National Merit Qualifying Score: How is it determined?

Hey, I'm a little bit confused about how the National Merit Qualifying Score is determined. I know it's based on the PSAT/NMSQT, but how exactly do they decide the cutoff score for NMS semifinalists? And does it vary from year-to-year or state-to-state? Thanks!

The National Merit Qualifying Score is determined through a process called the Selection Index, which is based on your PSAT/NMSQT scores. To calculate the Selection Index, first, add your Reading, Writing and Language (W&L), and Math scores. Next, multiply this sum by 2. For example, if you scored 36 in Reading, 35 in W&L, and 32 in Math, your Selection Index would be 2 (36 + 35 + 32) = 206.

Cutoff scores for the National Merit Scholarship Program are determined annually on a state-by-state basis. The reason for this is to account for variability in academic performance and competition in each state and to ensure a proportionate number of students from each state become semifinalists. Thus, the cutoff score will vary both by the state you live in and from year to year. Usually, the variations in cutoffs for each state are within a few points, but they can change depending on the state and academic performance of the student population in a given year.

To have a rough estimate of the qualifying score for your state, it's a good idea to check the cutoffs for the previous years, as it usually doesn't change dramatically from year to year. However, you must remember that the exact cutoff score for the current year won't be available until the announcement of the National Merit Semifinalists, which typically happens around September of the year following your PSAT/NMSQT administration.