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    NMSQT stands for National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test 

    This exam, taken during the junior year, serves as the official qualifying test for entry into the National Merit Scholarship Program. 

     

    Why It Matters

    Students who achieve top scores may be eligible for:

    • National Merit® Scholarships
    • Significant merit-based scholarships from many colleges and universities across the country

     

    Who Qualifies?

    • Only the junior-year PSAT qualifies students for National Merit consideration.
    • Participating schools will receive notification if they have any qualifying students.

    Two types of recognition lists are sent to schools:

    • National Merit Semifinalists
    • National Merit Commended Students

     

    Important Note About Score Reports

    Students whose PSAT score reports have an asterisk (*) next to the Selection Index on CollegeBoard.org are ineligible for National Merit consideration, regardless of their score.

     

    Need Help or Have Questions?

    Contact the National Merit Scholarship Corporation directly:

     

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    The good news is that the PSAT/NMSQT is designed as an introduction to the SAT, so if you work diligently and master the SAT prep materials offered by Khan Academy and College Board, you will be more than prepared to succeed on the PSAT/NMSQT.

    There are many different ways to prepare. If you want to check out the test format and try a few questions, you can download an official practice PSAT/NMSQT exam and the scoring form. Once you score your test, you can also download the answer explanations for the test's questions.

    PSAT Practice Tests

    If you are interested in learning more about the NMSQT timeline and qualifying process, take a look at The Official Student Guide to the PSAT/NMSQT