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<p>There are whole posts on NMQST but here is a quick synopsis for you</p>
<p>[ol]
[li] The 220 counts for NMQST scholarships only if the PSAT was taken in your junior year and you will graduate from HS in 2011 or be in college that year. NMQST are college scholarships so there is no scholarship for juniors, it is for college education. You have to be in college to get it. If the 220 reflects your sophomore year performance, it does not count. If you took the exam in your Junior year in 2009 October, you will get your scores in Dec 2009, know if you are commended by about March 2010, know if you are Semi finalist in Sept 2010 and know if you are an award winner in March-May 2011 for awards to be distributed in fall 2011. Long process.</p>[/li]
<p>[li]There are two levels of winners. The commended for which the cut off is about 201 (varies a little from year to year) which you will make. The better recognition is finalist (for which you first need to make semi-finalist first). The cut off for semi-finalist varies from state to state. Last year it was 221 in MA, so you would not qualify if you lived in MA (assuming the cut off stays the same) but the cut off is 201 in WY where you would be a semi-finalist more or less certainly if you have a 220. There are several threads with the cut-offs for each year. So you will have a good idea where you stand based on your state. For most states 220 is very good, but there are few states that go above 220.<br>[/li][/ol]</p>
<p>Hope this helps.</p>