New PSAT and SAT scores - how to compare?

How can you compares scores on the new PSAT with scores on the current SAT? Or on the new March 2016 SAT?

The new PSAT is out of 1520, so in order to compare it to the current SAT you'll need to add 80 points and then multiply it by 1.5. For instance, if your daughter got a 1500/1520 on the PSAT you would do the following to figure out what a comparable SAT score on the old (pre-March 2016) SAT would've been:

(1500 + 80) x 1.5 = 1580 x 1.5 = 2370/2400

For the new SAT (March 2016 and later), comparing is even simpler - just add 80 points.

1500 + 80 = 1580/1600.

As PrepScholar co-founder Fred Zhang points out in this article about the old PSAT, there isn't always a linear link between the PSAT and SAT scores - the lower your PSAT score is, the more room there is for improvement on the actual SAT, whereas if you do very well on the PSAT to begin with, you'll have to work harder to see a better-than-average score improvement on the SAT. Converting your PSAT score to be out of 1600, though, is a good start.

For more information on this topic, read our articles on what to do with your PSAT scores and what a good PSAT score for the current PSAT is.