Help me understand National Merit and SAT scores, please

[EmilyGF]

Hi all,

Thanks!

Emily

Edited September 27, 2022 by EmilyGF

[Lori D.]

See page 2 of this pdf from National Merit: "Requirements and Instructions for Semifinalists in the 2023 National Merit Scholarship Program"

A confirming SAT or ACT test must be taken within the stipulated time frame:
"Only scores earned on administrations of the SAT or ACT from August 2020 through December 2022 will be considered"

That document does not list what a confirming score would be, but I did find this article from 2021 about "The SAT or ACT Confirming Score"

"...A confirming score is simply an SAT or ACT score with a Selection Index that is equal to, or higher than, the national commended cutoff, which is the same each year regardless of state (the commended cutoff, which can change from year to year, is currently 209 for the class of 2021). Practically speaking, this means that anyone who qualifies as a National Merit Scholarship semifinalist (PSAT scores of 1400/1520 and up, depending on the state of residence) should be able to easily achieve a confirming score (SAT scores as low as 1320/1600, and ACT scores as low as 26/36), especially given multiple attempts..."

If needing more info, you might contact NMS Corp. directly:

Phone: (847) 866-5100

1560 Sherman Avenue, Suite 200
Evanston, Illinois 60201-4897

[Lucy the Valiant]

We found this info from CompassPrep (not the NSMC directly): 

How high of an SAT score do I need for a confirming score?
The confirming score is determined each year by NMSC and is calculated in the same way as the PSAT Selection Index. The confirming score is set nationally, so it does not matter what Semifinalist cutoff you met. The confirming SAT Selection Index (SSI) generally falls at or near the Commended cutoff.

The easiest calculation of the SSI is from your section scores. Drop a zero, double your ERW, and add your Math score. For example, Student X might have a total score of 1450, with section scores of 720 ERW and 730 M. Student X’s SSI would be 2(72) + 73 = 217. It’s possible for a student with a lower total score to have a higher SSI. Student Y has a total score of 1430, with section scores of 750 ERW and 690 M. Student Y’s SSI would be 2(75) + 69 = 219. The ERW score has twice the weight because it is made up of two test scores—reading and writing.

You cannot determine your SSI directly from your total score. One student scoring 1400 might have a high enough SSI, whereas another student with a 1400 might fall short. You must know your ERW and Math scores.

 

[matrips]

He’s fine.  No need to retake.  He’s at a 220 confirming score which is well above the commended and many NMSF levels.  

[EmilyGF]

Thanks @matrips. I had been reading online but had not connected dots. Maybe I'm emotional? 🙂