The PSAT has the same format as the SAT, and is administered to high-school sophomores and juniors each October. PSAT scores from the junior year count toward eligibility for the National Merit Scholarship. The PSAT/NMSQT measures critical reading skills, math problem-solving skills and writing skills.
The scores are meant to serve as a rough prediction for scores on the real SAT, which is taken later. The PSAT scores range from 20 to 80. To translate a PSAT score to SAT format, multiply the score by 10. While the PSAT is a rough predictor of SAT performance, it does not guarantee accuracy. You can significantly improve your real SAT with early preparation.