<p>apparently somebody at my school missed the PSAT day, and filled out a form - to use her SAT scores as her official 11th grade, PSAT score -- thus qualifying for the national merit. </p>
<p>is this legal?</p>
<p>Yes, yes it is.</p>
<p>This is absolutely legal? I'm so surprised. </p>
<p>My SAT scores were WAY higher than my PSAT ones.</p>
<p>I don't think it's that easy. According to Querycat:</p>
<p>"What if I miss the one chance at the PSAT/NMSQT when it counts?</p>
<p>Your student can take the PSAT/NMSQT alternative testing option, which is the converted SAT 1 test score taken in substitution for the PSAT/NMSQT. They have up to eight months to retake this test several times.(after the October PSAT/NMSQT has been administered). This procedure includes calling or sending a letter to the National Merit Corporation (by March) stating that your child did not take the test and you want the extension/alternative testing"</p>
<p>whoaa. i got a 205 (commended) on the psat as a jr. last year and in the same month, october 2007, i got a 2290 on the sat. should i have been able to qualify for national merit based on my sat or is it only if you miss the psat?</p>
<p>Well, somebody at my school apparently missed the test, took the SAT later, and then used that score to qualify... =___=</p>
<p>Yes, it is that easy....anyone who misses the psat can take the SAT later and it can be used for NMSF cutoff. You only have to write a letter to the NM folks, get a card signed by your GC, and submit your SAT scores to the NM folks in Chicago.</p>
<p>what so if you miss the psat cutoff and get the sat cutoff your still semifinalist?</p>
<p>^^^ No. In order for this to apply to you, you would have had to miss the PSAT entirely, so there would be no "missing the PSAT cutoff."</p>
<p>that makes sense. but out of curisoity how do they do cutoffs for sat. do they just divide by 10 and then use that for psat?</p>
<p>Anyone have a link to where they say this on the CB site?</p>
<p>wow, if only I had known this sooner...</p>
<p>it's not on the CB site. YOu have to search the National Merit site.</p>
<p>
[quote]
A student who does not take the PSAT/NMSQT because of illness, an emergency, or other extenuating circumstance, but meets all other requirements for NMSC program participation, may still be able to enter the competitions. The student or a school official must write to NMSC as soon as possible after the PSAT/NMSQT administration to request information about procedures for entry to NMSC competitions by alternate testing. The earlier NMSC receives the written request, the greater the student's opportunities for meeting alternate entry requirements. To be considered, a request must be postmarked no later than March 1 following the PSAT/NMSQT administration that was missed. NMSC will provide alternate entry materials including an entry form that requires the signature of a school official.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>National</a> Merit Scholarship Corporation - Entering the Competitions</p>
<p>I read that a high school junior who misses the October PSAT Test (for any reason) is able to substitue SAT I scores, has an eight month window to do so, and may take up to six SAT I Tests to uses as qualifying scores in the National Merit competition.</p>
<p>It is my understanding that a SAT I Test score may be used for National merit competition ONLY if that high school junior did not take the PSAT Test at all. And, there is only a window of time to take that SAT I Test/s.</p>