Hey there! I'm a junior who took the PSAT this year, and I'm really hoping to receive a National Merit Commendation. Does anyone know the typical cut-off index score for the PSAT commendation, or any information on how likely it is to be commended with a certain score? Thank you so much!
Hey! The National Merit Commendation is given to students who score just below the threshold for the National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist but are still in the top 3-4% of students who took the PSAT. The cut-off index score for a National Merit Commendation can vary slightly from year to year, but it's usually around 209-212. Note that these selection index scores might change depending on each year's level of competition.
Please keep in mind that each state has its own cutoff for the National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist, which is usually higher than the Commendation cutoff. The Commendation score is nationwide and doesn't vary state by state.
If your selection index score is within the range mentioned above, you have a good chance of receiving a commendation, but there are no guarantees, as it depends on how other students perform during that particular year.
Good luck, and I hope you get your commendation!
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