Is 740 a Good PSAT Score?
By the Cheetah Prep team
740 is a workable PSAT score and a solid base to build from.
111
balanced Selection Index
~740
predicted SAT
370/370
balanced RW / Math
A balanced 111 Selection Index is below the National Merit range for now. Because Reading and Writing counts double, gains there move your index the fastest.
What 740 Really Means on the PSAT
A 740 on the PSAT is a starting point with clear room to grow. The PSAT and SAT share a scale, so a 740 predicts an SAT near the same number today. The upside is that this is exactly the stage to move it. You have the whole runway to the SAT, and the same prep raises your PSAT Selection Index along the way.
The most useful thing to do with a 740 is treat it as a preview. It tells you roughly where your SAT sits right now and where National Merit stands, both from one October morning. See the full picture of what a score in this range means for college on the predicted SAT page below, then decide how much higher you want to go.
The SAT a 740 PSAT Predicts
Because the PSAT shares its scale with the SAT, a 740 predicts an SAT around 740. See exactly what a 740 means: the percentile, the colleges it puts in range, and how to push it higher.
See what a 740 SAT gets youNational Merit Selection Index Calculator
Enter your two digital PSAT section scores and pick your state. Your Selection Index and your standing against the 2026 cutoff update as you go.
204
your Selection Index
224
California Semifinalist cutoff
Below the Commended line
An index of 204 is below both the national Commended cutoff of 210 and the California Semifinalist cutoff of 224. There is real room here, and because Reading and Writing counts double, gains there move your index fastest.
Build the score that qualifiesHow to Raise a 740 PSAT Score
The PSAT and SAT test the same content, so prep counts twice. It raises the SAT that colleges see and the Selection Index that decides National Merit. Start with the diagnostic to find where a 740 is losing points, then work your weakest skills. Reading and Writing pays off most for National Merit, since it counts double in the Selection Index.
740 PSAT Score: Frequently Asked Questions
- Is 740 a good PSAT score?
- A 740 is a solid PSAT score with room to grow. It predicts an SAT around 740, and focused prep before the SAT raises both that number and your Selection Index.
- What SAT score does 740 on the PSAT predict?
- The PSAT and SAT share a score scale, so a 740 predicts an SAT around 740 today. Most students improve from the PSAT to the SAT with prep, so treat 740 as a floor rather than a ceiling.
- What is the Selection Index for 740 on the PSAT?
- It depends on your section split, because the index doubles Reading and Writing. A balanced 740 gives a Selection Index of about 111, and a verbal heavy 740 reaches 132. Compare that to your state's cutoff with the calculator below.
- Is 740 good enough for National Merit?
- A balanced 740 gives a Selection Index near 111, which is below the Semifinalist line in most states but may reach Commended. The calculator below shows where you stand against your state.
Compare nearby PSAT scores