Understand The Utility Of PSAT Score Range

Understand the PSAT Score Range

The PSAT Score Range:

The PSAT scores are reported in the beginning of the month of December to your school’s principal, who receives two copies of your results. One of the copies is given to you and the other is kept with the school as a backup copy. Your score will be based on a scale of 20 to 80 for each of the three sections. This scale is called the score range. This range shows the minimum (20) and maximum (80) score you can achieve in each sections and also helps in determining your percentile ranking among the other test-takers. The score range helps in calculating your Selection Index. In the following sub-headings,we shall show you how you can understand the score range.

• PSAT Score and Selection Index: It is the total score that you get in the test. It is the sum of the scores of the Critical Reading, Mathematics and Writing Skills sections. The Selection Index reflects the score range as the SI fluctuates between 60 and 240. The test contains three sections. Hence, the score range is 60 to 240 as each section has a range of 20 to 80.The SI is important in the selection of high-scoring eleventh graders, who took the test for the NMSC (National Merit Scholarship Corporation) programs. High scores mean, higher SI and more are your chances to be selected as one of the semifinalist for the NMSC competition. The average SI for 2010 was 141 (47 in CR + 49 in M + 45 in W).
• PSAT Score Range and Percentile Ranking: Each of the test-takers receives a percentile ranking based on their score range. The percentile is calculated based on your performance. Your performance is compared with those of others and a general percentile ranking is allocated to you. Wherever you stand in this percentile ranking, i.e. from 1 to 100, you have performed better than those who scored lesser than you and those who have scored more than you.Your score range, i.e., your score in the scale of 60 to 240 gives you a percentile ranking. Say, if you get a percentile ranking of 76, then you have done better than 75 percent of the test–takers. However, there are 24 percent of test-takers, who have scored more than you. Hence, the score range serves as an important factor in determining your percentile ranking.
• PSAT Score Range and NMSC Programs: Only eleventh-graders can qualify for the NMSC programs. The score range of the eleventh-grading test-taker works as an eligibility criterion for the NMSC programs. For becoming eligible, the test-taker must have a high Selection Index. The test-taker must have a Selection Index in the 99^th percentile ranking. However, it is to be noted, that not all the test-takers of the 99^th percentile rank gets eligible as a national Merit Semifinalist as the respective state of the test-taker has its own cut-off score.Based on the score range of the total number test-takers, the NMSC selects 50000 of the top scorers, to make them eligible for the competition. These 50000 test-takers are qualified for the run for scholarships. They have a high Selection Index. Those test-takers, who have a score range less than the cut-off score of the semifinalists, become the commended students. They may receive special scholarship programs from other corporation and institutions.

  Hence, from the above article we see the importance of the score range, what it means and how you can understand it. It basically portrays test-takers’ stand on the competition for scholarships. In addition, in a subtle way, it shows how well a test-taker might perform in SAT. Experts say that your score range talks about your probable performance in SAT. If you score 210 in PSAT, then in SAT you may score 2100, which is a good score.