Hey y'all! I'm curious about the average index score for the National Merit Scholarship. What kind of scores do students typically need to aim for? Thanks in advance!
Hi there! The National Merit Scholarship Program uses the Selection Index (SI) score from your PSAT/NMSQT to determine eligibility for the scholarship. The SI score is calculated by doubling the sum of your Reading, Writing, and Math section scores (each section score ranges from 8 to 38). So, the Selection Index score can range from 48 to 228.
To aim for National Merit Scholar status, you'll want to target a high SI score, but it's important to note that the qualifying SI score varies by state, as the competition is state-based. Each state has its own cutoff, which changes slightly every year. Generally, the cutoffs range from the low 200s to the mid 220s, with higher cutoffs in more competitive states like California, New York, and Massachusetts.
For example, in recent years, some less competitive states may have had a cutoff around 209, while more competitive states could have had cutoffs as high as 223. To get an idea of what the cutoffs may look like in your state, you can try searching for past years' cutoffs online. Keep in mind that these are subject to change each year, so the best strategy is to aim for a high score and focus on doing well in all sections of the PSAT.
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