@SouthernMother 218 is a great score and according to everything I’ve read over the last several months I’m sure your son is safe. Congratulations!
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Newbie here…just trying to understand this.
If you get the highest score of 760 on both verbal and Math, that translates to 760x3 / 10 or 228.
The Semifinalist cutoff in the most competitive states is 224. (but is this true for the “new” PSAT?)
So that means the cutoff in those states is a nearly perfect score - correct?
New PSAT with new scaled scoring means totally new cut-offs for some states.
Here’s the best set of predictions:
http://www.■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■/national-merit-semifinalist-cutoffs/
That’s what it looks, with the scores being compressed and all @trublu
Good luck everyone, and remember - you can still be a stellar applicant without being a NMSF.
So, @trublue to answer your question, yes the max is 228 but it’s not clear what the highest states will be at. Art at ComPassPrep predicts something in the low 220’s. A poster from NJ reported anecdotal data several months ago that would suggest a higher cut-off. We will know for sure w/in a few weeks. You are fortunate that you can watch this drama unfold, learn what’s on the new test, and observe a couple rounds of cut-offs all well before you’ll be sitting the exam for National Merit. :D/
Are there any good predictions out as far as confirming scores for the new SAT to meet National Merit qualifications?
@MS2017mom the only one I’ve seen is the CompassPrep prediction which is essentially the concorded “old” confirming score. That was 1960 and I believe the concorded score is around 1380 (you can check the CB concordance tables to be sure). NMSC told me that they will have information on that in the materials that go to the semifinalists. They will not comment on a confirming score for the new SAT at this time.
Hmm, I hope they compress the range between lowest and highest states. Seems unfair but I’m sure it’s been discussed in the 358 pages 
@trublue that’s an understatement!
@Mamelot Thanks for that info. My daughter is trying to determine which route to follow as far as trying to raise her ACT score by at least 1 point for other scholarships or hoping her PSAT score (and SAT score) qualify her for National Merit, and concentrating her efforts on the SAT scores. She’s definitely on the fence as far as PSAT for National Merit.
Thank you! Best of luck to you, also. This year has been so crazy with the new test. Back when my daughter (Class of 2012) got NMSF, it was more predictable and I felt a lot more laid back during “the wait.”
That is essentially what this competition is about…a lesson in patience. First you wait for the score reports, then you wait for the commended cutoff, then for the NMSF cutoff for your state, you fill out an application write an essay and turn it in. (During this time, also, you are taking the SAT and waiting for those score reports
At our Southern CA school, NMFs are not even given that much acknowledgment by the school or teachers. At a school academic awards ceremony, the Finalists’ names are just quickly read over, without asking them to come up to the stage for applause. I was surprised because when I grew up, my high school had only one NMF and it was a BIG deal. No explanation yet on commendation score or the process at all. Seems like the school really doesn’t care.
Bet they make a big deal over the athletes though, because those guys have worked for it. Whereas the nmsf’s are just “privileged” . . . or something. :-L
I called up the NMC 2 days ago and they told me that they’ll be sending out the list of National Merit SFs(Not sure if it includes the Commended students) to schools somewhere between the last week of August and the first week of September.
won’t be long now and we will finally know something.
Wait…I thought someone called a few weeks ago and they told them letters would go out the 23rd of this month. Is that not the case now?
The 23rd is the beginning of the last week in August, so not really contradictory, just more vague. Maybe they are staggering the mail?
No that’s still the date. But it’ll take a bit for all that info. to get to the schools and homeschools.
@tgirlfriend sounds like the difference between getting a rep that is precise and a rep that is trying to temper expectations