**PSAT Discussion Thread 2015**

Test Preparation
3001

I got a 1310 which is so close to the selection index. If I didn’t blank out and fill in the wrong number for the math free response, I would’ve had a better chance at the nms. But that’s okay lol. I improved by 400 points so that’s good (i converted my score to make it out of 2400 and then subtracted the difference). 98th percentile in reading and writing!

To the person whose friend said that his percentile was 97%, that was out of the sample selection. The percentile is 95% nationally.

I wonder… how eligible am I for national merit? I know the chances are very,very slim but I want to know lol. I live in Washington state so that probably lowers my chances.

3002

1340, 203, 98th Percentile
1360, 198, 98th Percentile
1370, 200, 99th Percentile
1380, 206, 99th Percentile
1390, 207, 99th percentile
1390, 209, 99th percentile
1400, 206, 99th Percentile
1400, 210, 99th Percentile
1410, 208, 99th Percentile
1420, 210, 99th Percentile
1440, 214, 99th Percentile
1440, 216, 99th Percentile
1450, 217, 99th Percentile
1470, 219, 99th Percentile
1470, 220, 99th Percentile
1470, 221, 99th Percentile
1480, 221, 99th Percentile
1480, 222, 99th Percentile
1500, 225, 99th Percentile
1520, 228, 99th Percentile
1520, 228, 99th Percentile

3003

@texture About 50,000 students are recognized by NMSC as commended/NMSF. Of the 50,000, about 16,000 are NMSF. About 1.5MM students take the test… so to be commended you must score in the top 50,000/1.5MM. This is about the 96.66 percentile.

3004

Two datapoints to share.

GMTson1 took PSAT in 2013.
GMTson2 took PSAT in 2015.

Both boys have identical percentiles in each of the 3 sections. And both boys have identical selection indices if I scale up S2’s index from the 228 scale to the 240 scale.

Therefore, I conclude that a reasonable rough estimate of cutoffs is to take past years’ cutoffs and multiply by 228/240.

3005

Washington state is above average based on last year’s results. I don’t think 1310 will be NMSF, but it will be close for commended status. NMSC scholarships are not the only option. There will be numerous merit based scholarships available to you based on your high scores.

3006

@texture do you think you can be commended with a 1310?

3007

wait sorry i know like nothing about this stuff but i know theres like an application and stuff
but theres no way to fill it out now, right?
like all there is to do now is wait until september?

3008

Evryone hear is using the very first percentile on the score report which is all juniors, correct?

3009

@spaghettimonster Yes, all you can do is wait. NMSC will contact you when they are ready.

3010

1450/215 in CA cries

not sure if Prepscholar is being accurate; I used the concordance table and found that I would have gotten 216-218 last year and the cutoff for CA last year was 223

3011

@aron Why does 1410 have a lower selection index than 1400? That makes no sense to me

3012

If I am lucky. Most likely not, though as Washington has a high cutoff score.

3013

Selection index weights the reading and writing sections heavier than the scaled score (0-1520). So similar or identical scores (e.g. 1400, 1410) can have different SI based on the actual split of the score between reading/writing/math.

3014

I scored a 1500/225 in Wisconsin. I’m assuming that’s a qualifier for NMSF?

3015

@athenanv13 Verbal section is weighted more than math, so it can drag your score down if it’s much lower than math.

3016

@texture Commended status is independent of state and only determined on a national percentile. I think you have a very good chance.

3017

@18collegebound You did remarkable on the PSAT! Congrats, I am 100% sure you will receive NMSF recognition this fall.

3018

That person peobably had a high M score , but lower CR/V scores.

3019

Does it relate to my selection index? My selection index is 200 but the selection index for commended status is 201.

3020

1520! At least I know I’ll make the cutoff. Does anyone know if NMSFs this year will be required to take the new SAT? I’ll probably be taking it anyways because I did so well on the PSAT (I got one wrong in reading, one wrong in math; I actually still stand by my answer choice for reading, though), but just in case, I’d like to know.