What to do when you get your PSAT score back
2023 PSAT scores should start landing in students’ College Board accounts around November 6th. At least, that is College Board’s plan. Exactly when YOUR score ends up in YOUR account depends on when you took the test. The window for the test ran October 1st to October 31st, so you might be able to gauge when in the November 6th to 16th you will get your score based on your relative test date.
What you do next largely depends on whether you’re a Junior, Sophomore, or Freshman.
(You can click here to use our Test Prep Planning app. You’ll answer a few questions and we’ll email you a detailed plan based on those responses.)
Are you a Junior who has taken an SAT or ACT?
You may have already taken your first SAT or ACT. We advise our clients who complete Algebra II in their Sophomore year or earlier to start testing in October if possible. Some tutors recommend the August or September tests for Juniors. The good news is that because the PSAT was the first major administration of the digital form of the test, and according to College Board, the digital and paper versions of the test have a .95 correlation. If you’ve already taken an SAT or ACT, you’ll be able to compare your PSAT results to those and see if the digital test might give you an advantage.
Follow these steps if you already have an SAT or ACT score.
- Compare your PSAT to your SAT or ACT score.
- Determine if there is an advantage to taking the digital SAT next Spring.
- Plan a test prep schedule working 6-8 weeks backwards from your next test date if you plan to take another test.
Are you a Junior who has NOT taken an SAT or ACT?
The majority of students won’t have taken an SAT or ACT, yet. In that case, this is a great time to make a plan. The first national administration of the digital SAT is March 9th. You could take the ACT on April 13th, instead. There is no reason to take both. Right now, figure out which test is better for you.
Follow these steps if you have not taken an official SAT or ACT.
- Take a practice ACT and compare your scores. (You can get one for free on the ACT website.)
- Use our comparison chart to see if you did better on one test over the other.
- Register to take the March SAT or April ACT.
- Plan a test prep schedule working 6-8 weeks backwards from that test date. (January 7th or so for the March SAT, February 11th or so for the April ACT)
Use this chart to evaluate your PSAT scores. Focus on the SAT if your scores intersect in the light blue. Focus on the ACT if your scores intersect in the red. If you land in the bar down the middle, pick the test you were more comfortable with.
Sophomores
You’re ahead of the game. Now it’s time to stay that way.
If your PSAT was 1300 or better, it might be worthwhile to consider preparing for the PSAT next year so that you have a chance at National Merit Semifinalist (NMSF). The National Merit Scholarship Corporation does offer some scholarships, but most of NMSF qualification is about bragging rights. On top of that, you get one shot at the sort of score you need to qualify. For those reasons, we recommend preparing for your Junior PSAT only if your composite score is 1300 or better. Otherwise, start planning for when you’ll take the tests your Junior year.
Your situation is a little more complex.
- Take a practice ACT and compare your scores. (You can get one for free on the ACT website.)
- Use our comparison chart to see if you did better on one test over the other.
- If you’re taking Algebra II now or have already taken it, plan to take the SAT or ACT October of your Junior year.
- If you’re taking Algebra II as a Junior, plan to take the March SAT or April ACT during your Junior year.
- Consider what extracurricular and academic commitments you’re going to have your Junior year. (October tests are terrible for kids in Marching Band or Fall Sports. The May SAT is terrible for kids taking 3 or more AP exams.)
Freshman
You took the PSAT as a Freshman? Fantastic.
I would recommend this to my students when I was in the classroom, but their other option was to sit in a gymnasium while the assistant principal talked to them about life choices for 3 hours. Definitely better to take a PSAT.
Right now, that’s all you need to do as far as testing is concerned. The national average PSAT score (old version, not digital) was something like a 960. Compare your score to that and see how you did.
Otherwise, focus on your school work. Your grades are always going to be the most important part of your college application. Focus on doing the best work you can so that you learn the material and don’t fall into the “good student, bad tester” trap that I’m going to write about soon.
We offer a free consultation for students wherever they are in their college application process. Click here to find a time that works for your schedule.
