PSAT/NMSQT score cutoffs…

September 11, 2006

Posted by Dee

… are indeed done by state!

Therefore, the score cutoff in California may be different from the cutoff in New York or Nebraska or Arizona for the National Merit semi-finalist round.

Remember, the College Board needs to take about 16,000 students of the 1.4 million who take the PSAT/NMSQT exam. And, according to the College Board website, “to ensure that academicaly able young people from all parts of the United States are included in this talent pool, semi-finalists are designated on a state representational basis. They are the highest scoring entrants in each state.”

Entry Filed under: Arizona, California, College Board, NMSQT, National merit, Nebraska, New York, PSAT, SAT, Semi-finalist, Testing. .

8 Comments Add your own

1. Left | December 24, 2006 at 3:34 am

Does anyone know what the cutoff is for each state?
2. Jen | December 24, 2006 at 9:31 pm

Google “PSAT Cutoff Index”
3. AMY | January 11, 2007 at 2:59 am

WHEN CAN WE KNOW THE California’s PSAT cutoff this year for National Merit semi-finalists?
4. Jen | January 12, 2007 at 3:29 am

^^By logging onto collegeboard.com/psatextra, you’re supposed to be able to compare yourself to other students in your state.
5. SS | February 20, 2007 at 4:14 am

Do you know what the requirements are to be recognized by the National Merit Scholarship people? I got a 225 on the PSAT, but I’m not a permanent resident of the US yet…..I’ve applied for a green card (like two years ago)…so am I eligible?
6. Future Neurosurgeon | March 24, 2007 at 3:20 pm

The national cutoff index has risen from 202 in 2005, to 203 for 2006 PSAT takers. For individual state cutoff indices, google “PSAT cutoff index”
7. EEJ | March 27, 2007 at 6:05 am

It doesn’t make any sense to me why there are separate cutoffs for each state. According to my score report, I received a 212, which is in the 99th national percentile. However, I live in Massachusetts, which last year had a cutoff of 222 (one of the highest, along with NJ). It seems to me that a 212 from MA should be recognized before a 205 in Ark, Miss., or ND. It doesn’t seem fair that someone in the 90-95 percentile should receive a scholarship before someone in the 99th just because of the state they live in.
8. BB | March 30, 2007 at 6:15 am

To EEJ, I agree! I think i missed the CA cutoff by 1 point because I got a 215, and the past two years have both been 216! It’s really not fair to do this by state!

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