Your PSAT is the single best early predictor of your SAT — the two tests share the same content and a nearly identical scoring scale. This PSAT to SAT score converter turns your PSAT/NMSQT or PSAT 10 section scores into a projected SAT score out of 1600, then shows the realistic score you can reach with focused prep. Read on for the exact conversion method, a full PSAT-to-SAT chart, and how to use your projection.
Enter your two PSAT section scores below. The converter maps each PSAT section (160–760) to the matching SAT section (200–800) and reports your projected SAT total, plus the range most students reach with a few months of preparation.
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The PSAT/NMSQT and PSAT 10 are scored on a 320–1520 scale, split into two sections — Reading and Writing and Math — each worth 160 to 760. The SAT uses a 400–1600 scale, with each section worth 200 to 800. The two scales are deliberately aligned: a given scaled score represents the same level of ability on either test. The SAT simply extends 40 points higher per section because it can ask slightly harder questions than the PSAT.
That alignment is why the conversion is straightforward. Each PSAT section maps to the SAT by adding 40 points (capped at 800), so your baseline projected SAT is about 80 points higher than your PSAT total — the score you would expect if nothing about your preparation changed between the two tests.
This baseline is the floor of your projection, not the ceiling. Most students take the PSAT in the fall and the SAT months later, after more coursework and — ideally — targeted practice. That extra preparation is what moves you above the baseline.
The chart below shows the baseline SAT projection for common PSAT totals, along with the realistic range students reach with focused preparation. Use your own PSAT total to find your row, or use the interactive converter above for an exact section-by-section projection.
| PSAT Total (/1520) | Projected SAT — same prep | SAT with focused prep |
|---|---|---|
| 1520 | 1600 | 1600 |
| 1450 | 1530 | 1600 |
| 1400 | 1480 | 1580–1600 |
| 1350 | 1430 | 1530–1600 |
| 1300 | 1380 | 1480–1580 |
| 1250 | 1330 | 1430–1530 |
| 1200 | 1280 | 1380–1480 |
| 1100 | 1180 | 1280–1380 |
| 1000 | 1080 | 1180–1280 |
| 900 | 980 | 1080–1180 |
| 800 | 880 | 980–1080 |
The 80-point baseline assumes you do nothing differently between the PSAT and the SAT. In practice, most students who prepare gain another 100 to 200 points on top of that baseline, and students who started well below their potential often gain more. The PSAT's real value is that it tells you exactly where those points are hiding.
Because the PSAT reports section and question-level detail, you can see whether Reading and Writing or Math is holding you back and drill the specific skills that will move your score fastest. A student projecting a 1180 who spends a focused month on Math often walks into the SAT with a 1300+.
A projected SAT of 1200+ already puts you in reach of many selective colleges, and 1350+ is competitive at highly selective schools. But the number that matters is the one you can reach with the time you have before test day — which is why the projection shows both your baseline and your with-prep range.
If you took the PSAT/NMSQT as a junior, remember it plays a second role: it is the qualifying test for the National Merit Scholarship Program, which uses a separate Selection Index rather than your composite score. For a complete view of your PSAT results, see the PSAT score calculators hub.
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PSAT/NMSQT®, PSAT™, and SAT® are trademarks of the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse, Test Ninjas. Projected scores are estimates for planning purposes.