Francesca Jette December 27, 2023 5 PSAT Info and Tips

2023-2024 National Merit Cutoffs + Next Steps

What’s Covered:

• National Merit Semifinalist Cutoffs 2023-2024
• How is the PSAT Scored?
• What is the National Merit Scholarship?
• Scholarships Available
• How Does the PSAT Impact My College Chances?

The National Merit Scholarship Program is primarily based on the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) which is taken during junior year of high school. For some students, the PSAT/NMSQT is just a test run for the SAT—which is one reason it’s commonly referred to as simply the PSAT—but earning a strong score is an impressive accomplishment to list on a college application and can lead to valuable scholarships. 

Over 1.5 million students take the PSAT annually, but only 16,000 students are recognized as semifinalists, who may apply for finalist status and compete for scholarships. Since the cutoffs for semifinalists are state-dependent and change from year to year, it’s important to stay up to date on this year’s cutoffs so you can know if you made the cut or not.

National Merit Semifinalist Cutoffs 2023–2024

Below are the projected National Merit Semifinalist cutoffs for the class of 2024, who took the PSAT in October 2022 or January 2023. These are not final cutoffs, but are predicted based on extensive research and data. 

How is the PSAT Scored?

The PSAT is scored on a scale of 320 to 1520 in ten-point increments and consists of two sections—Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (EBRW) and Math—with each section worth between 160 and 760 points.

Scaled scores are converted by the College Board—the group that administers the PSAT—from raw scores that account for variances in difficulty between different versions of the PSAT. Raw scores are equivalent to the total number of questions a student answered correctly. Students receive three raw scores:

• Math
• Reading
• Writing and language 

The Selection Index is used to identify a student’s level of recognition from the National Merit program. Selection Index scores are calculated by adding together the three raw subsection scores and multiplying their total by two, with scores ranging from 48-228.

What is the National Merit Scholarship?

The National Merit Scholarship Program (NMSP) began in 1955 as a way to recognize students who had shown exceptional academic and personal achievement. It consists of several different levels and awards, which we will go into further detail about below. National Merit finalists compete to receive the National Merit Scholarship, which is a single-payment award of $2,500 that can be put towards any college of your choice. There are also corporate-sponsored and college-sponsored awards for students who meet specific eligibility requirements.

The National Merit Scholarship Program features three levels of recognition: commended students, semifinalists, and finalists.

Commended Students

Commended students are chosen nationally, rather than on a state level. Commended students are approximately the top 50,000 scorers on the PSAT. More than two-thirds of the Commended Students receive Letters of Commendation in recognition of their outstanding academic promise and while they don’t qualify for National Merit Scholarships, many will compete for special scholarships sponsored by corporations and businesses. 

Semifinalists

Semifinalists are chosen on a state-by-state basis to ensure equal representation across the country. Semifinalists are the highest scorers on the PSAT in their state, and qualifying scores can vary from year to year depending on the overall performance of students in a given state. If you are a Semifinalist, you can submit an application to become a finalist. The application includes your grades and transcript, extracurricular activities, and an SAT or ACT score.

Finalists

Roughly 15,000 Finalists are selected from the pool of Semifinalists based on a variety of factors. All Finalists are awarded a Certificate of Merit. However, only about half of finalists will receive the National Merit Scholarship.

Scholarships Available

At each level of recognition, there are various scholarships available to students through the National Merit Organization. So, even though only a select few will receive the highly prestigious National Merit Scholarship, there are still plenty of other ways to receive financial support through this program.

National Merit Scholarship

A little more than half—about 7,600—of Finalists are chosen to receive a National Merit Scholarship. In addition to their PSAT scores, candidates are also evaluated on their abilities, skills, and accomplishments based on materials like their academic records, written recommendations, and essays.

Corporate-Sponsored Merit Scholarship Awards

Corporate-sponsored scholarships are available to students who meet certain criteria, such as children of employees, residents of the community where the corporation operates, or students with specific career plans as specified by the awarding corporation. Corporate-sponsored scholarships can either be one-time awards or renewable. Some notable corporations that participate include PepsiCo, Johnson & Johnson, FedEx, Walgreens, and more.

College-Sponsored Merit Scholarship Awards

College-sponsored scholarships are awarded by schools that Finalists have been accepted to and designated as their first choice. College-sponsored awards are renewable for up to four years of undergraduate study and scholarship amounts vary from $500 to $2,000.

Next Steps for Semifinalists

If you were lucky enough to meet or exceed your state’s selection index, congrats! You’re a Semifinalist! Here are the steps National Merit Semifinalists can take to become National Merit Scholars.

When Are Semifinalists Notified of Their Status?

Semifinalists are notified of their accomplishments through their high schools in early September of their senior year. Homeschooled semifinalists receive notice at their home addresses. Finalists are notified in February of their senior year and find out if they won an award between March and June.

What Do Semifinalists Need to Do to Apply to Be a Finalist?

Semifinalists must meet a handful of requirements to become Finalists. For example, they must maintain an exemplary academic record, write an essay, and receive a recommendation from their high school principal. Semifinalists must also meet certain citizenship requirements along with achieving and submitting an SAT or ACT score. Semifinalists must be enrolled in high school with the intention of enrolling in college or university in fall 2024. 

College choice is not considered when determining your status as a Finalist or scholarship recipient, however, the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) asks for this information because the awards are only available to students attending accredited U.S. colleges or universities. Applicants can mark undecided instead of listing their first-choice school, but the NMSC asks that you update them as soon as possible.

Note: The National Merit Program has specific requirements for students attending high school outside the U.S. or who are enrolled in college full-time. Check National Merit’s Requirements and Instructions for Semifinalists in the 2024 National Merit Scholarship Program.

How Does the PSAT Impact My College Chances?

Your PSAT score will not directly affect your chances of college admission. That said, if you do well on it, you have the potential to earn National Merit recognition, which will boost your application. While Finalists and National Merit Scholars will receive the biggest boost because of the competitive nature, being a Commended Scholar or Semifinalist is still an impressive addition to any college application.

Additionally, the PSAT can indirectly impact your college chances because it serves as a great source of practice for the SAT. For many students, the PSAT is the first time they will have taken an official, timed, and highly structured exam, and it provides excellent practice for standardized tests you will take for college admissions. The PSAT allows students to familiarize themselves with the structure and content of the exam and to identify strengths and weaknesses which they can use as they prepare for more consequential exams. More and more colleges are offering test-optional admissions, but sending scores is commonly believed to make you a stronger candidate. 

Curious to see how your odds of acceptance are impacted by your test scores or National Merit status? Collegevine’s free chancing engine can predict your chances of admission at over 1600 colleges and universities across the country. Our chancing engine uses factors like grades, test scores, extracurriculars, and personal demographics to help you find best-fit schools and refine your application strategy.

What If I Didn’t Score High Enough to be Recognized?

Don’t worry if you didn’t score high enough to earn recognition in the National Merit competition. The National Merit Scholarship isn’t a substantial financial award and there are numerous other ways to earn merit scholarships. Many colleges offer significant merit awards, particularly to students they think are incredibly impressive. Applying to schools where your profile is stronger than the average applicant is a smart strategy if you want to secure one of these valuable merit scholarships.