What Alternate Entry is
Almost every National Merit entrant takes the PSAT/NMSQT in October of junior year. If you could not, NMSC offers one other route: Alternate Entry, which substitutes a single-sitting SAT score for the PSAT/NMSQT. The Selection Index is computed from the SAT the same way, and you are judged against the same state cutoff.
Who it is for
- Illness or injury on test day
- Family emergency
- School closure, weather, natural disaster
- Testing irregularity or a canceled administration
- Your school does not offer the PSAT/NMSQT and no nearby school would seat you (common for homeschooled students)
Who it is not for
- Students who took the PSAT/NMSQT. Alternate Entry is only for students who did not take the test; it is not a way to replace a score.
- Sophomores. Only the junior-year test counts, so only juniors use Alternate Entry.
What NMSC needs from you
- A written request by April 1, 2027
- The completed Alternate Entry application
- One official SAT score from an accepted date, sent with code 0085
Four steps
Request, apply, test, report
Write to NMSC by April 1, 2027
Email ae@nmerit.net or mail Scholarship Administration. Include your name and address, the requester's contact information, your school's name and address, and why you could not test.
Return the application
NMSC sends an Alternate Entry application. Complete it and send it back promptly.
Take the SAT
Any accepted administration in junior year, August through June. Best single sitting counts; no superscoring.
Send scores with code 0085
Official College Board report to NMSC. Unreported scores are not considered.
The arithmetic
What SAT score you need
Selection Index = (Reading & Writing × 2 + Math) ÷ 10, with each SAT section capped at 760. A 750/750 is a 225 and clears every state. A 700/720 is a 212, which qualifies in Kansas or Wisconsin for the Class of 2027 but not in Texas (219).
Class of 2027 cutoffs at a glance
Alternate Entry students face the same cutoffs as PSAT takers. NMSC announced the Class of 2027 numbers on September 9, 2026; every state fell from the record-high Class of 2026.
| Selection Index | States |
|---|---|
| 220–223 | California, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Virginia, Washington |
| 216–219 | Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas |
| 212–215 | Arizona, Indiana, Kansas, Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Wisconsin |
| 208–211 | Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Idaho, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Utah, West Virginia, Wyoming |
| Commended (national) | 208 in every state, DC and the territories |
Full five-year history for every state, and the Class of 2027 Semifinalist lists, are on DigitalPSAT.org. Aim 2–3 points above your state's recent high; cutoffs moved by as much as 7 points in one year.
After you qualify
Semifinalist, Finalist, Scholar
Alternate Entry Semifinalists follow the same path as everyone else: an application, an essay and a school endorsement by early October of senior year. About 95% become Finalists in February, and roughly 6,700 win a National Merit Scholarship in the spring. One advantage: your SAT already satisfies the confirming-score requirement.
Preparing for National Merit
Reaching Semifinalist takes real preparation whether you test on the PSAT/NMSQT or through Alternate Entry. Alternate Entry students have one advantage: you choose the SAT date and can test more than once. Six programs families ask about, in alphabetical order, with an overall rating out of 10 and the drawbacks reported by students and parents. Full comparison with pros and cons →
Advantage Testing
www.advantagetesting.comOne-on-one tutoring nationwide; many tutors are Ivy League graduates; highly individualized pacing.
Drawbacks: Very expensive: users report paying $425 per 50 minutes, and experienced tutors cost more. Expect to spend $10,000 or more for comprehensive preparation. No score guarantee.
Elite Prep
eliteprep.comClassroom programs with 30+ years of curriculum; locations in California and Texas plus online; academic tutoring and counseling under one roof.
Drawbacks: Large mixed-level group classes; boot camps run about $4,000. Reddit reviews describe time spent on vocabulary drills and say the format suits mid-range scorers (1200 to 1400) better than students already near National Merit level.
Excel Test Prep
www.exceltest.comExperienced instructors who know the PSAT well; classroom, live-online, on-demand and private tutoring; score-improvement guarantee.
Drawbacks: Primarily in the San Francisco Bay Area, so outside the Bay Area you would have to use their online options. Pricing not listed publicly.
KD College Prep
kdcollegeprep.comOne-time fee covers PSAT and SAT prep through graduation; in-person, live online and on-demand formats.
Drawbacks: In-person classes primarily in the northern Dallas area; several thousand dollars up front. Students on Reddit repeatedly report the practice tests are harder and trickier than the real SAT and that the workshops, not the classes, are the useful part. Settled a 2008 College Board copyright suit over use of actual SAT materials.
Manhattan Review
www.manhattanreview.comTest prep courses and tutoring for the PSAT, SAT and graduate exams; online and in-person options.
Drawbacks: Limited presence outside New York City, so in-person courses are frequently canceled. Often confused with the unrelated Manhattan Prep; Reddit reviews of its GMAT and LSAT courses are negative, and there is little public record of SAT or National Merit results.
TestMasters
www.testmasters.comRecord numbers of National Merit Semifinalists year after year; more rigorous than most programs; extensive free extra help; classroom, live online, on-demand and private formats; 200-point PSAT score-increase guarantee; live online from anywhere. Comes with 72 digital tests available to students, and the TestMasters software is highly rated for extra SAT and PSAT practice.
Drawbacks: Very popular and can fill up early, so sign up in advance. Rigorous pace; students who miss classes may struggle to catch up. Live in-person classes are not offered everywhere in the USA.
Free official practice: College Board's Bluebook app has full-length adaptive SAT practice tests, and Khan Academy's Official Digital SAT Prep is free and tied to your College Board account. Score each practice test with the Selection Index calculator and aim above your state's five-year high.
Common questions
Can I still qualify for National Merit if I missed the PSAT/NMSQT?
Yes. NMSC's Alternate Entry lets a student who could not take the PSAT/NMSQT because of illness, an emergency or another extenuating circumstance enter the competition with an SAT score instead. You must write to NMSC by April 1, 2027 (juniors in 2026–27, entering the 2028 program).
What is the deadline for Alternate Entry?
April 1 of junior year. For the 2028 National Merit Scholarship Program the request must be received or postmarked on or before April 1, 2027. Write earlier: the sooner NMSC approves you, the more SAT dates you can use.
Do I need an SAT score before I request Alternate Entry?
No. Request first, then test. NMSC approves the entry and sends an application that lists the accepted SAT dates.
Is the cutoff the same for Alternate Entry students?
Yes. Your SAT-based Selection Index is compared to the same state cutoff as PSAT takers: 208 to 223 for the Class of 2027, Commended at 208.