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What Score Do You Need to Qualify for National Merit Scholarship

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Are you gearing up to rock the PSAT this fall and wondering what score y'all need to qualify for National Merit? This guide will give y'all 51 different answers to that question.

Don't worry, information technology's not a complicated response. It'due south just that the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) compares test takers on a land-past-state basis. To go a National Merit Semifinalist, you lot have to score in the height ane% of students in your country.

This guide will fill up y'all in on all qualifying cutoff scores from declension to coast (plus Alaska and Hawaii) for the PSAT. But commencement, let'southward review exactly who qualifies for National Merit.

Who Is Awarded National Merit?

Students who are US citizens, who plan to go to college, and who take the PSAT/NMSQT in their junior year are eligible to receive National Merit distinctions and scholarships. They too take to do actually, really well on the PSAT.

The meridian 3-4% of scorers are named Commended Scholars—an impressive stardom to put on college applications. The top 1%, or about 16,000 students across the land, are named National Merit Semifinalists.

This is an honor in itself, and information technology too means you could go along to be named a Finalist and receive scholarship money. Some colleges likewise award their own merit scholarships to National Merit Semifinalists.

To decide who qualifies for National Merit, NMSC uses a calibration called the Selection Index. To become this, NMSC adds your Math, Reading, and Writing section scores, which each fall between 8 and 38, and then multiplies that sum by ii. Thus, the PSAT NMSC Selection Alphabetize ranges from 48 to 228.

Using reports from individuals around the country who took the 2020 PSAT, we've compiled a total listing of National Merit qualifying scores. (Note that since National Merit cutoffs don't vary much from year to year, this list should still be fairly authentic for those who accept the 2021 PSAT!)

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Students who have the PSAT in their junior year are eligible for National Merit distinction.

PSAT NMSQT Qualifying Scores for 2021

Pick Index cutoffs compare the scores of exam takers in each state. Y'all'll probably get national percentiles on your PSAT score report, only state percentiles are the ones NMSC uses to accolade students.

The chart below shows the National Merit Selection Index cutoffs for students who took the PSAT in Oct 2020 and were named Semifinalists in the fall of 2021:

Land Selection Alphabetize
Alabama 212
Alaska 208
Arizona 218
Arkansas 211
California 221
Colorado 217
Connecticut 220
Delaware 220
DC 224
Florida 217
Georgia 219
Hawaii 217
Idaho 214
Illinois 218
Indiana 215
Iowa 211
Kansas 215
Kentucky 212
Louisiana 213
Maine 211
Maryland 224
Massachusetts 221
Michigan 217
Minnesota 218
Mississippi 213
Missouri 214
Montana 208
Nebraska 210
Nevada 214
New Hampshire 214
New Jersey 222
New United mexican states 210
New York 220
North Carolina 218
Due north Dakota 207
Ohio 215
Oklahoma 210
Oregon 220
Pennsylvania 218
Rhode Island 213
South Carolina 213
Due south Dakota 210
Tennessee 215
Texas 220
Utah 212
Vermont 211
Virginia 221
Washington 220
West Virginia 207
Wisconsin 214
Wyoming 208
Average Score 215

The average of all the PSAT NMSQT qualifying scores is 215. Apologies to those students in Maryland and Washington, DC: y'all'll accept to aim significantly college and become a Choice Index of at least 224.

Whatever American students studying in international schools away volition also accept to come across whatever the highest state's cutoff score is (so 224 for this yr). As for boarding school attendees? You'll be measured against a regional cutoff; information technology unremarkably equals the highest cutoff of the state within your regional grouping.

Again, these Selection Alphabetize cutoffs are estimates, and there'southward some fluctuation from year to year. To account for this, you should aim 2-four points higher than your state's cutoff score.

Stellar PSAT scores don't happen past accident, and the PSAT requires a adept bargain of preparation to main. If you're aiming for National Merit, how can you achieve the top PSAT scores y'all need to qualify?

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How Tin can You Accomplish PSAT Scores in the Top 1%?

Like with the SAT, anyone tin can improve their scores on the PSAT with defended and effective preparation. Besides helping you lot qualify for National Merit, studying for the PSAT will ready you for the Sabbatum! The three steps below lay the groundwork needed to qualify for National Merit.

Step 1: Know Your Land'due south (Approximate) Cutoff Score

It's important to find your state's cutoff, figure out what scores you lot need, and aim fifty-fifty college in instance the qualifying score increases (remember, there is slight variation yr to year).

Before you even begin studying for the PSAT, look at the nautical chart higher up to find your state's cutoff score. For example, let'south say you're taking the examination in Georgia. Co-ordinate to our chart, Georgia'south Selection Index cutoff is 219, which roughly translates to a PSAT score of 1460. Since the cutoff score could rising slightly, adjust your goal score to be a trivial higher as well—permit'southward say 1490 instead of 1460.

Later, write down your PSAT target score every bit well as your goal of being named a National Merit Scholar on a slice of newspaper. Tack this sheet up on your wall and await at information technology equally yous written report to assist yous stay motivated.

Step two: Read PrepScholar PSAT Report Guides

One time you've figured out your goal score, spend some time learning about the examination by reading our various PSAT study guides. Our articles offer expert assist with designing your written report schedule and making the most of your prep.

One of our most helpful guides talks about getting a perfect PSAT score and goes into detail about how you can clarify and drill your mistakes to make big score improvements.

Stride 3: Take Official Practice Tests

Finally, you'll want to accept official exercise tests to help you prepare for test twenty-four hour period. The College Board offers two PSAT/NMSQT practice tests, along with online practice questions for each section on the PSAT.

Two tests isn't that many, though, then I also suggest taking official SAT exercise tests or using Khan University's Sat prep plan. Since the PSAT and SAT are such like tests, you lot'll get a ton of extra help by taking Saturday practice tests (though expect them to be slightly harder).

In add-on, you tin use former PSAT practice tests, as long as y'all focus on relevant question types and ignore the ones no longer on the test, such as sentence completions. A lot of the fundamental skills and noesis on the PSAT didn't alter much during the 2015 revision, and so y'all tin nonetheless utilize older practise tests and materials to exercise effectively if you familiarize yourself with the changes and adapt your approach accordingly.

National Merit might be hard to go just the stardom is well worth it and could lead you to some handy scholarship money. Plus, information technology communicates a lot about your bookish commitment on your higher applications!

What's Next?

What should y'all do in one case you get your PSAT scores? This guide fills you in on your next steps.

Non just is the PSAT important for National Merit, but information technology can also predict how you'll score on the SAT. Larn how to use your PSAT scores to predict, and plan to improve, your SAT scores.

Are you wondering how to divide up your time virtually effectively to prep for the Sat? This six-stride guide answers your questions well-nigh how long you should study for the SAT.

Desire to improve your Sat score by 160 points or your ACT score by iv points? We've written a guide for each test about the meridian 5 strategies yous must be using to take a shot at improving your score. Download it for complimentary now:

Get eBook: 5 Tips for 160+ Points

Raise Your ACT Score by 4 Points (Free Download)

Accept friends who besides need help with exam prep? Share this commodity!

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Virtually the Author

Rebecca graduated with her Master'southward in Adolescent Counseling from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She has years of teaching and higher counseling experience and is passionate about helping students achieve their goals and amend their well-being. She graduated magna cum laude from Tufts University and scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT.

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Source: https://blog.prepscholar.com/does-your-psat-score-qualify-for-national-merit