<p>If anyone could help fill out my understanding of how this program works, it would be greatly appreciated. </p>
<p>From what I understand, high scorers on the PSAT are selected as Semi-Finalists. Some of these semi-finalists will become finalists. How are finalists selected? I assume there is some kind of academic assessment, but I would like some more concrete information.</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>50,000 of the 1.4 million that take the test are above the Commended cut-off. This is a nationally set cut-off based on selection index (number score on the test). 34,000 of those people end up Commended. The remainder of the 50,000 are almost all made Semi-Finalists, with a few going on to be Finalists. The cut-offs for Semi-Finalist and Finalist are done by state. </p>
<p>The first cut-off number will be announced on 16 April.</p>
<p>So it's all determined by one's score on the PSAT? I.E. The finalists in a state are simply those students who scored highest in the state?</p>
<p>According to the National Merit Scholarship website, 16,000 people are Semi-Finalists, and 15,000 of those go on to be Finalists. It's a really high percentage, and I think it's mostly based on how well your actual SAT scores correlate to your PSAT scores.</p>
<p>For up to Semi, it's all PSAT score unless something is terribly out of wack with the student. For Finalist, there is an application process that brings into account various academic factours.</p>