This norms study, initiated to aid in score interpretation, is designed to provide current information on Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) scores of a national sample of high school juniors. Earlier national norms were developed on the basis of tests administered in 1960 and 1966. The present study is similar in design to the two earlier norms studies. Substantial attention was given to evaluating the representativeness of the sample by comparing participating and nonparticipating schools on the basis of geographical region, control, and percentage of minority students and by comparing student data for the norms sample with data from the National Longitudinal Study of the High School Class of 1972. The results of this study were compared with those of the 1960 and 1966 norms studies. These comparisons, although not definitive, should be considered in assessing whether a shift in the ability level of high school students can help to account for the SAT score decline. (EVH)