National Merit Finalist Qualifying SAT Score

<p>^^ This is false.</p>

<p>I don’t know why the validating SAT score continues to be such a source of speculation and confusion. As has been said many times on this board, it <em>is</em> required, it needs to be reported to the NM Corp, and the score is 1960, calculated as CR + CM + (number of CW correct X 10). This is surely in the FAQ.</p>

<p>buba009, please don’t repeat speculation, which might have the effect of misleading people.</p>

<p>My son received a 2000 on his SAT (using the CR + M + (Number of W correct X 10)! At this point, will my son pretty much receive Finalist status, or is there an unknown factor that I haven’t considered?</p>

<p>Lythaito. Congratulations!! That should do it. Letters go out soon.</p>

<p>When you say ‘#W correct’, you do mean the MC subscore from the CB score report? There are 49 questions and the score is computed by first calculating #correct - 0.25 X #incorrect and then they scale it with 80 being perfect.</p>

<p>The MC sub-score is what I meant.
When are the Finalist letters usually sent out?</p>

<p>First or second week in February. If your son has not received a rejection letter by now chances are very high that he is a finalist.</p>

<p>Looks like NMSC will mail the letter to students’ homes February 6. I believe they notify schools about a week earlier.</p>

<p>Were letters mailed out on February 6th or were they expected to be received on February 6th?</p>

<p>They are dated the 6th, and mailed on the 6th.</p>

<p>My son is a Junior and possible NMSF for class of 2015. He just received his March SAT scores. His composite score was 2130. Is this sufficient for National Merit Finalist consideration? Is there a window frame within which the test must be taken for score to be accepted. Thank you.</p>

<p>Yes, that will easily be a “confirming” score and yes there is a window. 2 years or so maybe? But anyway he is well within that window.</p>

<p>Thank you Suzy100!</p>

<p>This is a very useful thread; thank you. I have a question about the scale for the MC writing subscore, which when multiplied by 10 gives the writing score. My question is this: Is the scale for the writing section then 800, as it is for the writing sections, or is it lower? If not, what is the highest score possible for the writing section for the finalist qualifying score? </p>

<p>The scale is 800/800/800 right now. Math/Critical Reading/Writing. Max score is 2400 and target for NMF consideration is usually about 1960. </p>

<p>For admissions, many schools are more concerned with the M/CR scores, and use Writing for placement. Others use all of them equally.</p>

<p>@Jammom‌ - the answer to your question is in the FAQ for this forum:</p>

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<p>Wolverine, Can you tell me where you go the information on the necessary SAT score for National Merit? I have never seen anything officially posted. My daughter should be a semifinalist (class of 2015), as she got the same score as her sister, who was well into National Merit cutoff for our state. However, our 2nd daughter’s SAT wasn’t as high as her sister’s due to her essay. This was strange because generally she scores higher on essays, but at any rate, she only got a 1990 on her SAT, but according to the formula you laid out, it would have been a 2040. She plans on retaking the SAT either way, but she does better with lower stress, and right now she feels like its very critical that she raise her score quite a lot because her last SAT didn’t seem to substantiate her 218 PSAT score well. If we know that her score is already enough, she could relax a little and just do her best when she retakes the SAT. The 2040 score she would have received using the calculation method you showed would give her a lot more confidence, but she questions whether its accurate that it would be enough for National Merit cutoffs. </p>

<p>momtimes3…The formula of M+CR+(10 x Writing MC subscore) is correct, and I confirmed that with NMSC by phone. NMSC is famous (or infamous) for not putting some of the most important information in the whole process in writing, but they will sometimes provide it over the phone if you catch the right person. Whether or not the 1960 score that has been required for the past several years will again be the minimum this year won’t be known for sure until at least September. I wouldn’t expect it to change as that score has held through the last several years with some fairly wide variations in state cutoff scores. There’s still a remote possibility it could change, but I’d be shocked if the minimum required were to jump more than 80 points.</p>

<p>For the Class of 2015, check here for the Finalist qualifying score: <a href=“Confirmed National Merit Finalist Cutoff Score for 2015 NMF - National Merit Scholarships - College Confidential Forums”>Confirmed National Merit Finalist Cutoff Score for 2015 NMF - National Merit Scholarships - College Confidential Forums; </p>

I got a 230 on my PSAT (80 M, 80 W, 70 CR), but only a 2180 on the SAT (800 M, 700 W, 680 CR). I take almost all of the AP classes offered at my school and I’m very involved. How much will my SAT score hurt my chances for a National Merit Scholarship?

@beedigger I am assuming that you are in the class of 2016? You might want to post in the forum for the Class of 2016 National Merit Semifinalists/Finalists/Scholars. Your scores are fantastic. You will without a doubt qualify for Semifinalist. Your SAT score should be fine to get you Finalist, where most of the money is available. What is your GPA, unweighted? The one thing that sometimes makes NMSF not make NMF is their grades - Cs are a biggie.