Each year, approximately 7,500 high school seniors are awarded the prestigious title of National Merit Scholar—a mere 0.6% of the 1.3 million PSAT test takers eligible for the National Merit Scholarship Program.
Every October, high school students from across the country, including North High, sit for the 2-hour 14-minute Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT), which tests reading, writing and math skills. The test is administered by the College Board and National Merit Scholarship Corporation, serving as both practice for the SAT and a way to qualify for the scholarship program.
“Taking the PSAT sophomore year gave me a good idea of what to expect for this year’s PSAT and for my first SAT,” Junior Keshin Huang said. “It would be really rewarding if I could score high enough for the scholarship this year.”
Scores from the PSAT are used to calculate a “Selection Index,” which determines eligibility for the National Merit Competition. Each state has its own cutoff score to advance in the program, which varies each year, based on state performance, to ensure geographic representation. The score is calculated based on students’ PSAT scores, with the reading and writing section being weighted twice as much as the math.
At North High, juniors in the Class of 2027 will likely need a Selection Index of approximately 221, based on New York’s averages from the past three years—one of the highest in the nation. Despite this challenging threshold, North High continues to consistently produce a large number of semifinalists each year, averaging about 10 semifinalists for the last 5 years.
Guidance department head Mr. Neary explained that while the PSAT is an important academic milestone, it should be viewed as one of many opportunities for students to demonstrate their skills. He emphasized that while success on the test can lead to scholarship opportunities, the main goal should be to prepare students for the SAT and college level and that stressing over qualification is entirely unnecessary.
For Students at North High, this year’s PSAT will take place on Saturday, Oct. 18, for regular testing and Wednesday, Oct. 22, for students who cannot test on Saturdays, marking the start of the 18-month-long process.
The first wave of recognition arrives the following September when the NMSC notifies schools of the students who achieved high scores. Roughly the lower two-thirds of the 50,000 highest national scores are designated Commended Scholars. Although Commended Scholars do not advance in the competition, their recognition is noted by a certificate and they may be eligible for certain scholarships.
The remaining one-third, or approximately 16,000 students, who reached their states’ cutoffs, are named National Merit Semifinalists. This is the first major advancement in the competition as semifinalists move forward in the competition for the scholarship.
For the Class of 2026, 12 students were recently announced as semifinalists: Jessica Cao, Jinkuan Chen, Serena Chen, Aiden Jin, Daniel Kardos, Ethan Lam, Sophia Li, Alex Lu, Michael Lyakhov, Tomi Shamash, Kian Soleymani and Harrison Yu.
“In the middle of class, I was called to the principal’s office, so I was kind of scared, but the principal congratulated me on being a semifinalist,” senior Jessica Cao said. “I knew I might qualify, but it was nice to see how much effort the school took to personally recognize everyone.”
Semifinalists then complete a detailed application for Finalists, which requires a strong academic record, an essay, and a school faculty recommendation. They must also submit SAT or ACT scores that confirm their PSAT performance. The road to finalist not only emphasizes the students’ test scores but also the students’ overall academic achievements, extracurriculars and community service.
From the pool of semifinalists, about 15,00 students advance to become National Merit Finalists in February of their senior year. These students represent the nation’s highest academic achievers and are eligible for a wide range of scholarship opportunities.
Between March and June of senior year, the NMSC announces its winners. About 7,500 students receive $30 million in scholarships each year. Each student receives a $2,500 scholarship directly from the NMSC for winning. However, winners are also eligible for corporate-sponsored scholarships or college-sponsored scholarships.
“Although I studied for the PSAT while also preparing for the October SAT, I wasn’t really expecting anything,” senior Serena Chen said. “It was pretty cool to qualify—especially because of the potential scholarships that could help pay for college.”
As the PSAT approaches, the cycle continues—while North High semifinalists prepare their finalist applications, the next class of scholars anticipates their scores. Whether for scholarship opportunities, national recognition or personal growth, the National Merit Scholarship Program remains a symbol of academic excellence for students at North High and across the country.
