Is 1490 a good PSAT score for National Merit?

Yes, a 1490 PSAT score is excellent and very likely to qualify you for National Merit recognition, potentially as a Semifinalist, though exact cutoffs depend on your state and the competition year's performance. Scores in the 1430-1450+ range are often competitive, placing you in the 99th percentile nationally, making a 1490 a strong contender to be above your state's Selection Index cutoff.

Is 1490 enough for National Merit?

A strong score hits the 75th percentile (1200+), and an elite score for National Merit Scholarship qualification tops the 99th percentile (1400–1520). All data below is sourced directly from the College Board's 2024–2025 PSAT/NMSQT reports.

Is 1490 good enough for the Ivy League?

A 1490 SAT score is definitely a strong score and falls within the middle 50% SAT range for many Ivy League schools. However, Ivy League schools are highly competitive, and just meeting their average SAT requirements doesn't guarantee admission.

What's a good PSAT score for National Merit?

A PSAT/NMSQT® score around 1430–1450+ is often competitive for National Merit recognition. While exact Selection Index cutoffs shift each year, data from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation provides a helpful benchmark for students aiming to qualify.

What PSAT score is top 1%?

A top 1% PSAT score is generally 1450 or higher, with scores in the 1490-1520 range (the maximum) placing a student in the elite top 1% nationally, often qualifying them for National Merit recognition. For 10th graders, this starts around 1420, while for 11th graders, it's typically 1490+. These scores indicate exceptional performance, putting students among the top 15,000 test-takers out of about 1.5 million participants each year.
 

Why Competitive Colleges REJECT TOP STUDENTS

What score do I need on the PSAT to qualify for the National Merit Scholarship?

To be named a Semifinalist, you'll need a Selection Index score of 219. What score do you need on each section of the PSAT to achieve this score? As you read above, your Selection Index equals the sum of your two section test scores (each on a scale of 160 and 760) multiplied by 2 and divided by 10.

What was Taylor Swift's SAT score?

Taylor Swift's SAT score is not publicly known because she left high school early to pursue her music career and never officially took the SATs for college admission, though she was academically successful in high school, graduating early with a 4.0 GPA before focusing on music. She famously called out a practice test for misquoting her lyrics, highlighting her strong grasp of grammar despite not needing the test.
 

Should I submit a 1490 to Stanford?

Therefore, a score of 1500 and above is generally the accepted score at Stanford University.

Can I get into Harvard with a 1490?

Harvard SAT Score Analysis

There's no absolute SAT requirement at Harvard, but they really want to see at least a 1500 to have a chance at being considered.

How rare is a 1490?

Out of the 2.13 million test-takers, 25590 scored the same or higher than you. You can apply to 1460 colleges and have a good shot at getting admitted.

What was Bill Clinton's SAT score?

Bill Clinton

The 42nd president of the United States scored a 1032—12 points above average—on his SAT. Still, Clinton excelled at Georgetown University, where he majored in Foreign Service and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. Later, Clinton attended Yale Law School and earned a Juris Doctor in 1973.

What PSAT score is national merit 2025?

The National Merit Scholarship Program provides this designation to the top 2-3% of PSAT takers nationally. The Commended Scholar cutoff for the class of 2025 is 208 (up one point from the 207 cutoff for the last two years). This is also a huge honor, and Commended scholars should be proud!

Should I retake the SAT if I got a 1490?

Should You Retake the SAT If You Have a 1490? Usually no, but it depends on your goals and profile. A 1490 already places you in the top few percent of test-takers and is competitive at many top 20–50 schools. If your GPA, rigor, and activities are strong, a retake often brings more stress than benefit.

What is Mark Zuckerberg's SAT score?

Mark Zuckerberg reportedly scored a perfect 1600 on the SAT, achieving the maximum possible score before attending Harvard University. This high score reflects his exceptional academic performance, matching other tech leaders like Bill Gates and Will Smith who also attained near-perfect or perfect scores, according to various reports.
 

Can you get a full ride with National Merit?

Along with receiving a scholarship for becoming a finalist from the National Merit program, students are often eligible for other awards, the most coveted of which are typically full-ride scholarships to one of their top-choice schools.

Can you get into MIT with a 1490?

MIT SAT Score Analysis

In other words, a 1520 places you below average, while a 1570 will move you up to above average. There's no absolute SAT requirement at MIT, but they really want to see at least a 1520 to have a chance at being considered.

Can I get into Cornell with a 1490?

Cornell's Average Test Scores

For test scores that are submitted, Cornell's 75th percentile SAT score is 1530 and the 25th percentile SAT score is 1490. The single average score is 1510. The average ACT score for accepted students is 34, with the 25th and 75th percentile scores at 32 and 35, respectively.

Can I get into Duke with a 1490 SAT?

A 1490 SAT score puts you slightly below Duke's typical middle 50% range (around 1510-1560), meaning while it's a strong score and you still have a chance, you'd need to compensate with exceptional essays, extracurriculars, GPA, and recommendations, as Duke reads applications holistically. You'd be considered competitive, but not a "lock," and you'd be at a disadvantage against students with scores in the mid-1500s, so strong non-score factors are crucial. 

What is Elon Musk's SAT score?

Elon Musk reportedly scored a 1400 on the SAT in the late 1980s, on his second attempt, according to his biographer Walter Isaacson, though this score is often discussed in relation to estimated IQ rather than as a definitive measure of his intelligence, with various interpretations placing his IQ in the mid-130s or higher, depending on the source and calculation.
 

How many times has Kim Kardashian SAT for the bar?

Kim Kardashian has taken the official California Bar Exam once (July 2025) and failed, but she previously passed the "baby bar" (First-Year Law Students' Exam) on her fourth attempt in 2021 after failing it three times, demonstrating her persistence in her legal studies. She's continuing her law journey, aiming to pass the main exam in future attempts, as California law allows multiple tries, notes Life & Style. 

What was Kobe Bryant's SAT score?

Kobe Bryant scored a 1080 on the SAT, a respectable score that, along with his high school grades, would have qualified him for many top universities, but he chose to go directly to the NBA from high school, becoming one of the first players to do so in the 90s.
 

What PSAT score is top 1%?

A top 1% PSAT score is generally 1450 or higher, with scores in the 1490-1520 range (the maximum) placing a student in the elite top 1% nationally, often qualifying them for National Merit recognition. For 10th graders, this starts around 1420, while for 11th graders, it's typically 1490+. These scores indicate exceptional performance, putting students among the top 15,000 test-takers out of about 1.5 million participants each year.
 

What is the SAT score cut off for National Merit finalist?

The National Merit Corporation is first and foremost looking to award academic achievement. There is no strict cutoff, but a competitive GPA (3.5 and above) and high SAT scores (approximately 1400 and above) are recommended. Your academic record should also show that you challenged yourself with honors and AP classes.

Is the PSAT harder than the SAT?

No, the PSAT is generally considered slightly easier than the SAT, as it's designed as a practice run for the main test, featuring similar content but with a lower maximum score (1520 vs. 1600) and sometimes less advanced math concepts. The SAT includes more challenging, advanced questions to test higher-level skills, anticipating that students will have grown academically since taking the PSAT, though recent digital versions have led to varied student experiences.