At this stage you might be named either a Commended Student or a Semifinalist. Both are impressive markers that are worth putting in your college application. If you are named a National Merit Semifinalist—congratulations!
Only a small percentage of semifinalists move onto finalist standing and receive the award, so this scholarship application is a crucial part of the process. They calculate selection index scores to evaluate PSAT scores each year. Note that these selection index scores vary by state, so find yours to see how competitive the National Merit Scholarship Competition will be in your area:. As you can see, the average cutoff score is , but if you live in Wyoming or Iowa, you might qualify with a lower score, whereas if you live in Massachusetts, New Jersey, or DC, you will likely need a higher score.
In general, your chances of becoming a Semifinalist are greatly improved by scoring points above the average cutoff score for your state. And while Commended Students are not eligible to compete for the official National Merit Scholarship, as semifinalists are, by being recognized in this way they often do become candidates for special merit scholarship awards offered by statewide agencies and corporate sponsors.
Each year the NMSC awards semifinalist status to around 16, high school students. At the same time, of course, semifinalists are eligible to submit a scholarship application to become National Merit Finalists. This application is actually quite similar to the college application process. Semifinalists must submit to the NMSC:.
Be sure to get advice and feedback from a trusted source on your materials, especially the essay. Reaching semifinalist standing is not a guarantee that you will become a National Merit Finalist. About half of the Finalists will eventually be chosen as Merit Scholarship winners. What score do you need to become a National Merit Scholarship semifinalist?
This depends on the state you live in. Each state has a preset number of Semifinalists, and once scores come in for students that determines the cutoff score for that year in that state. If you lived in West Virginia, you would have to score a In addition to varying by state, this number can vary by year. Take a look at your score report if you have it.
To calculate your Selection Index, add your 3 test scores together and double it. Need Help? Regardless of how you react to timed tests, preparing with high quality, relevant materials is the best way to position yourself toward top scores. Below are two official practice PSATs you can use for free. You can also find more free and official PSAT practice tests in our guide. Take these practice tests under typical test conditions: work in a quiet area with few distractions and time yourself in accordance with official PSAT time limits.
Taking timed tests is a skill, and practicing this skill will help you get better and better at the PSAT. Understanding the format of the test will also help you eliminate the potential for careless errors.
Are there any patterns in your mistakes? Do you need more practice with Reading questions? Figure out where you need to focus your attention to really strengthen your overall PSAT score. At the same, you might also be able to push up your overall score by playing to your strengths. The NMSC considers your composite score rather than your individual section scores.
So try to stay strong across all areas of the test! First, use the above chart to figure out what the cutoff is for your state. You might want to add a point or two just to be safe and take into account any potential increases in the cutoff score. Once you have your overall PSAT goal score, set smaller goals to accomplish throughout your studying. These can be monthly or weekly goals depending on what works best for your schedule.
Some ideas could be to try to develop a better understanding of algebra questions by the end of the week, or to try to raise your total PSAT score 20 points by the end of the month. If not, figure out what you can do to improve, such as studying more often or changing up your study methods. In addition to planning how you'll prep for the PSAT, you should ask yourself another important question: how will you stay motivated?
Staying motivated is key to sustaining your studying. Why do you want to do well on the PSAT? What drives you? Some reasons students strive to become National Merit Semifinalists are academic recognition, scholarship money, and getting into college. What are your own personal reasons? Write down your ideas, and look back at this list for inspiration whenever you feel your motivation lagging. Achieving a qualifying score or higher takes a lot of hard work. You can prove to yourself and to others the depth of your commitment and drive by putting your hopes into action and your dreams into determination.
After all, this focused, purposeful effort is the key to achieving success in anything you do! Being named Semifinalist is just the first step. Learn what it takes to become a National Merit Finalist and how to increase your chances of winning a scholarship.
Did you know there are four kinds of National Merit Scholarships and more than 8, are awarded each year? Read all about the various scholarships here. Want to score a perfect SAT score?
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