Hey everyone! I'm a junior and I recently took the PSAT. Does anyone know what the National Merit cutoff is for California? I'm curious to know if I have a shot at qualifying as a semifinalist. Thank you!
Hello! The National Merit cutoff score for California varies each year and is determined by the top 1% of scorers in the state. It is dependent on factors such as the number of test-takers and the overall performance of students in your state.
Historically, California has had fairly high cutoff scores, often ranging between 220 and 223. Please note that these are Selection Index scores, which are calculated by doubling the sum of your Reading, Writing, and Math scores on the PSAT.
Keep in mind that cutoff scores for each state are not officially released until the announcement of National Merit Semifinalists in September of the following year. So, while previous years' scores can give you a rough idea of the range you may need to be in, there's no way to know the exact cutoff score for your year until that announcement is made.
If your Selection Index score is close to or above the historical range I mentioned above, you may have a good chance of qualifying as a National Merit Semifinalist. And if you're on the borderline, remember that other opportunities can arise from your participation in the National Merit program—including corporate-sponsored scholarships and college-sponsored scholarships if you do not advance to the finalist level. Best of luck!
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