The National Merit Scholarship is a scholarship program that recognizes outstanding academic achievement combined with exceptional performance on the 

, or Pre-SAT. It is awarded to U.S. high school students. This can include students in high school in the U.S. (both homeschool and traditional students), the District of Columbia, U.S. territories, or U.S. citizens attending school abroad. It is not open to non-U.S. citizens.

How much is the National Merit Scholarship?

How much a student receives as a National Merit Scholar depends on the type of award they receive. The program awards scholarships in four ways: 

 To be eligible for this scholarship, students must achieve Finalist standing. Award winners are provided a one-time scholarship of $2,500. 

Through National Merit Special Scholarships. 

These awards can be one time or extendable scholarships. They are awarded to students who did not become finalists but were awarded Commended Student recognition, and who also meet any other criteria set by the awarding organization. Typically students are awarded a one time scholarship of $2,500 - $5,000, or a renewable scholarship ranging from $1,000 - $10,000 per year. 

Through corporate-sponsored Merit Scholarships. 

Roughly 160 corporations and businesses partner with the National Merit Scholarship to provide additional scholarships to Finalists who meet specific selection criteria set by the organization. Several awards may only go to students whose parents work for the organization and who have achieved either Commended Student or Finalist standing. The award type and amount varies by corporate sponsor. Most are one-time awards, but several sponsors provide renewable scholarships.

Through college-sponsored Merit Scholarships. 

Awarded to finalists who plan to attend a participating college or university, students who earn a college-sponsored Merit Scholarship may renew it for up to four years. These awards are not transferable and the student must attend all four years at the sponsoring institutions to be eligible for renewal. Awards range from $500 to $2000 per year.

How many students get the National Merit Scholarship?

The number of students who will receive a National Merit Scholarship changes each year based on the number of students eligible to take the exam. Typically between 7,500 and 8,500 students will be selected each year. For students entering an undergraduate institution in the fall of 2025, the National Merit Scholarship Corporation will be recognizing 7,880 students.

How hard is it to get the National Merit Scholarship?

Earning a National Merit Scholarship is a rigorous academic process that is not guaranteed by any one action. Less than 1% of the approximately 1.5 million high school students who take the PSAT will become a National Merit Scholar.

How to qualify for the National Merit Scholarship

To earn a National Merit Scholarship you must be selected as a National Merit Scholar by first becoming a finalist in the selection process. To arrive at the coveted end goal of earning a National Merit Scholarship, students must take the following steps. 

Take the PSAT/NMSQT (Preliminary Student Aptitude Test/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test) prior to their final year of high school (12th grade). Most take it October of their Junior year (11th grade), but students intending to graduate early should adjust for their intended enrollment date at a college or university.

A side note: An additional PSAT is available, called the PSAT 10, but taking it does not qualify you for the National Merit Scholarship, so be sure to register for the correct test. 

Plan to go to college the Fall after you graduate. 

Earn a PSAT/NMSQT score in the top 1% of your state. This means the qualifying score will vary, but typically you will need a 215 or higher in most states. Students in highly competitive states will likely need an even higher score to be in the top 1%.

How to apply for the National Merit Scholarship

Only students who have been notified that they have qualified as a Semifinalist will be eligible to apply for a National Merit Scholarship. Students who qualify as Seminifinalists will be sent additional application materials to complete in order to qualify as a Finalist. Typically the additional application will involve the following: 

. If you hope to apply for this award, be sure to register and take the SAT in the Spring following the PSAT (i.e. if you take the PSAT in October of ‘24, take the SAT in Spring ‘25).

Additionally, students who achieve ‘Commended Student’ status but do not become Semifinalists may be eligible for one of the Special Scholarships. As in the case of Semifinalists, the National Merit Scholarship Corporation will notify students who are eligible to apply for one of these awards and provide them with the appropriate application materials. The application process is typically similar.

When is the National Merit Scholarship deadline?

Deadlines for the National Merit Scholarship and the Special Scholarships will vary, but students who hope to qualify must register to take the PSAT/NMSQT in the Fall of their second to last school year (typically a student’s Junior year).

5 tips on how to get the National Merit Scholarship

Earning a National Merit Scholarship is a competitive process and can seem daunting. Taking actionable steps to assure your success can boost your chances. Here are five tips that can help:

 Begin studying for the PSAT/NMSQT several months to a year in advance. Since this test is typically taken in the Fall of a student’s junior year, we recommend beginning PSAT prep during a student’s sophomore year. Use official practice tests and study materials to familiarize yourself with the test format and question types. 

Once you have taken a few practice tests, fine-tune your study habits to focus on the areas in which you consistently score lower than you would like. You don’t need to give up studying other areas, but your time will be best spent if you can increase your knowledge and confidence in areas of weakness.

 Since the National Merit Scholarship does not only look at test scores, it is important to earn a strong GPA throughout high school. Take challenging courses, such as honors or Advanced Placement (AP) classes, to demonstrate academic dedication and capability.

 This is not just for anxious test takers! Even students who feel confident can gain valuable insight by learning and practicing test-taking techniques. These will help you work efficiently through the PSAT/NMSQT. Such strategies may include time management, understanding how to guess intelligently, and knowing when to move on from difficult questions.

 If you are certain you want to compete for the National Merit Scholarship, speaking with your school's guidance counselors can provide you with valuable advice and resources for preparation. Additionally, finding a mentor or 

tutor with specialized knowledge of the PSAT

 can help you prepare more efficiently and feel more confident.

Ultimately, earning a National Merit Scholarship will come down to a lot of hard work and a little bit of chance. Putting in the effort to excel academically and prepare for the test are important first steps.

Start with a diagnostic SAT, ACT, SHSAT, ISEE, SSAT, TACHS, or AP test so you know where you stand and where you need improvement. Knowledge is power!

Unlock the path to the National Merit Scholarship in 2024 with our comprehensive guide. Explore eligibility, application steps, and expert tips to maximize your chances of earning this prestigious scholarship.

National Merit Scholarship: How to Get in 2024

 is made up of a composite score and four section scores: 

. The composite score is calculated as the average of your four section scores. In this article, we’ll discuss how to read and interpret your scores, as well as what constitutes a good score on each section and what makes for an impressive composite score.


What is the ACT score range and what does composite mean?

The ACT is scored on a scale of 1-36, with 36 being the highest possible score.  Each section is scored on this scale, and the composite score is the average of these scores.


The raw score is simply a tally of all the questions you got right – it is calculated by adding the number of your correct answers. There is no penalty for guessing, so incorrect answers will not be given deductions.


The raw scores for each section will be converted to scaled scores using a conversion table specific to the test. The conversion from raw score to scaled score varies by test because it is curved depending on how difficult the test proved to be (i.e. how everyone who took the test performed on the test).


If you’re taking a practice test at home or with a test prep company, you may want to calculate your own scaled score based on the number of questions you got right and wrong. You can calculate your own ACT score by counting the number of questions you got right (your raw score) and then using the specific conversion table for that test to obtain your scaled scores.


For example, if your raw scores on a test were:

Using the score conversion table (specific to this test) below, your scaled scores would be:

Your composite score would be a 32.  (The ACT rounds up your 31.5 average to a 32)

A “good” ACT score is one that meets or exceeds the average score for colleges you are interested in attending. The average ACT score for applicants would depend on the college you are looking to apply to, so it is important to research the average score for the colleges of your interest.

In general, a score above 20 is considered “above average”. However, you may want to check each college your are interested in for specific score requirements and expectations.


The ACT score you need would depend on the colleges you are looking to apply to.

, a score of at least 34 is recommended by many college admission consultants.

ACT Score requirements for colleges in New York

While there are no ACT requirements per se, we can look at the median ACT score of accepted student at a sample list of colleges and universities in New York below:

The highest ACT score you can get is a 36. This doesn’t necessarily mean you need to got every answer on every section correct, just that your section scores average to a 36.  You can score 35, 35, 36, 36 and you would still get a composite score of 36.


This scoring system can give you an edge compared to the 

, where your composite score is a combination (addition, and not average) of your Verbal (Reading and Writing) and Math section scores.

For the 2023-24 school year, the average ACT score was 19.9.

Broken down, ACT average scores for each section were:

Students should aim for the highest score possible and show improvement from one exam to the next. In general, you should keep in mind the accepted ACT score for accepted students of the college or university to which you’re applying. But your standardized test score is just one part of the wholistic application. The median is the middle and some student with terrific applications are often accepted even if their standardized test scores are not as good as the rest of the parts of the application.

ACT Superscoring means when colleges take your best scores for each section and “recalculate” a composite score. This system can benefit you because you can target specific sections to improve for a given test, rather than trying to maximize your score on all sections.

What colleges in New York superscore the ACT?

In New York, the following colleges superscore the ACT:

This is not a complete list, so for additional information, you can check the admissions webpage for your school of interest.

How do I get my old or current ACT scores?

To see your ACT scores, you will need to login to your 

. Once logged in, you should be able to check your scores under the “My Scores” tab. If you don’t remember your login information and have trouble with password recovery through the website, you can always access ACT customer service by phone, email, or chat. Their job is to help you navigate the website and find your scores easily.

No, ACT scores do not expire. As long as you have access to your MyACT account, you will still be able to see your ACT scores.


You can either opt-in to send your ACT scores to colleges on the day of test administration, or you can send your scores after the test through the ACT portal.


If you can’t remember your login information to 

, you’ll have to reach out to ACT customer support.

You can reach them by chat or email or call 319-337-1313.


Improving your ACT score takes time and diligent practice. While every student is unique, we’ve boiled down our tried and true test prep method to the 5 steps below:

 Start preparing well in advance of your target test date. Since test prep involves a review of all the content on the exam, learning strategies to do well on the particular test, and then lots of practice, we recommend giving yourself at least 3 months to study before your first official ACT date.

Each of the 4 ACT sections requires you to learn certain material (e.g. grammar rules or algebra) and each section also has its own set of strategies that are important to master once you’ve covered all the content or material you need to learn. Many of the ACT strategies have to do with time management as this test simply doesn’t give you enough time to complete each question as thoroughly as you would in an in-class exam or homework problem set. 

Once you have a very good grasp of the content and strategies, practice taking whole sections of the test while timing yourself. We recommend taking proctored, mock exams, which we also offer at our 

 Once you’ve completed test sections or full exams and gone over your results, make sure you redo the questions you got wrong and you have a very clear sense for how to get them right in the future. What is the mistake you made and what will you do during the next test or the real exam to make sure you get it right?

. When you’re reviewing wrong answers, whether on practice exercises or full length tests, there are times you’ll feel stumped. Or maybe you just feel there’s no way you can answer the questions any faster to finish the section in time. That’s when you need a tutor or a coach to help. We can connect you to a 

 to help at Ivy Tutors Network, but there are also a lot of free and low-cost resources out there to help with this important step. For example, you can search YouTube, Reddit, or TikTok for answer explained or check out the 

Demystify ACT scores with our comprehensive guide. Understand the scoring system, percentiles, and what your ACT results mean for college admissions. 

ACT Scores Explained

ACT Scores

 (SHSAT) includes various math topics that evaluate a student's quantitative reasoning and problem-solving skills. The math section involves Algebra, Arithmetic, Geometry, and Data Analysis. Familiarity with these key math concepts is crucial to excel on the SHSAT.

How do you fill out the math section on SHSAT?

In the math section of the SHSAT, students are required to answer 5 “grid-in” questions and then 52 multiple-choice questions. The grid-in questions are open-ended and students must fill in the right numerical answer on the bubble sheet, as shown below. It is imperative to read each question carefully and identify the relevant information to solve the problem accurately. Careful bubbling of the chosen answers on the scantron sheet is essential in order to avoid any errors in recording responses.

Is the SHSAT math section done in pencil?

Yes, a standard No. 2 pencil is required to fill out the math section of the SHSAT. Using a pencil allows for easy erasing and neat bubbling on the answer sheet. Do not use pens or mechanical pencils, as they may not be read correctly by the scanning system.


What are the SHSAT math skills needed to succeed on the test?

To succeed on the SHSAT math section, students should  have a strong foundation in fundamental math skills, including algebraic expressions, equations, ratios, percentages, geometry theorems, and data interpretation. Our SHSAT book includes the following math sub-sections:

Typically, there are not as many questions on the test that require the higher level math, but it’s important to study these math concepts to get your best score. Problem-solving skills and quick mental math are also crucial to manage time effectively during the exam.

What are the types of questions on the SHSAT math section?

The SHSAT math section is made up of multiple-choice and “grid-in” questions that assess students' understanding of the math concepts. These questions may involve real-world scenarios, algebraic problem-solving, geometric principles, and data analysis. It is important to note that SHSAT math questions are often word-heavy, requiring careful reading comprehension skills for interpreting the right approach to solving the problems. Students must not only grasp the mathematical content, but also identify key information from the given passages to find the most effective problem-solving strategies. This combination of math skills and reading comprehension makes the SHSAT math section unique and challenging. Mastering this skill set is vital for excelling in the math portion of the SHSAT and achieving a competitive overall score. 


What are the most difficult SHSAT math questions?

The SHSAT includes challenging math questions that require careful analysis and critical thinking. These questions may involve complex multi step algebraic expressions, advanced geometry problems, and intricate data interpretation. The last SHSAT practice exams that the Department of Education released in 2023 also included “box and whisker” graphs that are used for statistical analysis; many 7th grade students haven’t seen this type of graph before. Practice with the most difficult questions can help students build confidence and improve their problem-solving abilities. It's also important to note that calculator use is not allowed on the SHSAT, which can increase the diffulty level of the test for some.

The SHSAT math section contributes significantly to the overall test score. Understanding the scoring system is crucial for test-takers to gauge their performance accurately. 

Each correct answer earns points, while incorrect answers do not result in any deduction, so it is extremely beneficial to attempt to answer all questions, even if you run out of time and you have to guess on some questions in order to complete the bubble sheet. When calculating your “raw score,” each question answered correctly is counted equally. In other words, if you get 50 out of the 57 math questions correct, you raw score would simply be 50. 

However, when converting to the scaled score, each question is worth more points if you get very few or very many questions right. For the first 10-15 questions you get right, each question could be worth approximately 8-15 points. Then, once you get about 49 or more questions correct, those last few questions are also worth 8-10 points out of a total of approximately 360 scaled points. The scaled score varies for every time a test is given, as it is graded on a curve (or scaled) depending on: (1) How many questions you get right and (2) how other students do on that exact test. 

Depending on how other test takers do on the test, the cut-off score required (the sum of the math and English scores) to attend the specialized high school of your choice also changes. For those who are better at the Math section than the 

, one strategy is to focus on getting as close to all of the 57 math questions correct as possible, as those last 8 questions are worth more points and can really help boost your overall combined math and ELA score.

How do you improve on the math section of the SHSAT? Here are your SHSAT math study tips!

Improving performance on the SHSAT math section requires diligent preparation and practice. Here are some study tips to enhance math skills and boost confidence:


Familiarize yourself with essential math topics, including Algebra, Geometry, and Arithmetic. Practice solving various types of problems to reinforce your understanding.


 Simulate exam conditions by taking timed practice tests. This will help you manage your time effectively during the actual SHSAT.


 Analyze your practice test results to identify areas of weakness. Focus on improving those areas through targeted practice. We recommend going over every wrong answer and figuring out what you did wrong and how you would get the right answer next time.


. Expert guidance can provide personalized support and valuable insights.


Once you figure out how to answer a difficult question you’ve struggled with, explain it to someone else. Pick a friend, a sibling, or a family member and explain why it’s easy to pick the wrong answer and how one arrives as the right answer.


What are some SHSAT math games to improve your score?

Wait, games?! Can you really prep for a difficult exam by playing games? Yes! Engaging in interactive math games can make the learning process more enjoyable and, therefore, more effective. Use online educational resources and apps that offer math games specifically designed to improve SHSAT math skills. We like the 

 and Kahoot, for example. Games can reinforce concepts, enhance problem-solving abilities, and allow you to remain engaged in test prep even when you’re feeling fed up with doing actual SHSAT math problems.

By combining rigorous practice, effective study techniques, and the right resources, you can confidently tackle the SHSAT math section and enhance your chances of getting into one of the 8 competitive 

specialized high schools in New York City

Master the SHSAT Math section with ease. Gain the confidence and knowledge needed to excel on the SHSAT Math section and secure your spot at specialized high schools in New York City.

SHSAT Math: Everything You Need To Know

SHSAT Math Review

Application essays now make up more than 50% of admissions criteria! Ready to Write an Outstanding College Essay Coached by a Yale MFA? Get the essay done.

College Essay Bootcamp

The college essay is more important than ever. Learn how to write an outstanding essay under the tutelage of a caring, expert Yale MFA.

College Essay Workshop

Henry is thoroughly enjoying working with Jordan. Up until now, Henry has not gotten any one-on-one teaching of coding so he's thrilled to work this way with Jordan. Henry has said it's super interesting, fun and he loves it.

Thank you so much. The tutors have been amazing from start to finish.  We are so grateful to have this program since our daughter doesn’t have any in-classroom options this year. We love Ivy Tutors Network! 

My son did great in Geometry, ending the semester with a 95 for the course.  He and George did really well together, as my son's main issue was not really knowing how to study/prepare for exams on his own in math, and personality-wise as well as skill-wise, George was a great match.

We’ve had such a positive experience with Ivy Tutors.  My son started working with Shakir two years ago, at a time when he was really struggling in school.  The one on one support has been invaluable, and has truly helped to turn things around. I honestly don’t think we could have made it this far without them - would highly recommend!

Great communication, amazing experienced tutors, best value for money. We wanted to thank all of you (and mainly Mark) for helping my son improve his SAT score from 1380 to 1500! This is amazing!  Great job all of you! I will keep referring my clients and friends to you. Sooo happy!

We loved Raphael. His technique for our daughter was great. His skill with timing and strategy definitely worked for her. He was also a very calm, supportive and kind person. He helped our daughter increase her ACT score by 8 points and get her math performance on track. Thank you for finding the absolute right fit tutor.


We received some great news! My son was accepted to Xavier and offered an Ignatian Scholarship, to Stepinac High School and offered a full scholarship AND also accepted to Fordham Prep and received the Hughes Scholarship. Kairn was extremely instrumental in achieving this goal. My son loved working with him and we are so proud of his achievements.

Thank you so much for recommending Andrew as a tutor for my son. They have worked really well together. My son was very happy with his Math score in the May SATs. It has been a pleasure working with you. I will definitely recommend Ivy Tutors to friends!

It went so well- truly! I can't thank you enough- Dylan learned more yesterday than he has all year- real humanity and real education wins. Believe me we will continue the tutoring until June without a question because he is improving and getting ‘smarter’ each and every session- thank you again!


My daughter set out to close a 150-point gap for her SAT in less than 6 weeks. Mark was very poised and professional in his approach. Given my daughter's individual strengths and weaknesses, he curated a lesson plan that had the necessary vigor, interest and milestones to achieve the goal.

Teresa has been tutoring both of our daughters and she is amazing in every way! The girls truly enjoy their sessions with her and both have shown great improvement in a short period of time. It’s been super easy to set up sessions and Ivy Tutors is always available to answer questions along the way.

Thanks to you and to our tutor who had committed 200% of yours and his efforts to help our daughter to get to the score of 1520 in such a short time!  Great, great jobs for both of you! She is now truly ready for the upcoming college application processes.

College Essay Bootcamp

Let's talk about that essay!

Ready for expert help?

What you will learn

Testimonials

Latest Posts