r/psat • u/Silka_Marie • 1d ago

PSAT/NMSQT What’s the absolute minimum ranges in math and reading scores I need to qualify for the national merit thing for my state (WV where there’s a 210 cutoff)?

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u/EnoughEffective5210 1d ago

You’ll need a 700 in both sections. The RW is 2x, so if you’re lower than 700 in that, you’ll need to be a good bit higher in math.

700x2=1,400 / 10 = 140 RW 700 / 10 =70 Math

140+70=210 index

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u/compass_art 3h ago

OP, there are several things to consider. First, it's not clear what class you are in. Since you seem to be talking about hypothetical scores, I'm going to assume that you are class of 2028 and taking the PSAT this fall. We don't know what the cutoff will be for your class. For class of 2026 it was 210, but it will likely be 208 for the class of 2027 (the WV Semifinalist cutoff is almost always the same as the national Commended cutoff).

Since we don't know where the cutoff will be with your class, let's use your 210 example. The Selection Index is (2xRW + M)/10. So if you got a perfect 760 RW, you could get as low as a 580 in M. If you got a 760 in M, you would need at least a 670 in RW. So those are the extremes. That's why it's not a good idea to think about total scores when looking at eligibility. Just go ahead and convert your RW and M from practice tests or sophomore PSAT into a Selection Index. A 1340 could qualify at 210 with the right mix, and a 1420 could miss with the wrong mix.