Which test is it for sophomores?

[Stacy]

Isn't there a test that is normally taken by sophomores? ACT or PSAT?

[JOY]

I think it is PSAT

[MAC]

They can take the PSAT, but it doesn't count for NMSQT until the junior year. If you think you'll have a student that will qualify for NM, it's a good idea to have a practice go at it. They can also take the ACT or SAT too, but both might be a bit much to do all three! The PSAT is only given at schools and only in October, so it may be that they won't let you--our ps likes to be told in the spring if we have hsers wanting to test. The PSAT is actually harder than the SAT, so don't be discouraged if the scores are not what they hoped. And a hint--make sure they makr full time high school student, even if they're taking college classes. If a junior and they don't mark that, they aren't eligible for NMSQT. The NMSQT cutoff is different for every state, plus it varies a bit each year:

Qualifying Scores for the Class of 2011 National Merit Semifinalists:
Alabama 210
Alaska 214
Arizona 209
Arkansas 203
California 219
Colorado 212
Connecticut 219
Delaware 215
District of Columbia 223
Florida 210
Georgia 215
Hawaii 215
Idaho 208
Illinois 214
Indiana 212
Iowa 209
Kansas 211
Kentucky 208
Louisiana 210
Maine 213
Maryland 220
Massachusetts 223
Michigan 209
Minnesota 213
Mississippi 205
Missouri 210
Montana 208
Nebraska 210
Nevada 208
New Hampshire 214
New Jersey 221
New Mexico 206
New York 217
North Carolina 214
North Dakota 202
Ohio 212
Oklahoma 206
Oregon 215
Pennsylvania 216
Rhode Island 211
South Carolina 208
South Dakota 205
Tennessee 212
Texas 215
Utah 203
Vermont 212
Virginia 218
Washington 218
West Virginia 202
Wisconsin 209
Wyoming 202
Commended 201
International 223
New England Boarding Schools 223

Qualifying Scores for the Class of 2010 National Merit Semifinalists:
Alabama 208
Alaska 211
Arizona 210
Arkansas 203
California 218
Colorado 213
Connecticut 218
Delaware 219
District of Columbia 221
Florida 211
Georgia 214
Hawaii 214
Idaho 209
Illinois 214
Indiana 211
Iowa 209
Kansas 211
Kentucky 209
Louisiana 207
Maine 213
Maryland 221
Massachusetts 221
Michigan 209
Minnesota 215
Mississippi 203
Missouri 211
Montana 204
Nebraska 207
Nevada 202
New Hampshire 213
New Jersey 221
New Mexico 208
New York 218
North Carolina 214
North Dakota 202
Ohio 211
Oklahoma 207
Oregon 213
Pennsylvania 214
Rhode Island 217
South Carolina 211
South Dakota 205
Tennessee 213
Texas 216
Utah 206
Vermont 213
Virginia 218
Washington 217
West Virginia 203
Wisconsin 207
Wyoming 201
New England/Mid Atlantic Boarding Schools 221
Commended 201
International 221

Qualifying scores for the Class of 2009 National Merit Semifinalists:
Alabama 209
Alaska 212
Arizona 209
Arkansas 204
California 217
Colorado 213
Connecticut 218
Delaware 219
District of Columbia 221
Florida 211
Georgia 215
Hawaii 216
Idaho 208
Illinois 214
Indiana 213
Iowa 210
Kansas 211
Kentucky 209
Louisiana 208
Maine 212
Maryland 220
Massachusetts 221
Michigan 209
Minnesota 214
Mississippi 201
Missouri 213
Montana 208
Nebraska 206
Nevada 206
New Hampshire 211
New Jersey 220
New Mexico 209
New York 216
North Carolina 215
North Dakota 201
Ohio 213
Oklahoma 208
Oregon 213
Pennsylvania 213
Rhode Island 213
South Carolina 212
South Dakota 205
Tennessee 213
Texas 215
Utah 203
Vermont 213
Virginia 219
Washington 217
West Virginia 203
Wisconsin 210
Wyoming 201
International 221
U.S. Territories 201

Qualifying Scores for the Class of 2008 National Merit Semifinalists:
Alabama 209
Alaska 213
Arizona 211
Arkansas 201
California 218
Colorado 213
Connecticut 217
Delaware 219
District of Columbia 223
Florida 212
Georgia 214
Hawaii 213
Idaho 204
Illinois 213
Indiana 213
Iowa 209
Kansas 212
Kentucky 208
Louisiana 206
Maine 211
Maryland 221
Massachusetts 223
Michigan 209
Minnesota 213
Mississippi 202
Missouri 211
Montana 207
Nebraska 207
Nevada 208
New Hampshire 215
New Jersey 221
New Mexico 208
New York 219
North Carolina 214
North Dakota 202
Ohio 211
Oklahoma 207
Oregon 213
Pennsylvania 214
Rhode Island 212
South Carolina 210
South Dakota 203
Tennessee 213
Texas 215
Utah 202
Vermont 216
Virginia 217
Washington 215
West Virginia 200
Wisconsin 208
Wyoming 200


As you can see, we should all move to WY!

Because the cutoff is by state, there is a separate hs code for each state:

PSAT/NMSQT Codes for Home-Schooled Students990199 Alabama
990299 Alaska
990399 Arizona
990499 Arkansas
990599 California
990699 Colorado
990799 Connecticut
990899 Delaware
990999 District of Columbia
991099 Florida
991199 Georgia
991299 Hawaii
991399 Idaho
991499 Illinois
991599 Indiana
991699 Iowa
991799 Kansas
991899 Kentucky
991999 Louisiana
992099 Maine
992199 Maryland
992299 Massachusetts
992399 Michigan
992499 Minnesota
992599 Mississippi
992699 Missouri
992799 Montana
992899 Nebraska
992999 Nevada
993099 New Hampshire
993199 New Jersey
993299 New Mexico
993399 New York
993499 North Carolina
993599 North Dakota
993699 Ohio
993799 Oklahoma
993899 Oregon
993999 Pennsylvania
994099 Rhode Island
994199 South Carolina
994299 South Dakota
994399 Tennessee
994499 Texas
994599 Utah
994699 Vermont
994799 Virginia
994899 Washington
994999 West Virginia
995099 Wisconsin
995199 Wyoming
995499 Puerto Rico & U.S. Territories
995599 Outside United States

[blessingx3]

also do the results get sent to your home or do you have to pick them up from the school?

[MAC]

Well, that depends! IF the school lies and changes the code so they can get credit for the kid's scores, then it goes to the school. IF the school is honest, it goes straight to you... Guess how I know this!

[blessingx3]

Thank you for that answer as it answers a question I had. My dd registered to take the PSAT with the local Christian school (The Guidance counselor and administrator got to my church). They still have to take it in the Public School, but they will have their own room and their own proctor. Because of this I have the choice of using the homeschool code, or using the Christian School's code. (In which case her scores would go to the christian school guidance office and my friend, who is the guidance counselor, would just bring them to me ). Based on what you said, I think I will just use the Christian school's code.