Official PSAT Score Thread

Test Preparation
821

<p>Elise - When you take the PSAT during your junior year, you are entered into the National Merit Scholarship program. If your score is one of the top 50,000 or so, you receive recognition as a commended scholar. Last year, the commended cutoff was 201, but it can fluctuate. It’s different for semifinalist - approximately 16,000 students are given semifinalist status. This is where the cutoff varies by state - they want to have good geographic representation for semifinalist. Earlier in this thread someone posted the state cutoffs for last year - they range from 201 to 222. </p>

<p>As to not scoring perfect in math, your PSAT score is not considered in the admissions process. If your grades are good, your SAT1 and SAT2s are good, there is no reason why you can’t major in science/math.</p>

822

<p>Elise, you have nothing to worry about. For the past two years the PA cutoff has been 215. Most people improve between sophomore and junior year, but you do not even need to in order to make the semi-finalist cutoff. The 76 in math means that you got one wrong- there was just a tough curve this year.</p>

823

<p>cool, thanks</p>

824

<p>I know that in Collegeboard’s AP test exams you can request that they rescore your answer sheet by hand. I have reason to believe a stray mark altered my results for two answers (the first two questions in section 2, math). I took the PSAT in October 2004, and scored 208 but with those answers changed, and rescored by hand I would probably qualify for National Merit. It would bump me up to 213/214, and if I still dont get it, it would be nice to have some closure to see what really happened. It is also possible i bubbled in the wrong answer, but those were the two easiest questions in the section and also, in the test book i got back i circled the right answers. I usually circle all the answers in the test book and then fill in the bubbles in the last 3 minutes or so of the section. So i’m just wondering if it is at all possible that i can request a rescore like AP testers are able to.</p>

825

<p>Fatthermit- I think that handscoring is available, but I doubt that you would get points for having circled the right answer in the book.</p>

826

<p>Yes of course, but I am hoping that there was a stray mark and the machine erred. It is a slim hope, but still worthwhile i think.</p>

827

<p>Congrats to everyone who has gotten their scores back…you all have such good scores! :slight_smile: I’m prob the last one to get scores (tomorrow, I can’t wait!)…wish me luck!</p>

<p>BTW…is there any truth to that Kansas State thing about a full ride?</p>

828

<p>knowing that illinois cutoff was 216 last year and 214 the year before that, what percent chance do you think i have of being nmsf with 214??</p>

829

<p>Smallish. The cutoff’s probably not going to fall back down, considering there is a certain immutable number of National Merit Semifinalists and more people take the test each year.</p>

830

<p>No, that’s not true. They do adjust the the number of Semi-finalists based on population. The number of Semi-finalists actually varies slightly and is a bit above 16,000. Anyways, I’m from Illinois and I think I’m in with a 215. Go figure. This year was also an unusually low year. Illinois’ cutoff was only more than 215 one year and the cutoffs tend to stay the same year to year.</p>

831

<p>will a 212 in PA get me anything? any chance at all at semi-finalist?</p>

832

<p>Critical Reading: 67 (yeah…i know i’m horrible at those idiotic passages)
Math: 73
Writing Skills: 80</p>

<p>SI: 220…99th percentile</p>

<p>I live in IN and took the wed. test</p>

<p>I’m safe, right?</p>

833

<p>lion123: You probably will not make semifinalist in PA, but you have a great score and will get commended.</p>

<p>Erinishorsecrazy: You will become a semifinalist unless there is a major change in cutoffs.</p>

<p>Congratulations to both of you!</p>

834

<p>Hey- I’m from Indiana and got a 221 (75 V, 69 M, 77 W). Last year the cut was around 212, I think. Do you guys think I’m safe for semifinalist?</p>

835

<p>Hey, I’m in Maryland and got a 223(73 Critical Reading, 73 Math(Killed Me!!!), 77 Writing). What are the chances that I will be a Semi-Finalist if Maryland’s cutoff was 222 last year. I checked the CollegeBoard Understanding 2004 PSAT Scores, and it says 223-240 = 99+ percentile. Does that mean anything?</p>

836

<p>The cutoff usually does not change by more than two points each year. If your score is within three points of the cutoff, it could go either way.</p>

837

<p>emma, if i’m safe, i’m guessing you are too…congrats on your scores btw</p>

838

<p>Lion123, I don’t think that’s high enough to make semifinalist, but I’m pretty sure you can at least get a Letter of Commendation.</p>

839

<p>haz, with a 215, i would be really scared. how can you be so confident.</p>

840

<p>My S has a score of 218, which is 99 percentile. But here in NJ that probably will only be Commended since last year 221 was the cutoff.</p>