Hey guys, I'm kinda stressed about National Merit stuff. What PSAT score do I need to aim for if I want to achieve National Merit Commendation? Do these scores vary by state or is there a general benchmark?
Hello there! National Merit Commendation is an excellent aspiration, and I understand why you're thinking ahead about it. The PSAT score required for National Merit Commendation is not determined by the states, but rather it's a national standard. Typically, you should aim for a score in the top 3-4% of test-takers; however, the exact cutoff score can vary each year.
For reference, past Commended Students have usually scored around the top 2% nationally, which has recently been around the 207-210 selection index (the sum of your reading, writing, and math scores multiplied by 2). Remember that each year the numbers can shift slightly depending on the performance of the testing cohort, so it's best to aim as high as you can. Keep preparing and don't be too stressed—your diligence will pay off. Good luck!
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