Before checking out the qualifying scores, let’s discuss how the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) determines who is named Commended Student or Semifinalist. Here’s Your Guide, Getting a Head Start on Your Scholarship Search. FYI, you don't have to be a genius to get a 1600 — full scores are all about how much and how well you prep! Because Semifinalist status is based entirely on PSAT scores, there is, at present, no means to redress any problems the October 24 exam may cause. The answer to this question depends on where you live. National Merit requirements for semifinalists, into the competition. Want access to expert college guidance — for free? A Comprehensive Guide. But how exactly do you qualify for a National Merit award? If you're scoring highly on the PSAT, then you might be in a good position to get a perfect score on the SAT. Approximately the top 3 percent of test-takers receive recognition as either a commended scholar, semifinalist, finalist, or winner. To achieve National Merit recognition, you need to match or exceed the cutoff score in your home state. A slightly harder test will have a slightly easier scale, for example. Let's consider the average qualifying score of 218. We designed our program to learn your strengths and weaknesses through advanced statistics and customize your prep to be as effective as possible for you. New Jersey has the highest probability of an upward shift in this group. If your goal is to be named National Merit Semifinalist, then you'll want to put in some effort toward prepping for the PSAT. Last year saw all but one state cutoff staying within 2 points of its previous level. Divide your state's qualifying score by 2, and then split that up by 3 (or however you want based on your target scores for each section). Two test forms are never completely identical. Join thousands of students and parents getting exclusive high school, test prep, and college admissions information. NMSC adds each section score together and then multiplies by 2. Get the latest articles and test prep tips! My own estimates had it remaining at 212, but I would not have been surprised at 213. It would be extremely unlikely that a student missing just 2 problems over 139 questions would qualify as a Semifinalist in the most competitive states. for more information. Here's the full list of Selection Index scores that qualified for National Merit Semifinalist. We will be updating our National Merit FAQ as more information becomes available over the next year. Only about 10% of students take the alternate date. Our free chancing engine takes into account your history, background, test scores, and extracurricular activities to show you your real chances of admission—and how to improve them. While this is bad news for students hoping that the cutoff might decline, some indications were that it would go up. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! National Merit is open to U.S. citizens who test in the U.S. in the fall of 11th grade. National Merit does not provide exact numbers of qualifying students and cutoffs, but here are the projections and estimates: 34,000 commended students will be notified in late September. Pros and Cons, How to Qualify for the National Merit Scholarship Program, The PSAT: Way More Than a “Practice” Test. These cutoffs can give you an idea of the targets you should set for yourself. The best way to prepare for the PSAT is to familiarize yourself with official practice questions and self-timed PSAT practice tests. Some come directly from the NMSC, while others are awarded by businesses, foundations, professional organizations, and colleges: A … If you achieve amazing PSAT scores and are named Semifinalist, how do you go on to win the scholarship? Added together, the sum of these scores comes out to 93. It does, however, change the probabilities in a favorable direction. Below you'll find links to useful resources, such as official PSAT practice tests and sample questions. A state’s cutoff is derived by finding the score that will produce, as closely as possible, the targeted number of Semifinalists. She has years of teaching and college counseling experience and is passionate about helping students achieve their goals and improve their well-being. Ask below and we'll reply! All rights reserved. SAT® is a registered trademark of the College Entrance Examination BoardTM. Only your junior year PSAT counts toward National Merit distinction and scholarships, though taking the PSAT as a sophomore or freshman can be good practice, especially if you’re aiming for top scores. North Dakota, West Virginia, and Wyoming had the lowest cutoffs at 209. Let’s take a look at how your scores convert to this index. From March until the end of the school year, National Merit scholarship winners are awarded one of three types of National Merit Scholarship. In order to account for the easy questions, the scale had to be made particularly harsh. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points? What score do you need on the PSAT to qualify for National Merit distinction? If this year is, indeed, like last year, that most likely value will be correct no more than 40% of the time. Rather than taking a practice test and moving right on to the next, you should take the time to deconstruct your errors piece by piece. Boarding school students are a special case and must meet the highest state cutoff in their region. PrepScholar then creates a study program specifically customized for you. Check out the cutoff scores below. The flat Commended level does not change my Semifinalist estimates, which already factored in 212. As an equation, this would look like: (30 + 31 + 32) x 2 = 186. At the same time, you can try out different strategies for answering questions efficiently, like recognizing answer types and using the process of elimination. For National Merit, you just need to understand one: your Selection Index. The. As students in the class of 2020 receive their PSAT scores, the discussion among high-scorers usually turns to National Merit Semifinalist cutoffs. We try to respond to every question. In short, College Board made a horrible test. If you're not sure you can self-study your way to a qualifying PSAT score, you'll love our PSAT prep program, PrepScholar. If you have a selection score of 218, then your section scores add up to 109. Each section is scored between 8 and 38. For most states, 45 in total, their scores stayed within their 1 point or so of their 2018 scores. Score your attempts, figure out your strengths and weaknesses, and design a study plan that targets your weak areas.