Hello everyone!! I’m a high school sophomore in Louisiana and go to a nationally recognized public boarding school. I took the PSAT in October 2015. I was just wondering if you think that I might have a shot at national merit when I take it next year.These were my scores:
Total: 1300 97th percentile
Reading and writing: 690 99th percentile
Math: 610 94th percentile
Reading, Writing, Math: 35, 34, 30.5
Hi. I think you need to wait until we see what the cut-off scores are for this year. That should give you a better read on what is expected. My son is in the same boat.
Thanks!!! Do you know when cutoff scores are released by College Board?
Cutoff scores for commended are released in April. For semifinalists, it’s released in September.
Thanks
If you prepare next year, and actually prepare, you’ll definitely have a shot. I’m in the same boat as you, I’m a sophomore with a 1380. Good luck to both of us!
@Keyboard1528 I sure hope so. This year I didn’t actually know that sophomore take the PSAT until a week before… But thanks and good luck too!
IMHO, those scores are good enough to merit spending some serious energy prepping to maximize your chances.
Check out the Khan Academy materials, plan to take the SAT in June as “prep” for the PSAT. (The Sophomore year June SAT score acted as a confirming score for both by kids, so it takes the pressure off needing a good SAT score later to confirm for the NM, even though you’ll likely try again Jr/Sr years to maximize your SAT score for other reasons).
Study, plan, strategize for next year. You’re absolutely in the running.
@mmom99 Thanks for the encouragement!! I’m planning to take the SAT later this year and as for confirming score, do you have any ideas as to what score range I should hope to score in for it to be a suitable for National Merit?
@mks2018, on the 2400 scale, I believe 1960 (or 1940?) was the cut off. Scale that to 1400 scale, and I’m guessing around 1300 should be about right. 1400 would be very safe, I’d think. Obviously, do your level best, as there are plenty of schools that offer automatic merit aid based solely on SAT or ACT scores, so even if you don’t get NM, you are likely to be in the running for other merit aid based on test scores, since you’re clearly a strong test taker! Good luck! I
f you haven’t already done a bunch (10-20 hrs++) of focused PSAT/SAT prep, then I’d guess your score should definitely improve with some prep. If you’ve already prep’ed a whole lot, then you might see less improvement. Check out the Khan Academy stuff, prep books, etc. What I did/do with my high school kids is to have them prep for the Sophomore spring SAT. If you score high enough on that one to “confirm” your potential PSAT next fall, then it takes a lot of pressure off of the NM process. Meanwhile, the SAT prep helps you maximize your PSAT score next fall when it counts. (Do focused PSAT prep over the summer!) Then Spring JR year +/- Fall SR year, you can retake the SAT, take the ACT, etc, as desired/needed.
@mmom99 I appreciate the insight to creating a plan of study in maximizing my scores.