Hey guys, I've recently taken the PSAT and I'm waiting for my scores. I'm hoping to qualify for National Merit Scholarship. Does anyone know what the cutoff scores have been in recent years? And how does it vary by state?
The National Merit Scholarship Program determines finalists based on a state-by-state cutoff for the PSAT/NMSQT Selection Index. This index is calculated by doubling the sum of your Reading, Writing and Language, and Math Test scores.
The cutoff score varies by state and year as it's set at the score that yields the top 1% of testers in each state. In most states, previous years' cutoffs ranged anywhere from the low 210s to the 220s out of a possible 228. For those states with the highest performing test takers (such as Massachusetts, California, New Jersey), cutoff scores have sometimes exceeded 220. Conversely, states with historically lower cutoffs (such as Wyoming, West Virginia, North Dakota) may have cutoffs in the low 210s.
Again, these are not the exact cutoffs for this year's PSAT/NMSQT, as the cutoffs aren't announced until September of the following year. However, these ranges could give you a rough idea of what to aim for.
Good luck! You've taken the first step to becoming a National Merit Scholar by taking the PSAT. Now, it is a waiting game until the results are released.
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