PSAT/NMSQT® State Cutoff Calculator

1. Calculate your Selection Index (SI) if you don't know it

Your Selection Index is the number that's used to determine whether you qualify for recognition in the National Merit Scholarship Program.

You can find your Selection Index by looking in your PSAT Score Report or by using the calculator below.

Your Evidence-Based Reading and Writing Score (160 to 760):
Your Math Score (160 to 760):
Your NMSC Selection Index (48 to 228):

2. Determine whether you'll be commended

Students who meet or exceed the commended cutoff for their year receive a Letter of Commendation at the very least.

Unlike the semifinalist cutoffs, the commended cutoff is nationwide and does not vary by state.

Out of 1.5 million entrants, only 50,000 are considered high scorers, from which only 34,000 are commended.

Digital PSAT Paper PSAT (48 to 228 SI Range) Old PSAT (60 to 240 SI Range)
Class of
Commended SI Cutoff

3. Determine whether you'll be a Semifinalist

Semifinalist status is determined on a per-state basis.

You'll find out whether you qualify as a semifinalist in late September.

Only 16,000 of the 34,000 commended students make it to this step. However, there is still the finalist round to get through before any scholarships are given. Whether you get through the finalist round depends on other criteria. Full details can be found on the official site.

The table below gives the historical semifinalist cutoffs for each state.

State Semifinalist SI Cutoffs
*Our Estimated Prediction
Digital PSAT Paper PSAT (48 to 228 SI Range) Old PSAT (60 to 240 SI Range)
State

4. State-specific Statistics

Select Your State:

Year-over-year cutoff changes

Here is the distribution of year-over-year semifinalist cutoff changes for since the adoption of the current 48 to 228 selection index scale (class of 2017 onwards):

← −3 −2 −1 0 1 2 3 →
So, for example, 's semifinalist cutoff has
  • decreased by 2 year-over-year of the time.
  • stayed the same year-over-year of the time.
  • increased by 3 or more year-over-year of the time.
Correlation to changes in the commended cutoff
The commended cutoff has most recently year-over-year. Based on past data (from the class of 2017 onwards), when the commended cutoff , 's semifinalist cutoff:
  • increased % of the time.
  • stayed the same % of the time.
  • decreased % of the time.