The National Merit PSAT Cutoff Checker tells you whether your PSAT/NMSQT performance is likely to reach the semifinalist line in your state. National Merit ranks students by a Selection Index and sets a separate cutoff for each state, so the same score can qualify in one state and miss in another. This tool compares your index to a typical state cutoff and shows your margin.
How it works
The Selection Index is built from your three PSAT test scores, each scored 8 to 38: Selection Index = (Reading + Writing & Language + Math) × 2, giving a 48 to 228 range. National Merit allocates semifinalist slots to each state in proportion to its senior class size, then sets the state cutoff so the top scorers fill those slots. The checker compares your index to the chosen state’s typical cutoff and reports whether you meet it and by how many points, plus whether you clear the national Commended level (around 207–209).
Example and notes
Suppose your scores are Reading 35, Writing 36, Math 37. The sum is 108, so the Selection Index is 108 × 2 = 216. If your state’s typical cutoff is 219, you are 3 points short of semifinalist but well above the Commended threshold. Notes: cutoffs are estimates that move a point or two each year and are confirmed only after scores are released, so treat a near-miss as uncertain rather than final. The Commended cutoff is national and does not vary by state.