–1520 scale, which means 1520 is the highest possible total. Each of the two sections tops out at 760: Math and Evidence-Based Reading and Writing. The PSAT also reports subscores and cross-test scores on smaller scales, but those don’t change the 1520 ceiling.
Because the PSAT is slightly easier and shorter than the SAT, its top score is 1520 versus the SAT’s 1600. A student who earns 760 in Math and 760 in ERW reaches the 1520 maximum.
For example, if you scored 700 in Math and 720 in ERW, your total would be 1420—strong, but still 100 points below the maximum.
How PSAT Scoring Works
Your score comes from raw answers converted to scaled scores. Each section uses the 160–760 scale, and the two section scores add up to your total between 320 and 1520. Here’s how the ranges break down:
| Score Type | Range |
|---|---|
| Math section | 160–760 |
| ERW section | 160–760 |
| Total score | 320–1520 |
The conversion process works in two main steps. First, your correct answers on each section become a raw score. Then the College Board uses equating—a statistical adjustment—to convert that raw score into a scaled score on the 160–760 range. This keeps scores comparable across different test dates, since the College Board notes that no two versions are exactly the same difficulty.
Wrong answers don’t cost you points—there’s no penalty for guessing—so it’s to your advantage to answer every question. The exact raw-to-scaled conversion varies slightly by test, but it’s designed to reflect the same skill level from one administration to the next.
Key Takeaways
- The maximum PSAT total score is 1520, with 760 possible on each of the two sections.
- Each section (Math and Evidence-Based Reading and Writing) uses a 160–760 scale.
- There’s no penalty for wrong answers, so guessing never hurts your score.
- The PSAT’s 1520 ceiling is lower than the SAT’s 1600, even though both use similar content.
