<p>Hi, I know to be a semifinalist for National Merit you need to get above the cutoff on your PSAT score. Afterwards, you must submit you GPA, an essay, and your SAT scores. However, I am about to be a junior and I have already taken the ACT December of my sophomore year and received a 35. I was wondering if I can submit my ACT test score instead of SAT for NM.</p>
<p>Um. No. The validating score for the qualifying PSAT (taken during the student’s junior year) must be earned on the SAT. The bar for validation is quite low (roughly 2000), so it’s really not a problem for most kids who post a high score on the PSAT.</p>
<p>If you haven’t taken your junior year PSAT yet, you’re getting ahead of yourself. In some states the NMSQT bar is quite high (PSAT score 220+).</p>
<p>Good luck…</p>
<p>agreed, almost positive it has to be SAT. you also have to take SAT during a certain window, i want to say by Dec of your senior year at your latest. what was your PSAT score?</p>
<p>It must be the SAT. As @Bartleby007 stated the bar isn’t very high for the certifying score.</p>