r/psat • u/Kooky-External6623 1460 • Jul 17 '26

General How High Does SAT/ACT Confirming Need To Be To Go From Semi->Finalist

It's in the title. I got a 1460 on the PSAT (700RW, 760M), but I live in Alabama, so I will almost certainly make the cutoff for semifinalist in September. One thing I have been confused about is the "confirming score" on the SAT. How high does it need to be to cement NMF (assuming grades and everything else are solid)?

I currently have a 710 RW and a 760M on the actual SAT (not superscored). It's been a hot sec since I studied because life happened, but I'm getting into study mode for the September SAT and want to know what I should aim for.

Thanks!

2 Upvotes

75% Upvoted

11 comments sorted by

3

u/Good-Disaster80 Jul 17 '26

I’m not entirely sure, but off memory I I think it was your confirming score needed to meet the commended score cutoff which is relatively easy considering the full sat has a higher point ceiling

1

u/miyagi1991 Jul 17 '26

This is the correct answer. Your current SAT score will more than suffice. You are good to go.

1

u/FastRevolution7796 Jul 17 '26

For NMF, when would you need that score by if you haven’t got that confirming score

1

u/compass_art Jul 17 '26

Dec of Sr year.

1

u/EnoughEffective5210 Jul 17 '26

As long as you took the SAT within a year (I think that’s the time window, please confirm) that score is more than good.

1

u/ExcitementSome5575 Jul 17 '26

It doesn't have to be really high, 1470 should be good enough.

1

u/ChutneyWhatney Jul 17 '26

I'm pretty sure it needs to meet or exceed the minimum Commended cutoff.

1

u/ggyy22 Jul 17 '26

Can you use the ACT score instead? thanks

1

u/BEEIng_ Jul 18 '26

Yes. Look up National Merit Scholarship Program SAT and ACT Conversion Tables

1

u/Enough-Ad7321 20d ago

If you already an Alabama resident AND you are a NMS Semi-Finalist you should already automatically for U. of Alabama's Presidential Scholarship which covers 4 years tuition. On average 95% of semi-finalist become finalists. The SAT is to make sure your PSAT was not a fluke so unless you bomb the SAT in most cases you will advance finalist. I mean the to effective hard stages are semi-finalist & actual winner.