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National Merit Semifinalist Cutoffs Class of 2025

By November 15, 2023National Merit, PSAT

Breaking News: We now have the results from all of the 1,490,000 juniors who took the October 2023 PSAT and have updated our estimates accordingly.

Compass Co-founder Adam Ingersoll hosted a strategy session that helped students interpret their official PSAT results and craft a smart path forward. He shared our latest insights and updated forecasts as the role of testing steadily regains significance in competitive contexts.

WATCH THE RECORDING

The 2023 digital PSAT/NMSQT for the class of 2025 represents the biggest change to the National Merit Scholarship Program since the PSAT was overhauled in 2015. Each year Compass looks at the results from the PSAT and tracks projected Selection Index cutoffs for Commended Students and for Semifinalist in each of the 50 states. [See National Merit Scholarship Program Explained for full details on stages and instructions. For information on the class of 2024 cutoffs, see this archive.]

Instead of having schools administer a paper test on fixed dates, College Board allowed the digital PSAT to be offered throughout October. College Board also introduced a new score return policy. Students taking the test on or before October 14th receive scores on November 6th. Students taking the PSAT after October 14th receive their scores on November 16th. Compass now has the data from both release windows. Approximately 50,000 students landed in the 1400-1520 score band from almost 1.5 million test takers. The initial half of scores already accounted for 30,000 of top band scores, so the later testers had a lower proportion of high scorers. This will come as a relief to students who were fearing an extremely large jump in Selection Index cutoffs.

This year is shaping up similar to the class of 2021 (the last pre-pandemic PSAT) and, reaching back farther, the class of 2017.

50,000 juniors achieved a score of 1400-1520 in the class of 2025. Compass estimates that this will result in a Commended cutoff between 208 and 210, with the most likely cutoff at 209.

The number of top scorers is the most critical piece of information that we get this early in the process. There is a strong correlation between the 1400-1520 band of students and the Commended Student score.

The line of best fit shows that this year's total of 50,000 top scorers is likely to result in a Commended cutoff of 209.

The Commended Student cutoff is likely to rise to 209 (above the 207 from the last 3 years). Estimates can be imperfect, but we are confident that the Commended cutoff will fall within the 208 to 210 range. The higher Commended cutoff, in turn, correlates with higher Semifinalist cutoffs. Below are those estimates.

StateClass of 2025
(Most Likely)
Class of 2025
(Est Range)
Class of 2024
(Actual)
Class of 2023
(Actual)
Class of 2022
(Actual)
Alabama212210 - 216210212212
Alaska212209 - 215209210208
Arizona217214 - 220216214218
Arkansas212208 - 215210210211
California221219 - 223221220221
Colorado217215 - 220216217217
Connecticut221219 - 222221221220
Delaware220218 - 222219218220
District of Columbia223222 - 224223223224
Florida216215 - 219216216217
Georgia219216 - 220217218219
Hawaii217215 - 220217215217
Idaho214210 - 216211215214
Illinois219217 - 221219219218
Indiana216213 - 219216214215
Iowa213210 - 216210212211
Kansas215213 - 218214214215
Kentucky214210 - 217211212212
Louisiana214211 - 217214213213
Maine214211 - 217213215211
Maryland222219 - 223221222224
Massachusetts222220 - 223222220221
Michigan217215 - 220217218217
Minnesota218215 - 220216216218
Mississippi211209 - 215209210213
Missouri215212 - 218214213214
Montana210208 - 214209207208
Nebraska213209 - 216210212210
Nevada214210 - 218211210214
New Hampshire215213 - 219215213214
New Jersey223222 - 224223223222
New Mexico211208 - 215207208210
New York220218 - 222220219220
North Carolina218215 - 220217217218
North Dakota209208 - 212207209207
Ohio216214 - 218216216215
Oklahoma211208 - 216208211210
Oregon217215 - 220216216220
Pennsylvania219217 - 221219218218
Rhode Island216213 - 219215216213
South Carolina213209 - 217209213213
South Dakota211208 - 215209212210
Tennessee216214 - 219217215215
Texas220218 - 221219219220
Utah212209 - 216209211212
Vermont213210 - 217212213211
Virginia221219 - 222219221221
Washington220218 - 222220220220
West Virginia209208 - 212207207207
Wisconsin214212 - 217213213214
Wyoming209208 - 211207207208
​U.S. Territories209208 - 210207207207
​​Studying Abroad223222 - 224223223224
​​​Commended209208 - 210207207207

[See Compass’s National Merit Historical Cutoffs post for data going back to the class of 2008, which can be helpful in comparing this year to its analogues.]

The shift to a shorter, online and adaptive exam is unlikely to wreak the havoc we saw when the “revised PSAT” was introduced 8 years ago. That test overhauled content AND scoring. The digital SAT represents a content change — mainly on Reading and Writing — but keeps the 320-1520 score range intact. The Selection Index, too, remains consistent, with the Reading and Writing score having twice the weight of the Math score.

However, for any given state, a change in cutoff is more likely than not. Historically, Semifinalist cutoffs remain unchanged only about one-third of the time.

Distribution of year-over-year cutoff changes shows that there is a roughly normal distribution, with no change occurring 30% of the time.

Even in years where the Commended cutoff remains static, we see half of state cutoffs go up or down. And it is extremely improbable that the Selection Index will be static. The chart below divides the 50 states into those that saw increases (blue), those that remained unchanged (gray), and those that saw declines (red). We are likely to see a year with far more blue than gray and more gray than red.

 

The number of states seeing cutoff changes has never dropped below 25. In some years, virtually all cutoffs have gone up or down.

Uncertainty around exactly which state cutoffs will change and by how much is why we encourage students to compare their scores to the full estimated range in the table above rather than to a single value (our “Most Likely”). These estimates are built from prior performance data and from data on what scores are doing nationally. State and national numbers are not always in alignment. Cutoffs are particularly bumpy in states with smaller pools of test takers and National Merit Semifinalists. Over the last 10 years, large states’ cutoffs have remained within 1 point of the prior cutoff 88% of the time. That figure drops to 73% for midsized states and 53% for small states. No large state’s cutoff has jumped by more than 3 points in a year, whereas 6-point changes have occurred in the pool of smaller states. Scores also tend to be more stable as they get higher. It is more unusual for a state to move from 221 to 222, for example, than for a state to move from 212 to 213.

What does a cutoff mean? Do I need to score at the cutoff or above it?
Students must have a Selection Index at or above the official cutoff in order to qualify for National Merit honors.

The top 52,000 to 54,000 students will receive some form of honors. National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) determines the cutoff number that comes closest to producing the target number of national honorees. This is the Commended cutoff.

How are Semifinalist cutoffs set?
Unlike the national Commended cutoff, Semifinalist cutoffs are calculated state by state. NMSC allocates the 16,000 semifinalists among states based on the annual number of high school graduates. For example, California sees about 2,000 Semifinalists every year, Michigan 500, and Wyoming 25. In each state, NMSC determines the Selection Index that comes closest to matching its target number of Semifinalists. If 1,900 California students score 222 and higher and 2,050 score 221 or higher, then the Semifinalist cutoff would be 221 (this assumes that the target is exactly 2,000). Because score levels can get crowded, it is easy for cutoffs to move up or down a point even when there is minimal change in testing behavior or performance.

No Semifinalist cutoff can be lower than the national Commended level. Cutoffs for the District of Columbia and for U.S. students studying abroad are set at the highest state cutoff (typically New Jersey). The cutoff for students in U.S. territories and possessions falls at the Commended level each year. Boarding schools are grouped by region. The cutoff for a given region is the highest state cutoff within the region.

Why does the number of top scorers vary from year to year?
While there are changes in the number of students taking the PSAT/NMSQT, there can also be small flaws in test scaling that play a role. Prior to the digital PSAT, a single test form was seen by a large percentage of test takers. Something amiss with that single form could impact selection cutoffs across the country. The digital PSAT is constructed differently. Students receive unique form codes drawn from a large pool of problems. Scaled scores are generated based on the characteristics of those problems. In theory, this should make scores more stable. College Board’s early studies have found an extremely high correlation between the paper-and-pencil test and digital test. Still, even with its adaptive nature, the uncertainty remains as to whether the much shorter test can reliably score students at the 700-760 end of the scale. It appears that the class of 2025 is roughly average compared to the classes of 2017 to 2024 (the years after the change from the 2400 to 1520 scale).

Will test cancellations raise or lower qualifying scores for the National Merit Scholarship Program?
College Board’s online systems failed under load on one of the biggest testing days. There was also a bug that prevented iPads on the latest operating system from submitting exams. We do not know how many schools or students simply gave up and did not retest on rescheduled dates. If the cancellations increase the number of students pursuing alternate entry (see Compass’s explanation of National Merit alternate entry) then cutoffs could rise. Alternate entrants tend to have higher scores, because they can submit SAT scores through June 2024 to enter the competition. They must apply by April.

When are National Merit Semifinalists announced?
The Commended cutoff becomes unofficially known by the end of April. The lists of Semifinalists are not distributed to high schools until the end of August. NMSC sets a press embargo on Semifinalist announcement until mid-September, but schools are allowed to notify students before that date. NMSC does not send Commended Student letters to high schools until mid-September. Compass will keep students updated on developments as those dates approach.

Do state and national percentiles indicate whether I will be a National Merit Semifinalist?
No! Approximately 1% of test takers qualify as Semifinalists each year, so it is tempting to view a 99th percentile score as indicating a high enough score — especially now that College Board provides students with percentiles by state. There are any number of flaws that rule out using percentiles as a quick way of determining National Merit status.

  • Percentiles are based on section scores or total score, not Selection Index
  • Percentiles are rounded. There is a large difference, from a National Merit perspective, between the top 0.51% and the top 1.49%
  • Percentiles reveal the percentage of students at or below a certain score, but the “at” part is important when NMSC is determining cutoffs.
  • The number of Semifinalists is based on the number of high school graduates in a state, not the number of PSAT takers. Percentiles are based on PSAT takers. States have widely varying participation rates.
  • Most definitive of all: Percentiles do not reflect the current year’s scores! They are based on the prior 3 years’ performance. They are set even before the test is given. And if you are going to use prior history, why not use the completely accurate record of prior National Merit cutoffs rather than the highly suspect percentiles?

Entry requirements for National Merit versus qualifying for National Merit.
Your PSAT/NMSQT score report tells you whether you meet the eligibility requirements for the NMSP. In general, juniors taking the October PSAT are eligible. If you have an asterisk next to your Selection Index, it means that your answers to the entrance questions have made you ineligible. Your answers are conveniently noted on your score report. If you think there is an error, you will also find instructions on how to contact NMSC. Meeting the eligibility requirements simply means that your score will be considered. Approximately 1.4 million students enter the competition each year. Only about 52,000 students will be named as Commended Students, Semifinalists, Finalists, or Scholars. See National Merit Explained for more information.

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Art Sawyer

Art graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University, where he was the top-ranked liberal arts student in his class. Art pioneered the one-on-one approach to test prep in California in 1989 and co-founded Compass Education Group in 2004 in order to bring the best ideas and tutors into students' homes and computers. Although he has attained perfect scores on all flavors of the SAT and ACT, he is routinely beaten in backgammon.

3,662 Comments

  • Robel says:

    Hello Art,

    I received a 207 NMSC index score on the PSAT (710 in Math, 680 in Reading and Writing, and Ohio). I know that the Semifinalist score for a state must be higher than the cutoff for being Commended and that for the past three years, it has been 207. I also see that the predicted score is projected to be 208-210, but this is also the first time that College Board released the DPSAT if that has anything to do with the scores. So, what do you think are the odds/percent chance for me getting Commended? Are there any more “national awards” I can get with this score?

    Thank you so much!

    • Art Sawyer says:

      Robel,
      It appears that approximately 7,000 more students received scores in the 1400-1520 score range this year. There is a strong correlation between that number and the Commended cutoff, because that’s approximately 7,000 more students who have a 210 or higher Selection Index. That’s why I think the cutoff will likely go up 1-3 points. If there is something wrong with the data, then a 207 cutoff is possible. Unfortunately, I think the chances are low.

      Commended Students are eligible for Special Scholarships. In almost all cases, those are National Merit scholarships offered to the children of the sponsoring company’s employees.

  • INMom says:

    My son in Indiana has a SI 216, same as the predicted number of 216 with range of 213-219.
    So, what do you think are the odds/percent chance for him getting into Semifinalist list?

    • Art Sawyer says:

      INMom,
      [Rather than contradict myself, I am going to duplicate the answer I just gave to another student in your son’s situation.]
      I think it’s going to be very close — as in 50/50. In the two classes I think of as analogues given the national numbers — 2017 and 2021 — Indiana had cutoffs of 217 and 215. We’ve seen it go higher than that only when we had far more 1400-1520 students than we have this year.

  • Walker says:

    Hi Art,

    Thanks a bunch for breaking down the PSAT stuff. My daughter hit 220 in Georgia. You mentioned 219 as the likely prediction, but the high end of the range is 220. If it’s 220, does that mean everyone at that score is a semifinalist, or could all 221 and above folks get in while only some 220 folks make it?

    Thanks,
    Walker

    • Art Sawyer says:

      Walker,
      It is all or nothing, which is why scores can easily tip a point one way or another. NMSC can’t choose to make only some students at a score into Semifinalists, so it can only approximate the target number of Semifinalists. I think 220 is pretty safe. We’ve only seen GA’s cutoff reach 220 during the extreme class years of 2018 – 2020. I’d say there is a 95% chance that the cutoff will go no higher than 220.

  • Alan says:

    Hello,
    Thank you so much for taking the time to answer all these responses. I’m from Florida and I scored 216. When I saw the updated November 15th results of 217, I didn’t think I had a good chance. But I saw you updated it to 216 after talking with a colleague in Florida. Out of curiosity, what made you change the most likely cutoff from 217 to 216?

    • Art Sawyer says:

      Alan,
      As I mentioned, I have a colleague with a great deal of experience with Florida Semifinalists, and we often compare notes. She thinks it is a weak year in Florida, despite the national numbers. That’s why I put my most likely back to 216.

  • Quinn says:

    Hello Art, do you think 220 (720 in reading and writing, 760 in math) in Delaware is enough to qualify as a semifinalist? Also, I took the PSAT in Delaware and go to school in Delaware, but live in New Jersey. My scores would be considered for Delaware, right? Thank you for all your helpful insight!

    • Art Sawyer says:

      Quinn,
      I think you are in the 70-80% zone. There is a good chance Delaware will move up a point, but a smaller chance that it will move up 2 points.

      If you commute to a day school in Delaware, then you are considered a Delaware student. If your school in DE is a boarding school, then the school’s cutoff is determined by the highest state cutoff in the region (ironically, New Jersey).

  • Isaac says:

    Hello Art,
    I received a 222 NMSC index score in Oklahoma. I am Homeschooled and was wondering what steps I might need to take to make sure everything works out smoothly

    • Art Sawyer says:

      Isaac,
      NMSC sees a lot of homeschool students, so it should work out fine. In fact, you’ve got the advantage that NMSC will send information directly to your home come announcement time. As long as you show as meeting eligibility requirements on your score report, you should just be able to sit back and enjoy the wait. Your parents may get a notification in April that you have made the first cut (in other words, above the Commended level) and need to verify your information — that’s how it works with high schools. They should receive the Semifinalist notification in early September.

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