What PSAT Score Do You Need for National Merit Scholarship?

Dec 30, 2021

Around 1.6 million school students take the PSAT each year to get admission into the National Merit Scholarship Program. But what is an ideal PSAT national merit score? What PSAT score is national merit 2021? These are some of the questions that come across a student’s mind. This article will help you determine what PSAT score you need to qualify to earn a National Merit scholarship.

PSAT Score Needed for National Merit Scholarship

The National Merit Scholarship Program was set up in 1955. It is an academic competition for recognition and college scholarships. High school students in the United States apply for the National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Exam. The PSAT/NMSQT is a preliminary screening test for scholarships.

What is a satisfactory PSAT score? The PSAT scoring scale is a bit complicated. Each of the three examinations (Reading, Writing & Language, and Math) will yield a score of 8 to 38. PSAT scores range from 160 to 760 for Evidence-Based Reading, Writing, and Math.

You will obtain subscores in addition to your total scores, which will give a more detailed analysis of your PSAT performance. The PSAT score also assigns a percentile value to your results. It lets you compare your results to those of other high school juniors who took the test. A student with a percentile of 63, for example, has outperformed 63 percent of students that year.

Discover the PSAT score requirements for the National Merit Scholarship in this blog! Check the needed scores and see how Turito’s expert coaching can guide you towards this recognition. With personalized study plans and valuable resources, Turito equips you to excel on the PSAT and increase your chances of becoming a National Merit Scholar. Visit Turito Academy now and set yourself on the path to success.

PSAT Scoring Scale

There are seven sections to an official PSAT national merit score report.

1. Total Points (on a scale of 320-1520)
2. Reading and Writing Scores Based on Evidence (on a scale of 160-760)
3. Grade in Mathematics (on a scale of 160-760)
4. Subscores (on a scale of 1-15)
5. cross-test scores (on a scale of 8-38)
6. Selection Index by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation
7. Question-level Feedback

What is a Good Score for the National Merit Scholarship?

The precise National Merit scholarship PSAT score consideration varies yearly and state to state. However, Semifinalists are consistently selected from the top 1% of students, about 16,000 juniors. Around 15,000 kids from this category go on to become National Merit Finalists. Roughly 8,000 of them win scholarship money. You must score in the top 1% of your state to be designated a Semifinalist.

So, what are the minimum requirements to qualify? You should first comprehend and understand the PSAT scoring scale to know this. On a scale of 320 to 1520, the PSAT scores are graded. Your score report will also provide you with your test results for the Math, Reading, Writing, and Language portions and the composite score. These numbers range from 8 to 38. These section test scores are the most relevant for National Merit eligibility.

To calculate the PSAT National Merit Score, the National Merit Scholarship Corporation adds the scores from each section test and multiplies the total by two. Your PSAT Selection Index score determines your National Merit eligibility. For example, assume you get a 30 in Math, a 31 in Reading, and a 34 in Writing and Language. The total of these scores is 95. Then multiply that score by two to get your Selection Index Score: 190.

National Merit Semifinalists Selection Index Scores

We have produced a list of qualifying Selection Index scores for the National Merit Semifinalist by state. Here are the cut-offs of the last two years. You can easily catch the difference fluctuations in the scores. Students who took the PSAT in the autumn of 2020 were subject to these cut-offs.

PSAT Cutoff scores for the class of 2021

State	Selection Index
Alabama	212
Alaska	208
Arizona	218
Arkansas	211
California	221
Colorado	217
Connecticut	220
Delaware	220
DC	224
Florida	217
Georgia	219
Hawaii	217
Idaho	214
Illinois	218
Indiana	215
Iowa	211
Kansas	215
Kentucky	212
Louisiana	213
Maine	211
Maryland	224
Massachusetts	221
Michigan	217
Minnesota	218
Mississippi	213
Missouri	214
Montana	208
Nebraska	210
Nevada	214
New Hampshire	214
New Jersey	222
New Mexico	210
New York	220
North Carolina	218
North Dakota	207
Ohio	215
Oklahoma	210
Oregon	220
Pennsylvania	218
Rhode Island	213
South Carolina	213
South Dakota	210
Tennessee	215
Texas	220
Utah	212
Vermont	211
Virginia	221
Washington	220
West Virginia	207
Wisconsin	214
Wyoming	208
Average Score	215

As you can see, qualifying marks differ based on where the test is taken. In addition, the National Merit Index Selection Cut-offs fluctuate by a few points yearly. So, you should aim for a score at least 2-5 points higher than the expected cut-off for your state.

PSAT Cutoff scores for the class of 2021-2022

STATES	CUT-OFF 2022
Alabama	213
Alaska	214
Arizona	219
Arkansas	213
California	222
Colorado	219
Connecticut	220
Delaware	220
District of Columbia	222
Florida	218
Georgia	219
Hawaii	218
Idaho	214
Illinois	219
Indiana	216
Iowa	214
Kansas	216
Kentucky	215
Louisiana	213
Maine	214
Maryland	222
Massachusetts	222
Michigan	217
Minnesota	218
Mississippi	213
Missouri	215
Montana	212
Nebraska	214
Nevada	216
New Hampshire	216
New Jersey	222
New Mexico	213
New York	220
North Carolina	218
North Dakota	210
Ohio	216
Oklahoma	213
Oregon	218
Pennsylvania	218
Rhode Island	217
South Carolina	214
South Dakota	211
Tennessee	216
Texas	220
Utah	213
Vermont	214
Virginia	221
Washington	221
West Virginia	210
Wisconsin	214
Wyoming	211
US Students Studying Abroad	223
Commended Student (National Score)	210

Who are ‘Commended,’ ‘Finalists’ and ‘Semi finalists’?

Students who score well on the PSAT but are not chosen to progress to the National Merit Semifinals are called “Commended.” These children are not eligible for National Merit Scholarship. But, their PSAT scores are considered by the college admissions authorities.

Here is a table containing the PSAT commended cut-off scores of the last 13 years:

Old PSAT									New PSAT
Class of	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021
Commended SI Cutoff	200	200	201	201	202	200	203	201	202	209	211	212	212	209

“Semifinalists” are students who meet or exceed their state’s cut-off PSAT score. These students can compete against other Semifinalists for getting named a National Merit Finalist. This necessitates a letter of recommendation from their principal, excellent academic achievement throughout high school, good SAT scores, and a well-written essay. These students are ineligible for National Merit Awards. But, many schools and institutions give their scholarships to students who achieve this level of achievement.

Old PSAT									New PSAT
Class of	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021
Semifinalist SI Cutoff	209	209	208	210	211	209	211	207	209	215	216	216	216	212

Only students who are “Finalists” are eligible for National Merit Scholarships. Although around 95% of Semifinalists progress to finalists, only roughly half of these finalists will be awarded an official scholarship.

PSAT Cutoff scores for the class of 2023-2024

State	Selection Index Score
Alabama	212
Alaska	212
Arizona	217
Arkansas	212
California	221
Colorado	217
Connecticut	221
Delaware	220
District of Columbia	223
Florida	216
Georgia	219
Hawaii	217
Idaho	214
Illinois	219
Indiana	216
Iowa	213
Kansas	215
Kentucky	214
Louisiana	214
Maine	214
Maryland	222
Massachusetts	222
Michigan	217
Minnesota	218
Mississippi	211
Missouri	215
Montana	210
Nebraska	213
Nevada	214
New Hampshire	215
New Jersey	223
New Mexico	211
New York	220
North Carolina	218
North Dakota	209
Ohio	216
Oklahoma	211
Oregon	217
Pennsylvania	219
Rhode Island	216
South Carolina	213
South Dakota	211
Tennessee	216
Texas	220
Utah	212
Vermont	213
Virginia	221
Washington	220
West Virginia	209
Wisconsin	214
Wyoming	209

Why should you take PSAT?

● The PSAT prepares you for SAT.
The PSAT is a nice way to prepare for the SAT. It comprises the same sorts of math, reading, and writing questions and problems as the SAT. However, it does not have an essay component. In the same way, as the SAT does, the PSAT compares your score to that of your peers around the country.

● The PSAT evaluates your eligibility for scholarships
Taking the PSAT provides you the opportunity to apply for various scholarship programs. The most prestigious of it is the National Merit Scholarship Program. Apart from the chance of obtaining college tuition, the National Merit Scholarship program provides you with a recognition that will look good on your college applications.

● The PSAT assists you in standing out in colleges
Many institutions buy students with good test scores and encourage them to apply. A high PSAT score may get you recognized by colleges and universities.

The PSAT/NMSQT test qualifies you for the National Merit Program in 2024. Scholarships will be available from the autumn of 2021 until the spring of 2024. Around 4 million students are anticipated to take the test.

Entry requirements for 2024 National Merit Program

A student must satisfy all of the following standards to be considered for the National Merit Program in 2024. A student must:

Be enrolled as a high school student or homeschooled, making regular progress towards graduation by 2024, and intending to enroll in college before 2024.
Attend high school in the District of Columbia, United States of America, or America’s commonwealths and territories or fulfill citizenship requirements.
Take the 2021 PSAT/NMSQT in the chosen high school program year and no later than the third year in grades 9 through 12, regardless of grade classification or educational pattern.

Students attending high school outside the United States are eligible for the National Merit Scholarship Program in 2023-24. For being eligible, you must be a United States citizen or a lawful permanent resident (or have applied for) in the United States of America or intend and expect to become a citizen of the United States at some point in the future at the earliest time permitted by law.