Selection Index

Why it matters

The double weighting is the part almost everyone misses, and it decides where preparation time should go. Every ten points gained in Reading and Writing are worth twice what the same gain in Math is worth. A student sitting a few points under their state cutoff should almost always work Reading and Writing first.

What people get wrong

Confusing it with the PSAT total score, and assuming a national cutoff exists. Semifinalist cutoffs are set per state and move year to year, so the same index qualifies in one state and not in another.