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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 ourĀ latest insights and updated forecasts as the role of testing steadily regains significance in competitive contexts.

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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
ā€‹U.S. Territories209208 - 210207207207
ā€‹ā€‹Studying Abroad223222 - 224223223224
ā€‹ā€‹ā€‹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

  • Yang says:

    Thanks for the great information! My daughter is in TX and got 221. Will she be able to qualify as a semifinalist?

  • Shannon says:

    Great info. My son received a 218 in Texas. What do you think the chances are for it to drop to the 218?

    Thanks.

    • Art Sawyer says:

      Shannon,
      Texas has been a success story over the last decade, and Texas’s scores have settled higher. I don’t think, however, that a 1-point drop is entirely out of the question. There is no reason not to maintain hope.

  • Manisha says:

    Hi! What is the likelihood of qualifying as a semifinalist with a 220 in Texas? Also, do your estimates tend to fluctuate throughout the year, and canā€™t the difficulty of the test be compensated by better curves instead of lower qualifying indexes? Thanks!

    • Art Sawyer says:

      Manisha,
      I think a 220 will likely qualify. I doubt we will see a 221 in Texas. Usually the next adjustment comes when the Commended cutoff leaks in April. Unfortunately, there aren’t many times when College Board or NMSC release details during the year.

      Yes, the curves are designed to account for differences in difficulty. And National Merit does not care what the curves are — just how many students got a particular score. What can happen, though, with an unusually easy test is that there are large gaps between scores. For example, 1 wrong on Math drops a student to a 730. You can have forms where 2 wrong take a student out of the running for a high cutoff state such as NJ. I’m not saying that happened this year — I think that learning losses are more likely as an explanation — but this is what happened with the class of 2021 and has happened with some of the alternate forms in other years.

  • Lakshmi says:

    Hi, my son got a 218 for VA state.. what are the chances of him qualifying as a semifinalist ?

  • Jason says:

    Thanks for all the great input. How do you think 215 in KS will fare? Seems like it will be close.

  • Michael says:

    Thanks for all the great information, Art! Any thoughts on a 218 in TX qualifying as a semifinalist for 2024?

    • Art Sawyer says:

      Michael,
      You’ll want to think positive thoughts. It’s possible, but it has been 10 years since Texas was at 218. The state has become more competitive in the last decade.

  • Casandra says:

    My son received a 213 in Arkansas. Would appreciate your feedback!

    • Art Sawyer says:

      Casandra,
      While Arkansas has seen cutoffs of 214 and 215, that’s only happened when scores nationwide were high. The data points to a “low year” nationally, so I think a 213 is likely to qualify.

  • Marnie says:

    My son got an index score of 209 in Arkansas. Do you you what his chances are to qualify as a semifinalist in Arkansas?

  • Kim says:

    Hello,
    How does a 213 in Florida look? Any chance?

  • Alisha says:

    Hello,
    My son has a SSI of 218 with an SAT of 1510. He’s SO close. šŸ™ What do you think his chances of NMSF are?

  • Rod says:

    Hi Art!

    Thank you for the article it has been very informative. My son got a 215 in Florida, what do you think are his chances to make the semifinals?

    Thank you!

  • Kush says:

    I got a 219 in Texas. Chances of making it?

  • Al says:

    Fabulous article well researched! My son got 215 in Ohio, what are the chances they lower from 216 last year? Sounds like your theorizing, maybe given test strength this year? Much Appreciated!

    • Art Sawyer says:

      Al,
      Yes, everything is based on the national numbers we are seeing. State numbers can really fluctuate. I think we are going to see fairly low numbers across the board. Two of the last four times we have seen low numbers nationally, 215 has been enough in Ohio. So there is definitely a chance.

  • Smita says:

    Hi Art, My son got 219 in TX. Will he qualify as a semifinalist for 2024? and when will be notified ?
    Thanks!

    • Art Sawyer says:

      Smita,
      Notifications don’t go out until late August 2023, and even then they go to the schools rather than the students.

      I think there is a bit over 50% chance of a 219 qualifying in Texas.

  • Ini says:

    220 from MA , In your opinion how probable is it that the cutoff is a point lower than the prediction. šŸ™

    • Art Sawyer says:

      Ini,
      The only reason that I went with 221 this year rather than 220 is that MA has more of a history at 221 and 222. But the resemblance of this year’s numbers to last’s is strong. It’s close to 50/50.

  • Maria says:

    Art!
    This is so helpful. What do you think are the chances for qualifying with a 219 in Michigan?

  • KJ says:

    When clicking through my daughter’s score report (NMSQ 204 and 97th percentile overall), it says “you meet the entry requirements for the 2024 National Merit Scholarship Program and your Selection Index Score will be considered among 1.5 million program entrants.” Does this mean she will get commended scholar? Seems like a low NMSQ for that, but it’s interesting that the it says qualifies for entry. Any insight into this? Is the 97th percentile normally commended?

    • Art Sawyer says:

      KJ,
      The percentile is not actually based on this year’s test takers. Instead, it is a “Nationally-Representative Sample.” This is College Board-speak for “a number we hypothesize if EVERYONE took the test.” Not everyone takes the test.

      • KJ says:

        Understood. I’m just intrigued by the page where it says “you meet the entry requirements for the 2024 National Merit Scholarship Program.” Her SSI last year was lower and noted with an asterix that it didn’t meet the requirements. Guess we’ll wait and see!

  • garth says:

    Thanks for all the great information, Art! Any thoughts on a 212 in KY qualifying as a semifinalist for 2024?

    • Art Sawyer says:

      Garth,
      I think that there is a good chance (50-75%?) that we’ll see a three-peat for 212 in Kentucky after it worked for the classes of 2022 and 2023.

      • Nervous Nelli says:

        What about a 216 in KY?

        • Art Sawyer says:

          Nervous,
          The only years where we’ve seen a higher KY cutoffs are where there have been a high number of top scorers. We seem to be having a low yield this year, so that indicates low cutoffs. We can’t say that you’re completely safe, but I like your odds.

  • Shyaam says:

    Do you think a 216 in Florida is enough for merit semifinalist

  • Sam says:

    Does 222 in NJ stand a chance?

  • S says:

    I got a 220 NMSC index with 1470 actual score in texas. What are the chances I am a semifinalist?

  • Dan says:

    I got a 220 Index score in CALIFORNIA. Do you think I have a shot at making the semi’s? Thank you.

    • Art Sawyer says:

      Dan,
      You do have a shot. Last year’s 220 cutoff came was a bit of a surprise at the time, but I think, in general, California has seen a dip in PSAT testing. 220 may be the new normal.

  • Nick says:

    My son received a 211 . Florida. Chances of commended ?

  • Lorna says:

    Do you have any idea what the curves look like? My daughter got a 218 in Illinois, and it says there is an omitted answer that she’s sure she answered, so it might be worth trying to ask for a hand score if that could get her to a 35.5 from a 35. But the one question might not budge the score, so not sure it’s worth it.

    • Art Sawyer says:

      Lorna,
      I haven’t seen the scales posted yet, but 1 question would almost always raise a score at that part of the scale. What I’m not sure about is whether College Board even allows for hand scoring. Please let me know what you find out.

  • CN says:

    My kid got a 219 in IL. Will that be a semifinalist score?

    • Art Sawyer says:

      CN,
      I think there is a good chance. A 219 has been enough when we have had years with a low number of 1400-1520 scores (like this year). In contrast, the cutoff was as high as 221 when there were more than 60,000 such scores nationwide.

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