Compass projects lower qualifying scores for the Class of 2027
The junior year PSAT is also the NMSQT — the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. Each year, National Merit recognizes the top 57,000 test takers. In order to be included in that group, students need to be among the top 4% of the 1.4 million students who take the PSAT. Of that elite group, approximately 17,000 are recognized as Semifinalists for having the highest scores within their states. Semifinalists have the opportunity to continue in the program to become Finalists and, potentially, scholarship recipients. The remaining 40,000 students are recognized as Commended Students. More information can be found in our National Merit Explained post.
For the Class of 2027, the exact scores needed to qualify (“cutoffs”) will not be released until September 2026 (the Commended cutoff is likely to leak in April). In order to give students context for their test results, Compass has analyzed the scores from the October 2025 to produce estimates for the national Commended cutoff and the individual state cutoffs. We predict that the majority of state cutoffs will decline this year.
National Merit uses the Selection Index (SI), found on the PSAT score report, to rank students. The Selection Index can be calculated by doubling the Reading & Writing score (RW), adding the Math score (M), and dividing that sum by 10. For example, a student with a 720 RW and 700 M score has a Selection Index of 214 — (720 x 2 + 700)/10. The weighting of the index means that not all students with a 1420 Total Score have the same SI. A student with a 700 RW and 720 M has a Selection Index of 212. The highest SI a student can receive is 228 (760 RW and 760 M). Last year, the Commended cutoff was 210, and Semifinalist cutoffs ranged from 210 to 225 depending on the competitiveness of the state.
Why do we foresee lower cutoff scores?
College Board does not release any information about the distribution of Selection Indexes, but it does produce summaries of broad score ranges. The number of students in the 1400 – 1520 Total Score range has proved to be an excellent indicator of the Commended cutoff. The Class of 2027 saw 16% fewer top scores than did last year’s class. The 52,400 students at 1400 and above is closer to what we saw two years ago with the Class of 2025 and, going back further, similar to the results for the Classes of 2017 and 2021.
Most of the students who will qualify for National Merit recognition fall in the 1400 – 1520 band (or just outside it). With approximately 10,000 fewer students in the top band of scores this year, we expect the Commended level to drop to 208 or 209. The chart below shows the historical relationship between high scores and the Commended cutoff.
Explaining why last year’s cutoffs reached record levels
After examining this year’s numbers, we also have a better understanding of why Semifinalist cutoffs jumped to such extreme levels last year, and why it should not happen again. The 2024 PSAT saw an unprecedented 18% jump in the number of high Reading & Writing scores (700-760). The weighting of RW in the Selection Index magnified the impact of that change. The table below shows scores for the last three years and how results have fluctuated.
On the 2025 PSAT, the number of high RW scores dropped by 27%. In fact, the RW count for this year is even lower than it was two years ago. The decline in RW scores could even produce Selection Indexes lower than those in the Class of 2025 — at least in some states. The Commended cutoff may provide additional insight in the spring.
The ratio of 700+ M scores to 700+ RW scores reveals just how bizarre last year’s spike was. Traditionally, Math scores have higher distributions at the extremes. There are more very high Math scores on the PSAT and SAT, and there are more very low Math scores.
On the October 2024 PSAT, though, almost as many students scored 700-760 on RW as did on Math. The ratio of high Math scores to high RW scores was 1.02. This helps explain why some cutoffs went as high as 224 and 225 for the first time ever. Students achieved 750 and 760 RW scores in record numbers. In most years, there would be more students scoring 730 RW and 760 M (222 SI), for example, than scoring 760 RW and 730 M (225 SI). That was not true in the the Class of 2025, where there was a more equal distribution. It appears that scores for the Class of 2027 have returned to the traditional Math-heavy distribution. The ratio of high Math scores to high RW scores was 1.33 on the 2025 PSAT/NMSQT. For this reason, we don’t believe we will see a repeat of the 224 and 225 cutoffs seen last year.
Was last year a fluke, shift, or a trend?
The results from the Class of 2027 have answered one of the nagging questions from last year: Were the high cutoffs a fluke, shift, or trend? The answer appears to be fluke. More accurately, results could be labeled an error in test construction and scaling. There is no evidence that the Class of 2026 possessed special test-taking skills. As sophomores, that class performed in line with expectations on the 2023 PSAT. There is no evidence that the Class of 2027 has diminished skills. As sophomores, the class saw the same inflated scores as did the juniors on the 2024 PSAT. The best explanation is that College Board lost control of the scale. College Board dramatically shortened the PSAT when it switched from paper to digital. On the paper test, the Reading and Writing sections had 91 questions, and students were given 95 minutes. The RW on the digital PSAT is truncated to 54 questions over 64 minutes. And only 50 of the questions count toward a student’s score! A shorter exam means a less reliable exam. We saw the occasional wild ride on the paper PSAT, but the rides may get wilder and more frequent on the digital PSAT.
We anticipate the majority of state Semifinalist cutoffs to decline for the Class of 2027. Knowing this overall trend, however, doesn’t tell us which states will be in that majority or how much lower scores will go. The table below provides a Most Likely cutoff score, but the more useful information is the Estimated Range. Almost all cutoffs should fall within that range.
State | Class of 2027 (Most Likely) | Class of 2027 (Est. Range) | Class of 2026 (Actual) | Class of 2025 (Actual) | Class of 2024 (Actual) | Avg NMSFs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 213 | 210 - 216 | 214 | 212 | 210 | 250 |
| Alaska | 214 | 210 - 216 | 215 | 214 | 209 | 35 |
| Arizona | 218 | 215 - 220 | 218 | 217 | 216 | 398 |
| Arkansas | 213 | 210 - 216 | 215 | 213 | 210 | 143 |
| California | 223 | 220 - 224 | 224 | 221 | 221 | 2,115 |
| Colorado | 218 | 216 - 221 | 219 | 218 | 216 | 286 |
| Connecticut | 222 | 220 - 223 | 223 | 221 | 221 | 175 |
| Delaware | 219 | 218 - 221 | 220 | 219 | 219 | 44 |
| Florida | 217 | 216 - 220 | 219 | 217 | 216 | 999 |
| Georgia | 219 | 217 - 221 | 220 | 218 | 217 | 602 |
| Hawaii | 218 | 215 - 220 | 219 | 217 | 217 | 62 |
| Idaho | 214 | 211 - 217 | 215 | 213 | 211 | 96 |
| Illinois | 220 | 218 - 222 | 222 | 220 | 219 | 704 |
| Indiana | 217 | 214 - 219 | 218 | 217 | 216 | 313 |
| Iowa | 213 | 211 - 216 | 214 | 212 | 210 | 145 |
| Kansas | 216 | 213 - 219 | 216 | 215 | 214 | 144 |
| Kentucky | 214 | 211 - 217 | 214 | 213 | 211 | 201 |
| Louisiana | 215 | 212 - 218 | 216 | 214 | 214 | 222 |
| Maine | 215 | 212 - 217 | 217 | 214 | 213 | 55 |
| Maryland | 223 | 221 - 225 | 224 | 222 | 221 | 308 |
| Massachusetts | 223 | 221 - 225 | 225 | 223 | 222 | 318 |
| Michigan | 219 | 216 - 220 | 220 | 218 | 217 | 485 |
| Minnesota | 218 | 216 - 220 | 219 | 217 | 216 | 279 |
| Mississippi | 213 | 210 - 215 | 213 | 212 | 209 | 155 |
| Missouri | 216 | 213 - 218 | 217 | 215 | 214 | 289 |
| Montana | 211 | 208 - 214 | 213 | 209 | 209 | 47 |
| Nebraska | 213 | 210 - 216 | 214 | 211 | 210 | 105 |
| Nevada | 214 | 211 - 217 | 214 | 214 | 211 | 168 |
| New Hampshire | 217 | 214 - 219 | 219 | 217 | 215 | 60 |
| New Jersey | 223 | 222 - 225 | 225 | 223 | 223 | 451 |
| New Mexico | 211 | 208 - 214 | 210 | 211 | 207 | 104 |
| New York | 221 | 219 - 223 | 223 | 220 | 220 | 1,012 |
| North Carolina | 219 | 216 - 221 | 220 | 218 | 217 | 510 |
| North Dakota | 210 | 207 - 212 | 210 | 210 | 207 | 30 |
| Ohio | 218 | 215 - 220 | 219 | 217 | 216 | 538 |
| Oklahoma | 212 | 208 - 214 | 212 | 211 | 208 | 204 |
| Oregon | 218 | 215 - 220 | 219 | 216 | 216 | 188 |
| Pennsylvania | 220 | 217 - 222 | 221 | 219 | 219 | 596 |
| Rhode Island | 217 | 214 - 220 | 219 | 217 | 215 | 47 |
| South Carolina | 214 | 210 - 217 | 215 | 214 | 209 | 236 |
| South Dakota | 210 | 207 - 213 | 211 | 208 | 209 | 42 |
| Tennessee | 218 | 215 - 219 | 219 | 217 | 217 | 319 |
| Texas | 221 | 218 - 222 | 222 | 219 | 219 | 1,623 |
| Utah | 212 | 210 - 216 | 213 | 211 | 209 | 196 |
| Vermont | 215 | 211 - 217 | 216 | 215 | 212 | 28 |
| Virginia | 222 | 220 - 224 | 224 | 222 | 219 | 437 |
| Washington | 222 | 220 - 224 | 224 | 222 | 220 | 348 |
| West Virginia | 209 | 207 - 212 | 210 | 209 | 207 | 64 |
| Wisconsin | 214 | 213 - 217 | 215 | 214 | 213 | 292 |
| Wyoming | 209 | 207 - 212 | 210 | 209 | 207 | 24 |
| District of Columbia | 223 | 222 - 225 | 225 | 223 | 223 | 36 |
| Territories | 209 | 207 - 211 | 210 | 208 | 207 | 39 |
| Outside US | 223 | 222 - 225 | 225 | 223 | 223 | 86 |
| Commended | 209 | 207 - 210 | 210 | 208 | 207 |
How cutoffs are determined
Qualifying scores (“cutoffs”) are not based on the total score for the PSAT (360-1520) but on the Selection Index, which is calculated by doubling the RW score, adding the Math score, and then dividing the sum by 10. The maximum Selection Index is 228. Students can find a historical set of cutoff data here or see how Semifinalist and Commended counts have changed state by state.
We estimate that the Semifinalist cutoffs will range from 209 to 223. Semifinalists are allocated by state, and cutoffs are calculated by state. If Florida is allocated 1,000 Semifinalists based on its population of high school graduates, then NMSC works down from a perfect 228 Selection Index until it gets as close as possible to that target. Last year, 1,008 students scored at or above the cutoff of 219. A cutoff of 220 would have produced too few Semifinalists. A cutoff of 218 would have gone over the allocation. 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.
Why does each state have its own Semifinalist cutoff if the program is NATIONAL Merit?
This is always a hot button question. NMSC allocates the approximately 17,000 Semifinalists among states based on the number of high school graduates. That way, students across the nation are represented. It also means that there are very different qualifying standards from state to state. A Massachusetts student with a 220 might miss out on being a Semifinalist. If she lived 10 miles away in New Hampshire, she would qualify.
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.
Change is always the theme
Over the last two decades, at least half of the state cutoffs have changed each year. In some years, as many as 49 states saw ups or downs, usually because of questionable test forms. In addition to last year’s exam, the PSATs from 2011 (Class of 2013), 2016 (Class of 2018), and 2019 stand out as problematic. The anomalous 2019 results could be traced back to a particularly mis-scaled form, which I wrote about at the time. The Class of 2014 also saw significant changes, but those were more of a bounce-back from the previous year. The question for the Class of 2027 is how much of a bounce-back will be seen this year.
Cutoffs are particularly bumpy in states with smaller pools of test takers and National Merit Semifinalists. Over the last dozen years, cutoffs in the 12 largest states have remain unchanged 36% of the time, while the cutoffs in the smallest states have remain unchanged only 1 time out of every 5. 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.
When are National Merit Semifinalists announced?
The lists of Semifinalists will not be distributed to high schools until the end of August 2026. With the exception of homeschoolers, students do not receive direct notification. NMSC asks that schools not share the results publicly until the end of the press embargo in mid-September, but schools are allowed to notify students privately before that date. NMSC does not send Commended Student letters to high schools until mid-September. Compass will keep students updated on developments as the dates approach.
Do state and national percentiles indicate whether a student 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 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 55,000 students will be named as Commended Students, Semifinalists, Finalists, or Scholars. See National Merit Explained for more information.
I had read commended was about top 3%, so how does percentile correlate with that at all (if at all)? My son was 98th percentile, but his score is under the 207 projected for commended.
Dee,
College Board presents percentiles in a misleading way. Rather than base them on the actual test takers, it bases them on a hypothetical group of all high school juniors. While your son is in approximately the top 2% of that hypothetical group, he is likely in the top 4% of actual test takers. Also, National Merit uses the Selection Index, which does not have an attached percentile.
When will the final selection index score cutoff for each state come out?
Julie,
In late August NMSC will notify schools of Semifinalists. Schools will then notify Semifinalists. It’s around that time in early September when we learn the cutoffs. Alas, there is no early release.
Hi Mr. Sawyer, great article! I got a 216 in Florida, 99th in English, 98th in math, but 99th total percentile. Does everyone in the 99th percentile get national merit, or can some not get it? I know that I’m right on the cutoff, so I’m pretty nervous
Adam,
Percentiles are not applicable for National Merit. First, they are national, and National Merit (despite the name) is decided at the state level. Second, percentiles are based on a hypothetical set of all test takers, not on actual test takers. Third, percentiles are based on prior years and not on this year. Fourth, … you get the point. I think you’ve got a better than even chance of Semifinalist with a 216, but it is not because of percentiles.
Thanks for the informative article! California Junior here with a 220 selection index score, what do you think is the likelihood I will be a semifinalist?
Alden,
I’d put even odds on 220 and 221.
Hi Art,
Thanks for such an informative article. My daughter has 219 for selection index on the PAST, which she took in October 2023. What are her odds of making it to Semi Final. We are from Colorado.
Sam,
A 219 has an excellent shot this year. While CO has seen cutoffs of 220 and 221, recently, those were during years where all of the cutoffs were high. I think we are seeing a “low” year this year.
Hi Art, My son has 220 in 99th percentile in NYS. NY has been at 219-220 for the last 4 years. Does he have a shot?
Andy,
I think he has an excellent shot. I doubt that we’ll see NY move to 221 this year, but we can’t completely rule it out.
Hi,
Thank you for this article it has been extremely helpful. I think my daughter scored high enough to make the South Carolina cutoff and has already taken the ACT/SAT and done well in her sophomore year, are those scores applicable toward becoming a Merit Finalist ? She plans to take them both at least 1 more time. Is there a specific score she needs to be competitive to be a finalist? Thank you!
Laura,
As long the the scores were earned in the August of her sophomore year (technically right before her sophomore year) or later, she should be fine. The confirming score for Finalist is all or nothing. In other words, a high score doesn’t make it more likely to qualify. A Semifinalist needs to earn an SAT score (or equivalent ACT score) that is at least as high as the Commended cutoff selection index. Roughly, that means a 1400 or better on the SAT.
Do you know if alternate entry will require a confirming score for the class of 2024? I am unable to find any answer on the NMSC site. Thank you!
Kim,
I believe that Alternate Entry still requires a confirming score, but you may want to check with National Merit. No, it’s not published in any of its materials.
Hi,
My son graduates high school in 2024. My son’s PSAT selection index is 226. We are from Arizona (AZ). I believe he will be named a Semifinalist. My question is, for the SAT requirement to become a Finalist, does he need to take the SAT test during a specific time? In other words, he has already taken the SAT on 12/3/22 and he scored well (1500+). Can we use this SAT test results to meet the SAT requirement for becoming a Finalist? Or does he need to take the SAT during a specific time, like, between October 2023 and December 2023 to meet the Finalist requirement? I read somewhere that we need to take the SAT during a specific duration. That is why I am asking the question. Thank you for taking time in answering my question.
Chandra,
The confirming score can be earned any time between Aug of sophomore year and Dec of senior year. Congratulations!
Thank you very much.
Art,
Could you tell me if the top 3% scoring 1400 and above (N=43,575) in your table is based on hard data or an estimate? The test seemed particularly difficult. Thank you.
Hard data.
Great article, My son scored a 217 in Missouri. Will that qualify as a semifinalist? Thank you,
Rich,
It’s just about a lock. Missouri has never seen a cutoff above 217, and I don’t think that we’ll see any records this year.
Hello, what are the chances that I qualify with a 216 in Florida? Thanks
Harold,
I think we are likely to see a 215 or 216 cutoff in Florida, but we can’t rule out a higher score. I’d say that you’re in the 75-80% range.
Hi Art!
Hope you had a great Christmas! Thank you for the article it was very informative.
My son scored a 215 in Florida. What do you think are his chances of making the semi-finals?
Thanks!
Thank you, Rod!
I’d say that it is close to 50/50 on a 215 versus a 216 cutoff this year.
Art, thank you. Your data suggests my daughter will qualify as a semi-finalist and assuming her resume/SAT scores confirm those results so she’s lucky enough to be named a finalist, I have a very specific question. I read where if you qualify for a corporate reward (let’s say I work for a sponsoring company), you wouldn’t be eligible for a school award. Of course they don’t want double dipping, but what happens if the Corporate Award would be more beneficial at a school that doesn’t offer significant National Merit aid, but would be significantly less than another school that sponsors more finalists? I know there is some risk involved in choosing your primary school, but does National Merit award the scholarship that will be best for you if you name both a school and a corporate sponsor?
Max,
Sorry for the long delay. I consider myself an expert on score and eligibility questions, but I get hazier when dealing with some of the advanced questions on scholarships. The matching process is still almost a year away for your daughter. My advice is to contact NMSC once your daughter becomes a Finalist. NMSC will help determine the best course.
What about 2024 students just below the “commend” line (say index @ 200)? Obviously, that’s a formidable score. Do they receive any accolades? Do colleges/scholarships traditionally value anything below “comenend” line? Assume one student at 200-205 from NJ vs one from West Virginia.
David,
Except for its use in National Merit, I am not aware of any schools that evaluate students or offer scholarships based on PSAT scores. Instead, it’s best to view a formidable score on the PSAT as a prelude to success on the SAT. It’s the latter that matters for admissions and awards.
Hi!
Any predictions for Maryland’s cut off this year? My son’s index score is 223. His high school college counseling office said that the cut-off are determined in in December. Is that correct? Why aren’t they released until August? Thanks!
Monica,
Cutoffs are not determined in December. They are not finalized until May/June at the earliest and are kept under lock-and-key at NMSC until notifications are sent out. NMSC does notifications via schools, so it makes more sense to wait until August than to try to do something over the summer. The 224 cutoff that we saw for the class of 2022 was caused by the mass cancellations in Maryland. I don’t think we will see a repeat this year.
Hello (from California)!
My son’s NMSC index is 220, he took SAT in Nov, 2022 and scored 1530. If Cal index is 221, he would miss it. My question is if someone meets the index (e.g. 221) but he/she would only need 1400 SAT to qualify for semifinalist? Thanks!
Liz,
Only the PSAT score is used for determining Semifinalist status. I’m not sure that I understand your question about the 1400. If someone meets the index, they qualify as a Semifinalist. They then need a confirming SAT score to qualify as a Finalist. A 1400 is approximately the score needed. A 1400 would not qualify a CA student as a Semifinalist.
This is such valuable information! My daughter got a 215 in TN and I see that historically, that is where it has hit. She is quite nervous since it is so close. I read above she can retake it? She also took the ACT her sophomore year and got a 34 without preparing. I also saw you mention ACT can be used? How would she take it again or use ACT? We too were told it had to happen during a specific testing time. She is currently a JR.
Elise,
Students who took the PSAT cannot retake an exam for Semifinalist qualifying. Students who missed the PSAT and are qualifying via Alternate Entry are able to repeat the SAT. What you may be thinking of is Finalist qualification. Once a student is named a Semifinalist (fingers crossed for your daughter), she will need to provide a “confirming score” as part of her Finalist application. That score can be an SAT or ACT and can be repeated anytime between fall of sophomore year and December of senior year. Your daughter’s 34 is likely already high enough. [I have to say likely because there are some quirks in converting an ACT to an SAT Selection Index. You can find out more in our National Merit FAQ post.]
Y’all should know that Art is a blessing to all things National Merit! His guidance is invaluable. My son is (likely) a National Merit Finalist for 2023 and Art’s advice and predictions have been spot on. Trust the process and congratulations to your children on their success!
I got a 213 on my PSAT and it says I am in the 99th %tile for people. I live in Wisconsin. How likely am I to make the semifinalist cutoff since I am on the line but I do see top 1% which considering they name 16000 people and less than 1.6mill took the test I would ASSUME I would qualify. Where did you get the number that 214 was the most likely number from Wisconsin considering scores overall did not appear to vary at all. I will be very sad if I miss it by one point and have been stressing for a while if I will or will not get this award. I got 99% in english and 99% in math.
Brayden,
Choosing between 213 and 214 for my “Most Likely” was a little arbitrary. WI has recently had cutoffs as high as 217 (albeit in an up year nationally), so I was conservative.
Percentiles, unfortunately, don’t provide us any useful information when it comes to National Merit: (A) they are not based on the Selection Index (B) they are for 3 previous class years and not your class year (C) in the case of “Nationally-representative percentiles”, they include estimates for students who didn’t actually test (D) they are rounded, and the rounding matters and (E) they are not reported by state, and Semifinalist status is determined ONLY by state.
I recommend assuming the best and taking your mind off of it until September.
Hey Art,
I am a student in Louisiana, and I got a 213 as my index. What do you think are the chances of me being a semifinalist? Thank you!
Marlie,
In years where we see stability in cutoffs, about two-thirds of states see the same cutoff or a lower one. I think we’ll see a stable year, so I’d estimate your student’s chances at 60-70%.
Great article! My daughter scored an index of 217 and we live in Ohio. Is this enough for Semifinalist or Commended?
Anna,
It’s certainly enough for Commended. I think there is at least an 80% chance that it is good enough for Semifinalist.
Hi! I took the 2024 PSAT in the state of Louisiana. I got an index of 212 even though the cutoff is expected to be 213. Do I have a chance of making the cutoff? If I do, is there any further steps that I need to take? Thank you! Also, if I barely make the cutoff, will that affect my chance of making it to become a finalist?
Sam,
Louisiana was at 212 as recently as the class of 2021, so there is certainly a chance. Realistically, it’s probably less than 50/50. The good news is that barely making it is still making it. Your Selection Index does not impact your chances of becoming a Finalist.
Hi, My son has 213 and we are from Missouri, what are the chances to qualify as semifinalist?
Sree,
This year — nationally, as least — looks to be shaping up like last year. That would be good news go your son, as Missouri’s cutoff was 213. However, states don’t always follow the national trend, and MO came in at 214 in the two previous years. I’d say his chances are 50/50.
Art,
My friend sent me your link to this great article. My daughter got a 213 on the PSAT in Louisiana for class of 2024. How are her chances looking? Thanks.
Charlotte,
The national data indicate that this year will look a lot like last year. That would be good news for your daughter, since last year’s Louisiana cutoff was 213.. Unfortunately, what happens nationally doesn’t translate perfectly to the 50 states. My estimate is that we’ll see 60-70% of states with the same or lower cutoff. Let’s hope LA is one of them!
Hello Art! I have twins that scored 218 and 212 respectively. We live in Oklahoma….. thoughts on chances for my 212 kiddo considering the last several years Oklahoma has been 210 or 211??? i know it has been higher in past years.
Kristen,
We’ll probably find out at the end of this month what the Commended level will be. Why is that important? Hopefully it confirms that we are seeing another “low” year nationally (that’s what the initial data shows). It won’t guarantee that Oklahoma’s cutoff will be 212 or lower, but it would indicate that the odds are in your kiddo’s favor.