Underclassmen who took the PSAT in October will be receiving their score reports sometime this month. Students tend to focus solely on their score, but a careful review of the entire report can be really helpful in planning your next moves.
Scores for each section are reported on a scale of 20 to 80. An average score for an eleventh grade student will be approximately 48 in critical reading, 49 in math, and 46 in writing. For tenth graders, the average scores are about 43 in reading, 44 in math, and 41 in writing.
Percentiles allow you to compare your scores to other college bound students who also took this exam. Scores are also presented as a range, since you personally could expect some variation if you were to take similar tests on different days.
The Review Your Answers section shows the question number, the correct answer, your answer and the level of difficulty of each question. Since your original test booklet will also be returned to you, you should review each question again and discover why a particular answer was correct or incorrect.
The Improve Your Skills section will provide personalized feedback on your academic skills as measured by this exam. Two or three skills are highlighted for improvement for each section, and you’ll receive suggestions for improving your performance.
College Board has also provided all PSAT test-takers with free access to My College QuickStart. By entering your e-mail on the PSAT page of www.collegeboard.com, you will receive notice as soon as test scores become available, and will be able to view your score report online. A study plan for the SAT that is based on your performance is also available.
If you haven’t taken the PLAN (a practice test for the ACT), you might consider taking a mock ACT offered by one of the test prep companies in your area. Comparing your scores on the mock ACT with your performance on the PSAT will help you to determine if the SAT or ACT will provide a better assessment of your strengths. Discuss results with your college advisor as you set up your plan for admissions testing.
