Okay, so I've been studying for the PSAT and heard it can qualify you for the National Merit Scholarship. Does anyone know what the cutoff score is for that, or where I can find the most recent cutoff information? I'm trying to get an idea of the target score I should aim for!
Hey there! It's fantastic to hear you're aiming for the National Merit Scholarship—it's a notable goal. The PSAT score needed for National Merit consideration varies from year to year and by state. It's based on the top 1% of scores in your state, which is known as the Selection Index.
To get the most recent cutoff information, the best place to check is the National Merit Scholarship Corporation's official website after the current year's semifinalists are announced, typically in September.
Additionally, you can also find a good estimate by looking at historical cutoff scores, but remember these are just to give you a ballpark figure. As an example, for the class of 2022, score cutoffs ranged from around 207 to 222, depending on the state. Just keep in mind that these can fluctuate each year! Aim high and best of luck on your PSAT!
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