I'm hoping to qualify for the National Merit Scholarship next year and am structuring my PSAT study plan. Does anyone know what the qualifying score was this year? Also, does the cutoff change drastically from year to year?
While the exact qualifying scores for the National Merit Scholarship are not released until after the PSAT/NMSQT are administered, a general rule of thumb to aim for in studying is to score above 1400 out of 1520, as most state cutoffs fall somewhere around that score. Bear in mind that this is just an estimate and scores might vary slightly from year to year and from state to state.
You're correct that the cutoff does change from year to year, but typically, the variations aren't drastic. The cutoff scores are determined based on a spectrum of scores from all the test takers, so the shift in score cutoff hinges on how all the students perform in a given year.
Keep studying and preparing with a goal of reaching the highest score possible on the PSAT/NMSQT, and consider practicing with the Bluebook™ app which will give you an authentic digital testing experience. Working on your comprehension, math, and speed skills for the PSAT will help you gain competitive scores, increasing your chances of qualifying for the National Merit Scholarship. Good luck!
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