PSAT scores 2026: release dates, what your score means, and what to do next

If you took the PSAT/NMSQT at school this October, your scores come out on a date that depends on when your school sent in the tests: October 22, November 5, or November 12, 2026. This page has the official release dates, how to read your score report, what your PSAT says about your SAT score, and what to do once you have it. Dates are from College Board's score release page, checked in October 2026.

When fall 2026 PSAT scores come out

The fall 2026 in-school testing window was October 1 to 30. Scores are released in three waves, based on when your school submitted its tests:

Educators see scores in the K-12 score reporting portal two days before students do. If your school gave the PSAT as part of a state testing program, College Board says to check with your state for the release date. Your counselor can tell you which wave your school is in.

How to get your PSAT scores

Log in to Student Score Reports (studentscores.collegeboard.org) with your College Board account. If you gave your mobile number during testing, you'll also get a text when your scores are ready in the BigFuture School app. Your school also gets an official score report for every student, so you can ask your counselor for a copy.

How to read your PSAT score

The PSAT/NMSQT has two section scores, Reading and Writing and Math, each from 160 to 760. Your total is the sum, from 320 to 1520. The PSAT tops out at 1520 instead of 1600 because it doesn't include the hardest SAT questions.

The PSAT and SAT share one score scale. A 1200 on the PSAT and a 1200 on the SAT mean the same level of skill, so your PSAT total is a fair estimate of what you'd score on the SAT if you took it the same day. You can convert your scores and get your Selection Index with our PSAT to SAT score converter.

The National Merit Selection Index

The PSAT/NMSQT is also the qualifying test for the National Merit Scholarship Program, but only when you take it in junior year. National Merit uses the Selection Index, not your total. Divide each section score by 10 and count Reading and Writing twice:

Selection Index = 2 × (Reading and Writing ÷ 10) + (Math ÷ 10)

It ranges from 48 to 228. A 700 in Reading and Writing and a 720 in Math gives 2 × 70 + 72 = 212. Semifinalist cutoffs are set state by state and announced in September of senior year.

What to do once you have your score

1. Look at the two sections separately. A gap of 60 or more points tells you where your practice time should go first.
2. Pick an SAT date. The December 5 SAT has a registration deadline of November 20. After that, the 2027 dates are March 6, May 1 and June 5. Most juniors take their first SAT in the spring, and College Board recommends taking it at least twice.
3. Find the specific skills behind your misses. Your PSAT report shows performance by section and skill area. To see which of the 29 Digital SAT skills cost you the most points, take a free full-length practice test or the free 24-question diagnostic on SAT Owl.
4. Take an official practice test in Bluebook a few weeks into your prep, then compare. See free SAT practice tests in 2026 for every free full-length option.

Frequently asked questions

Is my PSAT score a good predictor of my SAT score? Yes, if you took them close together. The two tests share a scale, so the difference usually comes from what you learn and practice between them. Students who take the PSAT in 10th grade and the SAT in 11th grade usually score higher on the SAT for that reason alone.

What's a good PSAT score? It depends on your goals and grade. For SAT score context, see what is a good SAT score, which lists 2026 percentiles (the median SAT total for the class of 2026 was 1030).

Do colleges see my PSAT score? No. The PSAT is a practice and scholarship test. Colleges see the SAT scores you choose to send.

I took the PSAT 10 or PSAT 8/9. When do I get my scores? College Board says PSAT 10 and PSAT 8/9 scores are usually available 4 to 6 weeks after test day.