What Is Max Score on PSAT? 2025 Scoring Guide
The maximum score on the PSAT is 1520, the highest total you can earn on the PSAT/NMSQT and the benchmark used for National Merit Scholarship consideration. That top score comes from scoring 760 on each of the two sections—Reading and Writing, and Math—so a perfect 1520 requires near-flawless performance across both.
PSAT Maximum Score Explained
Each of the two sections is worth up to 760 points. Add them together and you reach the ceiling of 1520. There is no bonus section or extra credit, so 1520 is the absolute top.
The two sections are equally weighted:
- Reading and Writing: 160 to 760
- Math: 160 to 760
- Total: 320 to 1520
Because each section maxes out at 760, a student who aces Math but stumbles in Reading and Writing cannot reach 1520. For example, 760 in Math and 700 in Reading and Writing gives a total of 1460—excellent, but 60 points short of the maximum. That structure is why the PSAT rewards balanced preparation across verbal and quantitative skills.
The PSAT/NMSQT and PSAT 10 share this 320–1520 scale, while the PSAT 8/9 uses a different, lower range.
PSAT Score Range and Structure
The full PSAT range runs from 320 to 1520, with each section scored from 160 to 760. Your total is always the sum of two independently scored sections.
It helps to compare the PSAT with the SAT, since they share a design philosophy. The SAT is scored on a 400–1600 scale, with each of its two sections ranging from 200 to 800. So the SAT’s maximum is 1600, exactly 80 points higher than the PSAT’s 1520. A student who scores 1520 on the PSAT is generally on track to score near the top of the SAT range with continued practice.
According to the College Board, the PSAT/NMSQT also serves as the official route to National Merit Scholarship eligibility, which is another reason the top score matters to high-achieving students. Reviewing your College Board score report helps you see exactly where points were lost and where to focus next.
Key Takeaways
- The maximum PSAT score is 1520, made up of 760 on Reading and Writing plus 760 on Math.
- The full score range is 320 to 1520, with each section scored from 160 to 760.
- The PSAT tops out 80 points below the SAT, whose maximum is 1600, and 80 points above the PSAT 8/9 ceiling of 1440.
- A perfect score requires strong performance in both sections—no single section can carry you to 1520.
