For decades, high school juniors have had to score among the top test-takers in their state to become National Merit Scholarship semi-finalists.

The National Association for College Admissions Counseling wants that to change.

It maintains that using a single test is a poor practice and violates testing standards of the College Board, which is a co-sponsor of the exam, known as the PSAT/NMSQT, or the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.

The association did not specify specific changes but said it would like to work on developing a process "to mitigate the effects of using a single PSAT score as the first consideration."

In the case of college admissions, a broader look often includes grades, recommendations and other criteria.

The National Merit Corp. and the College Board say the current procedures work well, but NACAC isn't taking no for an answer.

To make its point, the national association yesterday posted on the Internet letters that have gone back and forth between it, National Merit, and the College Board as well as ACT over testing issues. They can be found at www.nacacnet.org.

NACAC issued a statement saying it is pursuing this issue "to ensure that otherwise qualified students are not left behind" by the procedure.

Trying to get the initial screening changed to cover more than a single test isn't an easy battle.

"That's a rather large locomotive that's in motion," said David Barkovich, a North Hills High School guidance counselor who used to work in admissions and financial aid at the University of Pittsburgh.

"Changes like that could lead to a more comprehensive review and selection of National Merit finalists. However, I'm eager to see it happen, but it seems like a difficult task."

National Merit scholarships have been around since 1955 and have always relied on a test, switching to the PSAT in 1971. The organization is an independent nonprofit group that does not accept government assistance.

Robert Schaeffer, spokesman for FairTest, an advocacy group that has, among other things, fought for reform of the selection process for about two decades, said, "NACAC adds substantial weight to the freight train that is pushing for them to change."

In fall 2006, members of NACAC, which is based in Arlington, Va., agreed that beginning with freshmen last summer and fall they "will not use minimum scores as the sole criterion for admissions, advising or the awarding of financial aid."

Last fall, NACAC issued a report on the use of standardized tests in undergraduate admissions, including asking the National Merit Scholarship Corp. to stop using PSAT scores without context as the initial screen. It has asked the College Board why it permits such use of its test.

In a response in March, Timothy McGuire, president of the National Merit Scholarship Corp., wrote that the scholarship procedures, "beginning with the use of the PSAT/NMSQT, are the most effective, inclusive and equitable available to consider over 1.5 million students annually on a consistent basis."

Annually, the corporation identifies 16,000 semi-finalists on the basis of PSAT/NMSQT scores. To become one of 15,000 finalists, semi-finalists must submit supporting materials, including grades SAT scores and a school official's recommendation.

About 8,200 finalists win scholarships. Another 1,500 students who are not finalists also win special scholarships.

In a letter, Gaston Caperton, president of the College Board, and Youlonda Copeland-Morgan, associate vice president for enrollment management and director of scholarship and student aid at Syracuse University, wrote that a College Board task force concluded the National Merit Scholarship Corp. meets national standards on testing.