What You Need To Know About The PSAT And National Merit Scholarship

Each fall, the College Board administers the PSAT, which doubles as the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (NMSQT). Most high schools give students the option to take the PSAT/NMSQT in their 11th grade year (and some offer it earlier). A student’s 11th grade PSAT score determines whether they qualify for National Merit recognition.

A note before diving in – it is a good idea for all juniors to take the PSAT, for many reasons:

1. It is often the first standardized test juniors will take in a busy year of high-stakes exams, so it’s a good way to get into a testing mindset
2. It is officially proctored in a formal testing environment
3. PSAT scores can only help a student’s college prospects; no one will see a score that does not qualify a student for National Merit recognition
4. Some colleges (including UW-Madison) offer guaranteed admission to National Merit Finalists if they apply
5. Because the structure and delivery of the PSAT are identical to that of the SAT, it can help a student decide whether they prefer to prepare for the ACT or SAT

That said, while all juniors should take the PSAT, we typically advise that only juniors with high scores (approximately 28+ on the ACT or 1300+ on the SAT) spend dedicated time preparing for it. A PSAT score that does not qualify a student for National Merit recognition will have no bearing whatsoever on a student’s college or scholarship prospects.

2026 Administration

The PSAT will be administered in October. Schools that give the PSAT during the school day or on a weekend can do so from October 1-30. (Note that October 17 is also a national ACT administration date, so students will want to check their school’s PSAT administration date if they are also planning to take the October ACT.) Unlike the SAT and ACT, students can only take the PSAT once in their junior year.

Digital: Bluebook App

Students take the digital PSAT on the College Board’s Bluebook app, which has several helpful features:

• Allows students to mark problems they want to go back to, annotate passages, and cross out answer choices
• Is equipped with Desmos, a highly sophisticated graphing calculator that many students are already familiar with (though students can use their own calculators and/or scratch paper if they prefer)
• Saves students’ progress and stops the timer in the event of an internet or power outage, allowing students to pick up where they left off
• Prevents students from opening web browsers or other applications to search for correct answers

To take the test, students will need to use a device that is compatible with Bluebook. The safest option is a school-managed Chromebook (and because students take the test in school, many students will likely use a school-provided device), but other devices are also acceptable. Students cannot take the PSAT on a mobile phone.

Adaptive: By Section

The PSAT includes a Reading/Writing section and a Math section. Each section is split evenly into two modules. Students start with the Reading/Writing section, and the first module contains a mix of easy, medium, and hard questions. Depending on their performance on the first module, students will advance to an easier or harder second module. After a short break, they do the same with Math. To achieve the maximum score on each section, a student must advance to the harder second module. 

All told, the PSAT takes a maximum of 2 hours and 24 minutes. The following table shows the structure and timing of the test.

Reading/Writing

• 54 questions (27 per module)
• 64 minutes (32 per module)
• 1:11 per question

Break (10 mins)

Math

• 44 questions (22 per module)
• 70 minutes (35 per module)
• 1:35 per question

Not all students will take the digital, adaptive exam. Though Bluebook does provide an extended time option, students who receive certain accommodations may still take a “linear,” non-adaptive, paper-pencil PSAT.

Scoring

Most students are familiar with the maximum scores they can achieve on standardized tests: 36 on the ACT, 1600 on the SAT. The PSAT works a little differently. While there is a maximum score (1520: 760 on Reading/Writing, 760 on Math), National Merit calculates its own “Selection Index” to determine National Merit eligibility. To calculate the Selection Index:

1. Divide each section score by 10.
2. Multiply the Reading/Writing score by 2.
3. Add the Reading/Writing and Math scores to get the Selection Index (maximum of 228).

So, the Selection Index for an example student who scored 1400 overall, with 720 in Reading/Writing and 680 in Math, would be calculated as follows:

1. Reading/Writing score: 72. Math score: 68.
2. New Reading/Writing score: 144.
3. Selection Index: 144 + 68 = 212.

Because the Reading/Writing score is doubled, students with stronger verbal abilities have an advantage. Here’s the Selection Index for the same composite score of 1400 but with the Reading/Writing and Math scores from the previous example flipped:

1. Reading/Writing score: 68. Math score: 72.
2. New Reading/Writing score: 136.
3. Selection Index: 136 + 72 = 208.

For each section, there will be overlap in scores between the highest scorers in the easier second module and the lowest scorers in the harder second module. Again, if a student lands in the easier second module, they will not be able to attain the maximum score of 760; their score will be capped somewhere below that.

National Merit Qualification

Students may know that PSAT scores are used to determine whether they qualify for National Merit, but the different levels of recognition and chances of getting an actual scholarship through the program might be confusing. We’ll try to provide some clarity here. 

There are several score cutoffs along the way to receiving a National Merit Scholarship.

1. The first level of recognition is National Merit Commendation. Approximately 50,000 PSAT-takers reach this level or beyond, with about two-thirds (34,000 or so) receiving commendation. The cutoff for the Class of 2026 was 210, a little higher than in years past (and likely higher than the Class of 2027’s cutoff, which we will know for certain soon). Commended Students are not eligible for National Merit Scholarships. **UPDATE SEPT. 2026** The Class of 2027 Commended student cutoff is 208.
2. Approximately one-third of Commended students (historically, about one percent of all PSAT-takers) qualify as National Merit Semifinalists. This level of recognition is determined on a state-by-state basis, meaning the threshold for qualification in Wisconsin is different than it is for students in Massachusetts or New York, for example. (These state-level thresholds do not apply to students at boarding schools, who are grouped with other boarding school students in their region of the country.) For the Class of 2026, Selection Indices ranged from 210 to 225, so the student’s home state really matters to their chances of reaching Semifinalist status. (Wisconsin’s Selection Index threshold was 215, which may decrease by a point or two for the Class of 2027 given trends elsewhere.) Commended students and Semifinalists are notified of their status around the beginning of their senior year, when the official cutoffs are announced. **UPDATE SEPT. 2026** Cutoff Selection Indices by state are coming in lower than expected, which is good news for Class of 2027 students who were near the threshold. It appears that in most states, the cutoffs are approximately 2-3 points lower. Wisconsin’s is likely 212.
3. Semifinalists then have the opportunity to become National Merit Finalists and be considered for a scholarship. There are three major requirements for Semifinalists: 1) fill out the National Merit Scholarship Application, 2) maintain consistently high academic performance, and 3) take an SAT or ACT to “confirm” their PSAT performance. Nearly all Semifinalists go on to become Finalists, but less than half of the Finalists will receive one-time National Merit Scholarships of $2,500. There are also Special Scholarships available, which are sponsored by corporations or colleges; these range from one-time payments of $2,500-$10,000 to renewable awards or stipends of $500-$10,000 per year. 

More information on program requirements and scholarships can be found in this year’s official PSAT/NMSQT student guide. The list of scholarships can be found on pages 30-31.

So, to sum up: to qualify for National Merit Scholarships, students must 1) meet or exceed the Semifinalist Selection Index threshold, 2) submit an application to become a Finalist, and 3) be selected as a Finalist. Even without a scholarship, though, the various levels of National Merit recognition can bolster college applications. 

Alternatives

These levels of recognition (Commended, Semifinalist, Finalist) represent the standard path to National Merit recognition. However, there are two other ways to achieve it.

1. Alternate Entry. Students can attempt to qualify for National Merit if they were unable to take the PSAT (for example, if they were sick on test day) by submitting an SAT score instead. The Selection Index through Alternate Entry works the same way as with the PSAT, but the SAT section scores are capped at 760 (instead of 800) to match the PSAT’s scale.
2. College Board National Recognition Programs. These programs allow students who are top-performers within their schools, attend school in a rural area or small town, or are first-generation to achieve recognition based on their PSAT scores, AP scores, and grades. These are not scholarship programs, but qualifying students can list this honor on their college applications. Colleges may also reach out to qualifying students with scholarship opportunities. You can see more details here. 

Conclusion

A strong PSAT performance can both enhance a student’s college applications and lead to a merit scholarship. Rising juniors who took the PSAT as 10th graders and believe their score may qualify them for National Merit recognition, as well as students with high ACT/SAT scores, might want to familiarize themselves with the requirements of the National Merit program and application process. Additionally, any sophomores with high scores on the PSAT this October might want to consider spending some time preparing for the PSAT next year. 

Please reach out to us with any questions about preparing for the PSAT or about how students can use their PSAT/NMSQT scores to their advantage in college applications! Our team of experienced test prep tutors and expert college counselors can help guide you through the nuances of the exam and its implications for college admissions.