Every year, the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) awards scholarships to more than 10,500 students — and if you’ve got the right stuff, you could be one of them!  On average, the scholarships are worth $2,500 and are considered to be an important and prestigious award. Even students who apply but don’t win can earn honor and recognition and are able to use that to their benefit when it comes to getting into college.

About the NMSC
The NMSC, an independent, non-profit organization, sponsors the competition, evaluation, and recognition of students nationwide for the purpose of awarding two scholarships: National Merit and National Achievement scholarships. The National Merit Scholarship Program was started in 1955 as a means of recognizing outstanding student achievement. In 1964, the National Achievement Scholarship program was initiated to recognize outstanding achievement among Black American high school students.

How to compete
The NMSC programs are some of the best-known merit-based scholarships available and the competition begins when you register for and complete the PSAT/NMSQT in October of your junior year. The PSAT/NMSQT, co-sponsored by the NMSC and the College Board, serves as a screening tool for potential recipients of these scholarships.

In addition to the NMSC-sponsored scholarships, the PSAT/NMSQT also serves as a screening tool for additional Merit Scholarships, which are sponsored and funded by a variety of different organizations and colleges. The NMSC assists in identifying and awarding recipients for these awards through the scoring process.

Your responses to specific NMSC-related items determine if you will be one of the top test-takers who will be invited to participate in the next stage of the National Merit Scholarship competition. If you are a Black student who also wants to compete in the National Achievement Program, all you need to do is request entry by marking the specific space provided on the PSAT/NMSQT answer sheet.

Getting started
Taking the PSAT/NMSQT is the first step towards winning one of these prestigious scholarships. The competition occurs in several phases and it takes approximately a year and a half to complete the process. If your scores set you apart from the pack, you’ll be notified by letter and offered the opportunity to formally apply.

Good luck!

 

What to Do When Your PSAT/NMSQT Scores Come In

Have you gotten your PSAT/NMSQT scores back? Most scores arrive in the beginning of December. Whether yours are through the roof or through the floor, now is not the time to gloat, panic, or feel indifferent. Your scores provide you with a roadmap of where you need to go from here as you look toward the SAT.

But before we get into that, let’s look at what your score means.

Interpreting your scores
The PSAT/NMSQT reports scores for the three areas you were tested on earlier this fall: the Critical Reading, Math, and Writing sections. Your scores will fall within the range of 20 to 80 points for each section, with 20 being the lowest possible score and 80 being the highest. A score of 49 in any of these subject areas is about average. Your score report also provides you with a selection index, which is the sum of all your scores.

Your scores can give you an idea of what kind of SAT scores you might receive. To get an estimate of how your PSAT/NMSQT scores would convert into SAT figures, simply add a zero to the end of each of your scores. (Remember that the SAT will also include an essay as part of the Writing test.)

Your score report also contains percentile information on how you performed. For example, if you scored in the 85^th percentile, then you scored better than 85 percent of students who took the test at the same time you did. Keep in mind that the numbers you see on your PSAT/NMSQT score report are not a guarantee of how you will perform on the SAT — they simply provide an estimate.

What should I do if my scores aren’t great?
First, don’t panic. If you’re not happy with your scores, then you’re in good company. Many students aren’t happy with the numbers they receive, and most think they could have done better. That’s actually good news! You can use your PSAT/NMSQT score to figure out the exact areas of weakness you need to work on.

Your score report provides you with each question you got right and also the ones you got wrong. Better still, you’ll also get your copy of the actual test, so you can go back and see exactly where you went wrong, question by question. And if that’s not enough, your score report suggests skills you need to improve on, along with tips on how to perform better in these areas.

Take time between now and the SAT to review. Use this time to improve your weaknesses and further enhance your strengths. It will pay off when it comes time for the real thing!

 

Article complements of Peterson's. Learn more tips about testing college entrance exams and take a free practice tests by clicking here.