[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"detail-sidebar-cat-0-en-105":3,"doc-seo-158765-105":59,"doc-detail-158765-en":130},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"success",[7,13,18,23,28,33,38,43,48,51,55],{"id":8,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":10,"show_sort_weight":11,"slug":12},1,"Document","Story & Novel",90,"story-novel",{"id":14,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":15,"show_sort_weight":16,"slug":17},2,"Literature",80,"literature",{"id":19,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":20,"show_sort_weight":21,"slug":22},4,"Exam",70,"exam",{"id":24,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":25,"show_sort_weight":26,"slug":27},5,"Comic",60,"comic",{"id":29,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":30,"show_sort_weight":31,"slug":32},6,"Technology",50,"technology",{"id":34,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":35,"show_sort_weight":36,"slug":37},7,"Healthcare",40,"healthcare",{"id":39,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":40,"show_sort_weight":41,"slug":42},8,"Research & Report",30,"research-report",{"id":44,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":45,"show_sort_weight":46,"slug":47},9,"Religion & Spirituality",20,"religion-spirituality",{"id":46,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":49,"show_sort_weight":46,"slug":50},"World Cup","world-cup",{"id":52,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":53,"show_sort_weight":52,"slug":54},10,"Lifestyle","lifestyle",{"id":56,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":57,"show_sort_weight":24,"slug":58},19,"General","general",{"code":4,"msg":60,"data":61},"ok",{"site_id":62,"language":63,"slug":64,"title":65,"keywords":66,"description":67,"schema_data":68,"social_meta":123,"head_meta":125,"extra_data":127,"updated_unix":129},105,"en","the-road-to-national-merit-scholar-2025-2026-overview-process","The Road to National Merit Scholar - 2025-2026 - Overview & Process","","Guide to the National Merit Scholarship program for the 2025-2026 cycle, covering purpose, founding background, key facts, and how students progress from junior-year PSAT to potential semifinalist status. Explains what the Selection Index is, how it’s calculated, and how commended and semifinalist cutoff thresholds work across classes and states. Details the timeline, official notifications, and the online application elements including essays, transcripts, verified SAT/ACT scores, and school recommendations.",{"@graph":69,"@context":122},[70,84,105],{"@type":71,"itemListElement":72},"BreadcrumbList",[73,77,79,82],{"item":74,"name":75,"@type":76,"position":8},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",{"item":78,"name":9,"@type":76,"position":14},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/",{"item":80,"name":20,"@type":76,"position":81},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/exam/",3,{"item":83,"name":65,"@type":76,"position":19},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/the-road-to-national-merit-scholar-2025-2026-overview-process/158765/",{"url":83,"name":65,"@type":85,"image":86,"author":91,"headline":65,"publisher":94,"fileFormat":97,"inLanguage":63,"description":67,"dateModified":98,"datePublished":99,"encodingFormat":97,"isAccessibleForFree":100,"interactionStatistic":101},"DigitalDocument",{"url":87,"@type":88,"width":89,"height":90},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/the-road-to-national-merit-scholar-2025-2026-overview-process/158765.png","ImageObject",300,407,{"name":92,"@type":93},"Paura","Person",{"url":74,"name":95,"@type":96},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-09-11","2026-08-29",true,{"@type":102,"interactionType":103,"userInteractionCount":81},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":104},"ViewAction",{"@type":106,"mainEntity":107},"FAQPage",[108,114,118],{"name":109,"@type":110,"acceptedAnswer":111},"What is the National Merit Scholarship, and why was it created?","Question",{"text":112,"@type":113},"It recognizes academically high-achieving students and was founded in 1955. It is administered through qualifying PSAT testing that became part of the process in 1971.","Answer",{"name":115,"@type":110,"acceptedAnswer":116},"How is the Selection Index calculated?",{"text":117,"@type":113},"Zeros are dropped, the verbal score is doubled, and the math score is added. For example, 74 (verbal) becomes 148, and adding 72 (math) gives a Selection Index of 220.",{"name":119,"@type":110,"acceptedAnswer":120},"What happens after junior-year PSAT and when do students apply?",{"text":121,"@type":113},"Scores are used to calculate the Selection Index. Students are notified through official steps later, and semifinalists complete an online application that includes an essay, transcript, confirmed SAT/ACT score, and a recommendation from high school.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":83,"og:type":124,"og:title":65,"og:site_name":95,"og:description":67},"article",{"robots":126,"canonical":83},"index,follow",{"doc_id":128,"site_id":62},158765,1788007468,{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":131},{"doc_id":128,"user_id":132,"nickname":92,"user_avatar":133,"doc_module":4,"category_id":19,"category_name":20,"doc_title":65,"doc_description":67,"doc_content":134,"file_id":135,"file_url":136,"file_type":137,"file_size":138,"view_count":81,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":8,"is_downloadable":8,"audit_status":8,"page_count":139,"language":140,"language_code":63,"site_id":62,"html_lang":63,"table_of_contents":141,"faqs":142,"seo_title":143,"seo_description":67,"update_tm":129,"read_time":144},13056712833777,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_29158cc5080c5b710cf443261637dec0","THE ROAD TO  \nNATIONAL MERIT  \nTHE ROAD TO NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLAR  \nOVERVIEW  \n▸ What is a National Merit Scholarship?  \n▸ How do I become a National Merit Scholar?  \n▸ What preparation is helpful?  \n[woodlandstestprep.com](woodlandstestprep.com)  \nTHE ROAD TO NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLAR  \nBASIC FACTS  \n▸ Founded in 1955 to recognize academically high-achieving students  \n▸ PSAT and NMSQT joined to become qualifying test in 1971  \n▸ 2,500 National Merit $2,500 scholarships are awarded  \n▸ 950 corporate-sponsored scholarships are awarded  \n▸ Approximately 160 colleges offer about 3,800 National Merit Scholarships  \n▸ National Merit also recognizes Commended students who do not continue in the scholarship competition  \n[woodlandstestprep.com](woodlandstestprep.com)  \nTHE ROAD TO NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLAR  \nAWARDS OVER TIME  \n▸ Merit Scholarships are awarded directly from NMSC  \n▸ Special Scholarships are awarded from corporate sponsors  \n▸ Achievement Scholarships are awarded from United Negro College Fund  \n[woodlandstestprep.com](woodlandstestprep.com)  \nTHE ROAD TO NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLAR  \nNATIONAL MERIT PROCESS  \n▸ Junior year PSAT is the official test for entry  \n▸ About 1.5 million students take the PSAT junior year  \n▸ PSAT scores are used to calculate the Selection Index  \n▸ PSAT scores are available in December  \nOCTOBER-JUNIOR YEAR  \nAPRIL-JUNIOR YEAR  \nSEPTEMBER-SENIOR  \nYEAR  \nOCTOBER-SENIOR YEAR  \nFEBRUARY-SENIOR YEAR  \nMARCH-SENIOR YEAR  \n[woodlandstestprep.com](woodlandstestprep.com)  \nROAD TO NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLAR  \nSELECTION INDEX  \n▸ Calculated by dropping zeros, then doubling the verbal score and adding the math score  \n▸ Example:  \n▸ Verbal = 740  \n▸ Math = 720  \n▸ 74 x 2 = 148 + 72 = 220  \n▸ Maximum = 228  \n[woodlandstestprep.com](woodlandstestprep.com)  \nROAD TO NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLAR  \nSELECTION INDEX CUTOFFS ▸ Commended cutoffs are set nationally  \nClass of Class of Class of Class of Class of Class of Class of Class of Class of Class of 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026  \n209 211 212 212 209 207 207 207 208 210  \n▸ Semifinalist cutoffs are set by state  \n\n| Texas Cutoffs |\n| --- |\n| Class of Class Class Class Class Class Class Class Class Class 2017 of 2018 of 2019 of 2020 of 2021 of 2022 of 2023 of 2024 of 2025 of 2026 |\n| 220 221 221 221 219 220 219 219 219 222 |\n\n[woodlandstestprep.com](woodlandstestprep.com)  \nTHE ROAD TO NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLAR  \nNATIONAL MERIT PROCESS  \nOCTOBER-JUNIOR YEAR  \n▸ NMSC asks principals to verify students’eligibility  \n▸ Commended scores become widely, although unofficially, known  \nAPRIL-JUNIOR YEAR  \nSEPTEMBER-SENIOR  \nYEAR  \nOCTOBER-SENIOR YEAR  \nFEBRUARY-SENIOR YEAR  \nMARCH-SENIOR YEAR  \n[woodlandstestprep.com](woodlandstestprep.com)  \nTHE ROAD TO NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLAR  \nNATIONAL MERIT PROCESS  \nOCTOBER-JUNIOR YEAR  \n▸ Semifinalists and Commended students are officially notified  \n▸ Semifinalists are allocated proportionally to each state based on high school populations  \nAPRIL-JUNIOR YEAR  \nSEPTEMBER-SENIOR  \nYEAR  \nOCTOBER-SENIOR YEAR  \nFEBRUARY-SENIOR YEAR  \nMARCH-SENIOR YEAR  \n[woodlandstestprep.com](woodlandstestprep.com)  \nTHE ROAD TO NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLAR  \nNATIONAL MERIT PROCESS  \n▸ Semifinalists complete their application online  \n▸ Application includes essay, transcript, confirming SAT or ACT score, and recommendation from high school  \n▸ Given opportunity to select first choice college; can always change it later  \nMARCH-SENIOR YEAR  \n[woodlandstestprep.com](woodlandstestprep.com)","cbCaiaUdipNNgGkZ","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaiaUdipNNgGkZ","pdf",917245,14,"English","# Overview\n## What is a National Merit Scholarship\n## Basic Facts\n## Awards Over Time\n# National Merit Process\n## Junior Year PSAT and Selection Index\n## Selection Index Cutoffs\n## Notification and Application Timeline\n## Online Application Requirements","[{\"question\":\"What is the National Merit Scholarship, and why was it created?\",\"answer\":\"It recognizes academically high-achieving students and was founded in 1955. It is administered through qualifying PSAT testing that became part of the process in 1971.\"},{\"question\":\"How is the Selection Index calculated?\",\"answer\":\"Zeros are dropped, the verbal score is doubled, and the math score is added. For example, 74 (verbal) becomes 148, and adding 72 (math) gives a Selection Index of 220.\"},{\"question\":\"What happens after junior-year PSAT and when do students apply?\",\"answer\":\"Scores are used to calculate the Selection Index. Students are notified through official steps later, and semifinalists complete an online application that includes an essay, transcript, confirmed SAT/ACT score, and a recommendation from high school.\"}]","The Road to National Merit Scholar - 2025-2026 - Overview & Process | PDF",35]