How National Merit Works
The National Merit Scholarship Program recognizes approximately 50,000 students annually based on their 11th-grade PSAT/NMSQT scores. The qualifying score is called the Selection Index (SI), calculated as (Reading and Writing score + Math score) × 2 / 10, then rounded — effectively 2× your total PSAT score divided by 10. Wait — the actual Selection Index = (Reading and Writing Scaled Score + Math Scaled Score) × 2 / 10. For a student scoring 730 R/W and 720 Math: SI = (730 + 720) × 2 / 10 = 1450 × 2 / 10 = 290. Approximately 16,000 students are named Semifinalists; around 15,000 become Finalists; about 7,500 receive scholarships. The Commended threshold is a national cutoff (approximately 207-212); Semifinalist cutoffs are state-specific and range from approximately 207 to 222 depending on state competition.