I will be a junior this coming fall. When I first took the PSAT, I scored a 200: Reading-70, math-65, and writing- 65. I know this is not a bad score, and am happy with it. However, I would really like to make national merit, as any amount of money for college would help immensely. I did buy the Barron’s review book, and plan on using that to prepare. Based on my scores this year, will I stand a chance of making national merit, with preparation? This may seem like a silly question, but I am very nervous. Any tips for doing well on this test would also be great. Thanks 
I went from 189 sophomore year to a 213 junior year (so close) so it’s possible. The only thing you can do to improve is practice more. I would say focus more on math because that’s probably the easiest section to get your score up.
What state do you live in? The PSAT is changing this fall, so you are going to be in the first run of that. I think Khan Academy has some study info on it, and there should be a book coming out soon. With that score sophomore year, I think you stand a good chance with study and a little luck. Try to find as much as you can to practice for the new PSAT.
Ohio. I think I was around the 95 percentile this year
Ok, so Ohio’s PSAT qualifying scores have been in the range of 213-215 in the past. So yes, it is definitely possible. Study as much as you are able - National Merit scholarships can greatly ease the search for merit money.
Thank you very much. I have been studying about an hour a day thus far this summer
That’s good. Have you been using any of the new materials?
No, I have not. I have been focusing mainly on math; I have a sort of dyslexic makes it very hard for me to process numbers sometimes, so I have to use a calculator for even simple addition
Well, your math is higher than mine without dyslexia, if that makes you feel any better. I’m a NMS, and what really propped me up was the Writing and Reading. You seem to be strong in Reading, make sure to study that to pull that score up even more - it’s easier to get better at something you’re already pretty good at.
There are some study guides out there for the new PSAT - such as this: http://www.rakuten.com/prod/barron-s-strategies-and-practice-for-the-new-psat-nmsqt/278368833.html?listingId=-1&sclid=pla_google_rakuten.com&adid=29963&gclid=CO_O7J7RusYCFQUGaQodRYgOig
Invest in at least one of them if you can.
You definitely can. I went from 198 to 231
It’s also going to be different this year because the PSAT is on a 1600 scale just like the SAT, so estimates for cutoffs are going to be difficult. But if you can manage to get your overall score into the 98th or so percentile for your state, you should have a good chance. Was the 95th percentile for the nation or just Ohio?
For the nation, I believe
Can you see what it was in comparison to Ohio?
Last year Ohio was below the national average.I was between the 96th and 97th for the state
I did not prepare at all last year, so that might have impacted my results a bit
Likely so, with prep you should do a lot better. That’s a great score for sophomore year. You should be fine!
Yes, you will definitely can do better. DD16, a rising senior, went from 205 to 223 junior year and SAT of 2290. She only looked over the practice test that the school gave her in their packet for PSAT.
oops!, posted it before adding. If you have a great score already, you most likely know the subjects well. Just becoming familiar with the test format is important for time management.
^^^ Hence why the new study materials are a must.
@albert69 Did you try the newly released PSAT practice test? If so, how well did you score? I really need some help on the verbal section if you help, because I can easily get 700+ in the math, but the verbal just lowers my total score plus I reside in Maryland which makes it tougher to get NMS