PSA Grading Scale and Criteria 2 — Questions and Answers

Question 1: What does the grade PSA 3 represent on the grading scale?

Poor
Fair
Very Good (Correct answer)
Good

Correct answer: Very Good

PSA 3 is labeled Very Good, indicating a card with some minor surface wear, slight rounding of corners, and possibly light creases but generally intact borders.

PSA 3 (Very Good) cards show evidence of handling with some corner rounding and minor surface wear. Very light creases may be present and the surface may show slight dullness. Despite these flaws, the card retains its basic structural integrity and remains desirable for collectors seeking lower-grade vintage cards at accessible price points.

Question 2: What centering tolerance is required for PSA 8 (Near Mint-Mint+)?

50/50 only
55/45 or better (Correct answer)
65/35 or better
70/30 or better

Correct answer: 55/45 or better

PSA 8 requires 55/45 or better centering on both the front and back, along with at most one of the following: slight fraying on one corner, a few slight touch marks, or one minor printing defect.

PSA 8 (Near Mint-Mint+) demands 55/45 or better centering on both sides. The card may have one minor flaw such as slight corner fraying, a few light touch marks, or a single minor printing imperfection. This grade is extremely popular among modern card collectors as it represents near-perfect condition at a more accessible price point than PSA 9 or 10.

Question 3: Which grade would typically be assigned to a card with four perfectly sharp corners but a small surface scratch?

PSA 10
PSA 9
PSA 7
PSA 8 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: PSA 8

A card with four sharp corners but a small surface scratch would likely receive PSA 8, since PSA 10 and 9 require virtually flawless surfaces while PSA 8 allows for minor surface imperfections.

PSA 8 allows for one of several minor flaws, which can include a small surface scratch. With four perfectly sharp corners the structural condition is excellent, but the surface defect prevents PSA 9 or 10. This scenario is one of the most common reasons cards land at PSA 8 rather than achieving a higher grade.

Question 4: What is the label for PSA 5 on the grading scale?

Good
Very Good
Excellent (Correct answer)
Very Good-Excellent

Correct answer: Excellent

PSA 5 is labeled Excellent, representing a card with minor wear on corners, slight surface scuffing, and good overall presentation.

PSA 5 (Excellent) cards show minor corner wear and may have slight scuffing on the surface. The image must still be clear with good color and no major creases. These cards appeal to vintage collectors looking for solid mid-grade examples that display well without paying premium prices for PSA 7 or higher specimens.

Question 5: What is the maximum allowable print defect for a card to achieve PSA 9?

No print defects at all
One minor printing imperfection allowed (Correct answer)
Two minor printing imperfections allowed
Any printing defect is acceptable

Correct answer: One minor printing imperfection allowed

PSA 9 allows for one minor printing imperfection. The card must otherwise have four sharp corners, 60/40 centering, and no creases or stains.

PSA 9 (Near Mint-Mint) permits one minor printing imperfection such as a small dot or slight color spot that does not significantly detract from the card's appearance. All other criteria must be met: four sharp corners, 60/40 centering on the front, 75/25 on the back, and clean surfaces free of creases and stains. This single allowance distinguishes it from the stricter PSA 10 standard.

Question 6: A vintage card with heavily worn corners but no creases falls into which PSA grade range?

PSA 8-10
PSA 5-7
PSA 3-4 (Correct answer)
PSA 1-2

Correct answer: PSA 3-4

Heavily worn corners typically place a card in the PSA 3-4 range (Very Good to Very Good-Excellent), where significant corner wear is present but the card remains free of structural damage like creases.

PSA 3 (Very Good) and PSA 4 (Very Good-Excellent) both describe cards with notable corner wear visible to the naked eye. The absence of creases is a positive factor, but heavily worn corners prevent reaching the Excellent (PSA 5) tier. Collectors often target PSA 3-4 vintage cards as affordable alternatives to higher grades.

PSA Grading Scale and Criteria 2

What does the grade PSA 3 represent on the grading scale?