Enter your PSAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing score and Math score to calculate your National Merit Scholarship Selection Index (SI). Your SI ranges from 48 to 228 on the digital PSAT — see how your score compares to commended and semifinalist cutoffs for National Merit recognition.
Your Selection Index (SI)
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Total PSAT Score
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National Merit Status
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Est. Semifinalist Cutoff (Your State)
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Points to Semifinalist Cutoff
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The Selection Index is a single number used by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) to rank PSAT/NMSQT entrants. For the digital PSAT it ranges from 48 to 228. It is calculated by doubling your Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (ERW) score and adding your Math score, then dividing appropriately so the result falls in that range.
For the digital PSAT (2024 forward), the SI is computed as: SI = (ERW Score + Math Score) × (2/10). Because ERW is weighted twice — once directly and once in the total — your ERW score has a larger impact on your SI than your Math score. Scores range from 160–760 per section, giving an SI range of 48–228.
The Commended cutoff is a single national threshold, unlike the Semifinalist cutoff which varies by state. Historically it sits around 207–209 for the paper PSAT (48–228 range). Approximately 34,000 students earn Commended status each year. The exact cutoff shifts slightly year to year based on the applicant pool.
Semifinalist cutoffs vary by state and are typically several points above the Commended cutoff. High-competition states like New Jersey, Maryland, and Massachusetts often require a 218–222 SI, while less competitive states may have cutoffs in the 207–213 range. Only about 16,000 students (roughly 1% of entrants) earn Semifinalist status.
Both the digital and paper PSAT (2015–2023) share the same 48–228 SI range. The key difference is the test format and adaptive structure. The older 'Old PSAT' (pre-2015) had a 60–240 SI range. If your score report is from 2024 or later, you took the digital PSAT and this calculator applies directly.
No. The PSAT uses rights-only scoring, meaning you are not penalized for wrong answers. You should always attempt every question — leaving a question blank is equivalent to getting it wrong, so guessing is always worth doing.
A 'good' score depends on your goals. To qualify as Commended nationwide, you typically need an SI around 207+. To be a Semifinalist, you need to meet your specific state's cutoff, which ranges from roughly 207 to 222. Scoring in the top 3–4% of all test-takers (around 1400+ total score) places you in the competitive range.
The PSAT/NMSQT is administered in October of a student's junior year (11th grade). Score reports are typically released to students in December. National Merit Semifinalist announcements are made the following September, roughly 11 months after the test.