How Much Do PSAT 11 Scores Really Tell You About the SAT?

The PSAT 11, which most students take during their junior year, can be a useful indicator of performance in the reading and writing sections of the SAT. Scores in these areas often provide a reasonable baseline for predicting how a student might perform later on the official exam.

However, the same is not true for SAT math.

The math tested on the PSAT 11 is not fully aligned with what appears on the SAT. The SAT includes more advanced math topics and places greater emphasis on problem-solving and analytical thinking. As a result, students often find the upper-range math questions on the SAT (particularly in the 600–800 score range) significantly more challenging than the math questions on the PSAT 11.

So while PSAT results are helpful, they don’t always give a complete picture of a student’s readiness for SAT math. A strong PSAT math score doesn’t automatically guarantee a similar SAT performance—especially for students aiming for top-tier scores.

That’s why we recommend that all students complete a full SAT diagnostic exam. A diagnostic provides reliable data about SAT-level math performance and confirms whether current reading and writing scores translate well to the SAT format. It gives families clarity on where a student truly stands and helps ensure prep time is focused in the right areas.

Should My Student Consider the ACT?

Taking an SAT diagnostic also opens the door to trying the ACT as an alternative. The ACT can be a better fit for students who:

• Perform better in reading and grammar than in math
• Have not yet completed Algebra II
• Prefer straightforward questions over abstract problem-solving
• Work well under time pressure

While the SAT emphasizes flexible thinking and multi-step reasoning, the ACT leans more toward content mastery and faster pacing. The good news? Both tests are accepted equally by every college in the U.S. The best test for your student is simply the one that plays to their strengths.

How Everest Helps Students Prepare

At Everest, we partner with Score Smart to provide accurate digital SAT diagnostics and progress testing. Since the launch of the digital SAT, our testing platform has given students:

• Detailed diagnostic reports
• Fresh SAT-style practice material
  
• Reliable score projections
• Clear guidance on strengths, weaknesses, and next steps
  

With the right data, students can focus their effort where it matters most—and achieve results faster.

Ready to find out which test is right for your student?

Everest offers free SAT and ACT diagnostic testing so students can see exactly how they perform on each exam and make an informed decision about which test to pursue.

Our diagnostics provide:

• Real SAT and ACT test conditions
• Detailed score reports
• Clear insights into strengths and weaknesses
• Data to guide an efficient prep plan
  

👉 Register for a free diagnostic here:
https://www.everesttutors.net/diagnostic-testing.html

​Now in its second year as a digital test, the College Board’s PSAT was taken by high school juniors and sophomores across the country during October 2024, with schools allowed to schedule their test date any time during the month.

Our director spoke with U.S. News & World Report in August about the changes coming to the ACT college admissions test in 2025.

​Since 2020, the percentage of high school seniors submitting admissions test scores from the ACT or SAT as part of their college applications has dropped to just under 50% in 2023 as most schools adopted “test-optional” policies.
 
While test optional policies have empowered students to control more of their own destiny, they have also created a confusing landscape where families struggle to understand what “test optional” really means within the context of each school. While some schools embraced the new position, many just used the label and continued to prioritize applicants with scores, but few were transparent about their exact position or what they really wanted.

​Ahead of the digital SAT launch in 2024, the Preliminary SAT, or PSAT, has gone digital in the United States with the October 2023 test, presenting students with a completely new format and scoring structure from prior versions and featuring a shortened testing time with fewer questions.
 

​With the SAT college admissions test going digital in 2024, our director Ann Derryberry talked with Fox5DC about the changes parents can expect and how to prepare your student for what’s to come.

ACT recently reported that the average U.S. score on its college admissions test continued a multi-year decline, and overall, more students are not meeting the minimum benchmarks for success at a four-year college.
 
Our director Ann Derryberry recently talked with Fox5DC about the drop and ways families can prepare for admissions testing and overall academic success.

One of the most common questions we answer from families is when the student should plan to take their first college admissions test, whether it be an SAT or ACT. Recently, our director Ann Derryberry spoke to U.S. News & World Report on the topic.

​In the aftermath of the Covid pandemic, both the ACT and College Board (SAT) were forced to adapt to rapidly changing dynamics like school closures and enhanced safety measures that made offering their paper-based tests more difficult. As a result, both have pushed forward with efforts to offer a digital, computer-based test going forward. The companies are taking different approaches to the rollout and test formats, so students in the Class of 2025 and later need to understand the new offerings, their scheduled rollouts, and how they will affect college admissions testing for this class and future classes. Class of 2024: none of this will affect you.

​Summer is the kickoff for many college admissions essay attempts, as rising seniors finally break free from the academic rigors of junior year with space to let their mind wander and develop a compelling piece.
 
After working with hundreds of students on their admissions essays, we have some suggestions to share for developing and refining an effective college admissions essay this summer.