National Merit Cutoff Predictions Class of 2017

I thought that 99th percentile was compared to other test takers- that it shouldn’t be “easier” or “harder” to be 99th %ile depending on how easy or hard the test is.

@micgeaux If your child scored in the 99th percentile in each subject, there overall percentile will actually be higher. Too bad the score report does not break the percentiles into tenths. I have also tried to reconcile the concordance scores with the percentiles that students have been reporting. I just think that the concordance tables are not completely accurate. If your scores are in the 99th percentile, you will have an excellent chance to be a NMSF based on the state you live in.

@micgeaux Also, one thing I think people are failing to realize is that the charts were meant for teachers and counselors. They were likely built around kids near the 50th percentile, not the upper 90s.

We are in Texas, which is pretty high. One child is R 37 (cutoff for 99th is 35); W 34 (cutoff for 99th is 34); and math 36.5 (cutoff, I think, is 37). Does anyone know the math 99th percentile cutoff?

@Studious99 You are absolutely right! 99% means that you did better than 99% of the students taking the test. This puts you in the running for a NMSF designation. 95% will put a student in running for commended status.

36.5 is 99th nationally, apparently, but 98th for users. of CB. Not quite sure what the difference is…

@micgeaux I do not think college board published the percentiles by the 0-38 test scores. The percentiles are done on the 0-760 scores.

You are right, but I guess we know the math 99th percentile is 37 or 740.

@micgeaux My daughter and I are in Texas also. I am excited that she may get a NM scholarship to TAMU or UH.

I’m hoping at least one of my kids gets NM. That would be great for TAMU. I don’t know too much about UH.

UH and several other Texas schools offer generous NMF scholarships. Many of the schools will also offer merit based scholarships for non-NMF students. I was able to attend UH and move from a small town in Missouri because they offered me a scholarship.

I meant because TAMU offers tuition for NM. I don’t know what UH offers

@micgeaux @trig2017 Then I guess we’ll adjust plans, as my D had a 36.5 in math. Am afraid that algebra was a long time ago (middle school)–or her school’s prep badly focused. She’s got a 100 average in AP Calc BC.

UH offers full tuition, room&board, and $2000 Summer study abroad stipend for NMF.

@aron All is not lost with a 36.5 in math. If she did well in Reading and Writing, she still has an excellent chance. And please do not go by what I say, because I really don’t think we will know until September, but it is nice to dream…

@micgeaux But CR 35, W 37 and M 36.5… Fingers crossed.

Your daughter did awesome. I calculate her selection index as 217/228 which is exception. Tell he she did a great job!!

I hope your D gets it. We have CR 37; W 34; and M 36.5. I keep wondering though if 690 is in the last 99th percentile for R and W (combined) than does it matter what the individual scores are - meaning 34 and 35; 36 and 33, etc. And then the math score is so close. It’s like a problem you want to solve, but I think I need to stop looking at this. lol

LOL… yes stop trying to calculate the impossible problem. NMSC will contact us all when they are ready. Not being a semifinalist is not the end… please make sure you look at all the merit based scholarships out there. You daughter did very well and will have many opportunities even if she is not NMSF. I will pray she gets the NMSF either way. Good luck!

So let’s say I scored a 215 in VA, 99th percentile nationally. VA’s cutoff last year was a 219, but this year the predicted is a 207, which you guys said is unreliable. Concordance tables put my score at 214. All this is quite confusing, so the big question: how good are my chances of being a NMSF?