How Do You Register For The Psat?

National Merit Scholarship Programme

The National Merit^® Scholarship Program is an academic competition for recognition and scholarships that began in 1955. Approximately 1.5 million high school students enter the program each year.

How to Enter the Competition

Loftier School students who meet published program entry and participation requirements enter the National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT^®) at the specified fourth dimension in the high school programme, usually as juniors. Each yr's PSAT/NMSQT is the qualifying exam designated for entry to a particular year's contest. For example, the 2020 PSAT/NMSQT is the qualifying examination for entry to the competition for scholarships to exist awarded in 2022.

Registration for the test is by loftier school rather than individual student. Interested students should meet their advisor at the beginning of the school yr to brand arrangements to take the PSAT/NMSQT at the school in the fall.

Note: The PSAT x and PSAT 8/9 volition not exist considered for entry to the National Merit Scholarship Program. The PSAT/NMSQT is the official route of entry to the National Merit Scholarship Program.

Pupil Entry Requirements

On test day, students are asked some questions to determine entry to the National Merit Scholarship Plan. To participate in the National Merit Scholarship Plan, a pupil must:

take the PSAT/NMSQT in the specified year of the high schoolhouse program and no later on than the tertiary twelvemonth in grades 9 through 12, regardless of grade classification or educational design;
be enrolled as a high school pupil (traditional or homeschooled), progressing normally toward graduation or completion of high schoolhouse, and planning to accept admission to college no later than the fall following completion of loftier school; and
attend high school in the United States, the Commune of Columbia, or U.Southward. commonwealth and territory; or come across the citizenship requirements for students attention high school outside the United States (see below).

Students attending loftier schoolhouse outside the U.Southward.: To be eligible for the National Merit Scholarship Program, a student attending high schoolhouse outside the United States must be a citizen of the United States; or be a U.S. lawful resident (or have practical for permanent residence, the application for which has non been denied) and intend to go a U.S. citizen at the earliest opportunity immune by police force.

When to Take the PSAT/NMSQT

Students who programme to spend the usual 4 years in loftier school (grades 9 through 12) before entering college total time must take the PSAT/NMSQT in their 3rd twelvemonth (grade 11, junior year). They volition be inbound the competition that ends when awards are offered in the spring of their fourth high school yr (class 12, senior year), the same twelvemonth they will leave high schoolhouse and enter college.
Although some schools encourage their sophomores to take the PSAT/NMSQT for guidance purposes, these students must accept the exam again when they are juniors to enter the National Merit Scholarship Program if they are spending the usual iv years of study in grades 9 through 12.
Students who program to go out loftier school a year (or more than) early on to enroll in college total time usually can participate in the National Merit Scholarship Program if they take the PSAT/NMSQT before they finish high school. Such students must accept the PSAT/NMSQT in either the adjacent-to-last year or the final year they are enrolled in loftier school.
- Those who take the PSAT/NMSQT in the next-to-concluding year of loftier school will be inbound the competition for awards to be offered as they are finishing their concluding high school yr.
- Those who take the PSAT/NMSQT in their final year of high school volition be inbound the competition for awards to be offered as they are completing their start yr of college.
Students who are dual enrolled in both high school and higher must take the PSAT/NMSQT in their third twelvemonth of high school (grade 11, junior twelvemonth) to enter the National Merit Scholarship Program. The high school determines whether a pupil is dual enrolled and confirms the student'southward status as a high school pupil.
Students who plan to spend v years in grades 9 through 12 earlier inbound college full fourth dimension can participate in the National Merit Scholarship Program if they take the PSAT/NMSQT in the 3rd twelvemonth of high schoolhouse and again in the fourth year. These students' Selection Alphabetize scores will not be eligible for the program until a written request for entry to the competition is approved by NMSC^®. The request should include the pupil's name, high school name and location, year the student began high school, year the student will complete high school, and a cursory explanation of the pupil'south educational pattern.
NMSC will utilize the educatee's Pick Index score from the PSAT/NMSQT taken in the student's third yr of grades ix through 12 to determine the expected level of recognition. In order to be recognized in the fifth (terminal) yr of high school, the student must accept the PSAT/NMSQT once again in the fourth yr and earn a qualifying Choice Index score at or above the level achieved on the third year test. The level of recognition a student receives cannot exceed the level earned on the qualifying test taken during the student's tertiary year in grades ix through 12, the twelvemonth in which all other competitors are considered.

Notation: Considering a student tin can participate (and be considered for a scholarship) in only one specific contest year, the twelvemonth in which the pupil takes the PSAT/NMSQT to enter the competition is very of import. If there is a question virtually whether a pupil can participate in the National Merit Scholarship Plan because his or her educational plans practice not fit 1 of the preceding descriptions, or for whatever other reason, contact NMSC immediately.

If a Pupil Misses the PSAT/NMSQT Assistants

A educatee who does not accept the PSAT/NMSQT because of affliction, an emergency, or other extenuating circumstance, but meets all other requirements for NMSC program participation, may even so be able to enter the contest. The pupil or a school official must write to NMSC as shortly as possible after the PSAT/NMSQT administration to asking data about procedures for alternate entry to the National Merit Scholarship Program. To be considered, a request must exist postmarked no later on than April 1 following the PSAT/NMSQT administration that was missed. The alternating entry asking should include the proper name and address of the student; the contact information of the person making the asking; the name and address of the student's high school; and a brief explanation of why the student missed the PSAT/NMSQT.

The before NMSC receives the written request, the greater the student's opportunities for meeting alternate entry requirements. Upon receiving and processing the request, NMSC volition provide alternate entry materials, including instructions for program entry and a form that requires the signature of a school official.

PSAT/NMSQT Scores Are Sent to NMSC

As cosponsor of the test, NMSC receives all PSAT/NMSQT scores and certain data students provide on their answer sheets. Score Reports provided for test takers and their schools show a student'due south Selection Index score (calculated past doubling the sum of the Reading, Writing and Language, and Math Test scores) and whether the educatee meets NMSC program entry requirements. An asterisk (*) next to the Selection Index score means the student'south scores volition non be used for entry. A school official or the student should immediately notify NMSC of whatsoever error or change in reported data that may affect participation. The Selection Alphabetize scores of students who meet entry requirements are used to designate high scorers to receive recognition.

Program Recognition

Of the 1.v million entrants, some 50,000 with the highest PSAT/NMSQT^® Selection Alphabetize scores (calculated by doubling the sum of the Reading, Writing and Linguistic communication, and Math Exam scores) authorize for recognition in the National Merit Scholarship Program. In September, these loftier scorers are notified through their schools that they have qualified equally either Commended Students or Semifinalists.

Commended Students

In late September, more than than two-thirds (about 34,000) of the approximately fifty,000 high scorers on the PSAT/NMSQT receive Letters of Commendation in recognition of their outstanding academic hope. Commended Students are named based on a nationally practical Option Index score that may vary from year to yr and is typically below the level required for participants to be named Semifinalists in their respective states. Although Commended Students practise not continue in the contest for National Merit Scholarships, some of these students do become candidates for Special Scholarships sponsored by corporations and businesses.

Semifinalists

In early September, about 16,000 students, or approximately one-tertiary of the l,000 high scorers, are notified that they have qualified every bit Semifinalists. To ensure that academically talented immature people from all parts of the United states of america are included in this talent pool, Semifinalists are designated on a state-representational basis. Semifinalists are the highest scoring entrants in each state. Qualifying scores vary from land to state and from year to year, but the scores of all Semifinalists are extremely high. NMSC provides scholarship application materials to Semifinalists through their high schools. To be considered for a National Merit Scholarship, Semifinalists must advance to Finalist continuing in the competition past meeting high academic standards and all other requirements explained in the information provided to each Semifinalist. View the Requirements and Instructions for Semifinalists in the 2022 National Merit Scholarship Program for more information about what Semifinalists must do. (Adobe Acrobat Reader is required.)

Finalists

In February, some xv,000 Semifinalists are notified that they have advanced to Finalist standing. High school principals are also notified and provided with a Certificate of Merit to present to each Finalist.

Winner Selection

All winners of Merit Scholarship awards (Merit Scholar^® designees) are chosen from the Finalist group based on their abilities, skills, and accomplishments—without regard to gender, race, indigenous origin, or religious preference. A diversity of information is available for NMSC to evaluate: The Finalist'southward academic record, information about the school's curriculum and grading system, PSAT/NMSQT Selection Index score, the high school official'due south written recommendation, information nearly the student's activities and leadership, and the Finalist's own essay.

Types of Merit Scholarship Awards

Beginning in March and standing to mid-June, NMSC notifies approximately vii,500 Finalists that they have been selected to receive a Merit Scholarship® award. Merit Scholarship awards are of iii types:

National Merit^® $2500 Scholarships
Every Finalist competes for these unmarried-payment scholarships, which are awarded on a country-representational basis. Winners are selected by a committee of college admission officers and high school counselors without consideration of family fiscal circumstances, college choice, or major and career plans.
Corporate-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards
Corporate sponsors designate their awards for children of their employees or members, for residents of a customs where a company has operations, or for Finalists with career plans the sponsor wishes to encourage. These scholarships may either exist renewable for 4 years of undergraduate written report or one-time awards.

College-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards
Officials of each sponsor college select winners of their awards from Finalists who have been accepted for admission and have informed NMSC by the published deadlines that the sponsor college or university is their start option. These awards are renewable for upward to four years of undergraduate study. The published deadlines for reporting a sponsor college as first pick tin can be viewed on page 4 of the Requirements and Instructions for Semifinalists in the 2022 National Merit® Scholarship Program. (Adobe Acrobat Reader is required.)

Merit Scholarship awards are supported by some 400 independent sponsors and by NMSC'south ain funds. Sponsor organizations include corporations and businesses, company foundations, professional person associations, and colleges and universities.

Special Scholarships

Every year some 1,000 National Merit Program participants, who are outstanding merely not Finalists, are awarded Special Scholarships provided by corporations and business organizations. To be considered for a Special Scholarship, students must meet the sponsor's criteria and the entry requirements of the National Merit Scholarship Plan. They likewise must submit an entry form to the sponsor organization. Subsequently, NMSC contacts a pool of high-scoring candidates through their respective high schools. These students and their school officials submit detailed scholarship applications. NMSC's professional staff evaluates information about candidates' abilities, skills, and accomplishments and chooses winners of the sponsor's Special Scholarships. These scholarships may either be renewable for 4 years of undergraduate study or one-fourth dimension awards.

A listing of corporate organizations that sponsor National Merit Scholarships and/or Special Scholarships is given in the PSAT/NMSQT^® Student Guide.

Additional Information

More data about the PSAT/NMSQT^® and National Merit Scholarship Corporation tin can be found in the PSAT/NMSQT^® Student Guide sent to high schools for distribution to students earlier the test. The NMSC section gives requirements for entry to the National Merit Scholarship Programme, explains steps in the contest, and describes groups of students honored and scholarships offered. The Exam-Taking Aid department provides important information about the PSAT/NMSQT, including test regulations, sample test questions with directions and tips for answering them, and a pull-out practice test for self-scoring. College Board, which cosponsors the test, provides more test-taking data at collegeboard.org.

Source: https://www.nationalmerit.org/s/1758/interior.aspx?sid=1758&gid=2&pgid=424

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