An academic competition for high school students who
enter by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship
Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) Program. There are three levels of
distinction:
- Commended - Students are named on the basis of a
nationally applied Selection Index score that may vary from year to year
and is below the level required for participants to be named
Semifinalists in their respective states.
- Semi-Finalists - Semifinalists are designated on a
state representational basis. They are the highest scoring entrants in
each state. They may be considered for a National Merit® Scholarship.
Finalists - All Merit Scholarship awards are selected from the Finalist
group.