<p>Bartleby007, your argument does not make sense. You say that the NMF is one-dimensional and just based on one’s skill at standardized test-taking. Then you go on to say to the students who miss the NMSF cutoff : “Presumably your SAT score will be very good.” So you are reassuring them that they have a good chance of getting into a top-tier school because their SAT score will be very good–ie that they will perform well on a “standardized test”. So YOU are counting on standardized test-taking skill here, just a different standardized test! And how can you assume that a kid who has a low score on the PSAT will have a high score on the PSAT? Of course, many do–the SAT is often done a full year later, and the students are better prepared. But you can’t assume that. Your logic doesn’t make sense to me. Also, I agree with Wolverine that there is more to getting NMF than just test scores.</p>