<p>Let me know if your score went up much pwafflesprinkles!</p>
<p>Recently, the semifinalist cutoff scores have been increasing. In New york, 2005, it was 218. Does anyone know what last year’s cutoff was? Now that it’s a year later, I wonder if my score of 222 would make the cutoff…</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>If you go the post #717 you will find NY’s cutoff was 221 last year. This year the scoring of the Writing Section was changed resulting in lower score overall. The commended score this year was three points lower than last year. Your 222 shall be good for New York.</p>
<p>…</p>
<p>Jumping scores happens all the time. I went from 192 (9th) to 211 (10th) to 234 (11th). </p>
<p>Btw, what’s the cutoff in FLA?</p>
<p>leungpy1:
how did the scoring for the writing section change? and how did the commended cutoff change?
thanks.</p>
<p>Commended cutoff dropped from 203 (oct 2005) to 200 (oct 2006). I’d be very surprised if any state’s NMSF cutoff goes up for oct 2006 PSAT takers.</p>
<p>I cannot find that information right now but might be someone can help. The fact of the matter is the scoring change in the writing section was reflected in the commended score being 3 points lower this year compare to last year. That shall also translate into the semifinalist score being lower this year as well.</p>
<p>the PSAT writing test used to be scored like the old SAT subject writing test was, but this year they changed and graded it like they grade the SAT I. something like that. this caused everyones score to drop by a few points.</p>
<p>My S scored a 219 in the state of Washington on the Oct 2006 test and when I look at the paper they sent back it shows that he’s in the 99th percentile nationwide across all sections. But when I look at how he did compared to other students in the state, it becomes much murkier. His rank drops to 96th percent against other Washington students in two of the subject areas but stays at 99 in another.</p>
<p>Although the commended score dropped nationwide, I wonder if the minimum score needed to become NMSF might drop in some states but still go up in others? Last year a 219 was the bottom number for Washington and this state has been seeing jumps every year according to the information posted on this forum.</p>
<p>Ironically, he scored a 2320 on the SAT… if he misses NMSF by a point or two that would be a real bummer.</p>
<p>My bet is that it will go down 1-3 points, because the Commended score did go down, to reflect the fact that they readjust the writing.</p>
<p>Wow, I thought my 214 would be too low for Michigan, but now I think I may be above the cutoff!</p>
<p>So does anyone have a good idea on how much it will go down, at all?</p>
<p>Since it went down by 3 nationally, I’m reallyreallyreally hoping that it will go down by 3 for Arkansas as well - it’s been 206, abnormally high for our dumb state, for two years now, but if it drops by 3, I get it.</p>
<p>I got a 203 … so. Lots riding on the cutoff dropping by 3. <em>crosses fingers</em></p>
<p>Is it just me, or was the curve very ungenerous this past year? How is it reflected in the semifinalist cutoffs? (I got one wrong on the math because I misread a diagram, and it docked the score to a 76. And math is my strong subject…so it kinda sucks. >.<;) </p>
<p>Also, just to check–221 for New Jersey is very much on the bubble, correct? I’ll be very frustrated if that one math question kills the chance for money, but whatever…life goes on. <em>g</em></p>
<p>Maybe this is a dumb question … but here goes: If states begin using the SAT as a mandatory test, will that affect the scores for National Merit? In other words, as more people take it who normally would not — and I am making an assumption, but I would think this would bring down the averages — then wouldn’t the 99th% percentile be lowered? I am too lazy to figure this out … I know someone will know the answer off the top of his head!</p>
<p>Our state started making ACT mandatory this year … they give it in school as part of the state exam. I assume that will bring down the average ACT for a lot of public schools. Maybe it’s a bad assumption … time will tell.</p>
<p>^ That sounds like an interesting point.</p>
<p>Keep in mind that the National Merit program is related directly to the PSAT scores, not the SAT. Unless a state mandates that the students take the PSAT, I doubt there will be a marked increase in the number of students who take the PSAT.</p>
<p>DVU1990: I took the PSAT <em>after</em> taking the SAT; 221 on the former, 2300 on the latter. Yuck! I’m in New York, and the city basically kills the cutoff for us upstate kids, so I’m afraid I might miss the boat as well. Go figure skate?</p>
<p>I hope your son makes it though…if only because that will raise my hopes of making it too!</p>
<p>^^^ Duh … you are correct, of course!!</p>
<p>However, it’s still worth considering, even though PSAT might not be mandatory for a state. I know that in my public school system, the high schools have started giving the PSAT in school to all sophomores. It would be interesting to see if there is a marked increase in schools giving PSAT to all. Wonder if it correlates with decreased overall PSAT scores in a given state (and nationally).</p>
<p>In michigan, the state provides everyone with a free ACT for school evaluation. Also, all the state schools require the ACT. So hardly anyone takes the SAT, and many do not take the PSAT. Those who do take the PSAT just do not care so much. Therefore, the cutoff is surprisingly low, so it works out for me!</p>