<p>National Merit recognition is based on the PSAT score for the test taken in the junior year only.</p>
<p>The top xxx% of the students are recognized with various designations:
National merit scholarship
National merit scholarship finalist
NM semi finalist
NM commended scholar
etc.</p>
<p>I am sure I omitted a few.</p>
<p>I do not think that there is the same cut score for each year, but rather the same percentage of the test takers for each recognition level.</p>
<p>CM</p>