  We investigate how the anticipated neutral current rate from $SNO$ will
sharpen our understanding of the solar neutrino anomaly. Quantitative analyses
are performed with representative values of this rate in the expected range of
$0.8 - 1.2$. This would provide a $5 - 10 \sigma$ signal for $\nu_e$ transition
into a state containing an active neutrino component. Assuming this state to be
purely active one can estimate both the $^8B$ neutrino flux and the $\nu_e$
survival probability to a much higher precision than currently possible.
Finally the measured value of the $NC$ rate will have profound implications for
the mass and mixing parameters of the solar neutrino oscillation solution.
