<p>I have a daughter who took the ACT as part of the Duke TIP program when she was a 12 year old 7th grader. She did not take the writing section. </p>
<p>Her scores were :English 26; Math 25; Reading 31; Science 29; for a comp of 28</p>
<p>She is currently an 8th grader and takes Geometry Honors ( high school level ) and advanced 8th grade curriculum requirements. The high school she will be attending allows 9th graders to take the PSAT in Oct. of their 9th grade year. What can we expect compared to the ACT? I realize this PSAT will not count but I want her to feel comfortable about it. Should we have her take the SAT for DUKE TIP as an 8th grader for practice? She already qualified with her ACT scores for all the summer programs but she will not be attending as they are way too expensive and she has summer training for track and field anyhow.</p>
<p>Your experiences and comments are most welcome!</p>
<p>Hey. While a comp score of 28 = 186 that is not the case with predictions. Her reading is very good and by calculations of the test, accounting another year of learning and placement in a high math level (she will be done with Geometry, which is the harderest level in the Sat), I would say she would score ~ 64cr 66cr 62w which would bring her at 192. Taking that into account I think she will probably score 185-195. PSAT only counts junior year for National Merit Scholarships, which is ~210 (depends on state) for semi-finalist and ~230 for finalist</p>
<p>I got a 212 freshman year 68cr 74m 70w (I was in AP Calc back then) and I had taken a practice ACT and got a 31. After some intense studying I will hopefully score in the 220-230 range as a junior this year. </p>
<p><strong><em>ALSO</em></strong> THERE IS NO LIMIT ON WHO CAN TAKE THE PSAT!!!
My cousin took it in 8th grade and scored a 229 (genius -_-) If you really want her to take it for practice just sign up at the highschool, I know plenty of 8th graders and infact many 7th graders who have taken the PSAT. Its good practice and also take the SAT too that is what I did in 8th grade, it doesn’t count as a “try” for colleges and it really tests your endurance.</p>
<p>Her ACT score was excellent at that age. I also took the ACT in 7th grade and got a 25; I got a 34 a few months ago when I took it as a junior. Since only juniors’ scores count for National Merit Scholarships, taking it freshman year is a little early. She’ll need to take it sophomore and junior year too, and you don’t want her to burn out on testing. If you’re set on the PSAT, though, I would discourage you from having her take the SAT to practice for the PracticeSAT two years before the score even matters. Why pile more testing on than necessary?</p>
<p>Thanks for your comments! Basically, my understanding is that this high school ( next year) strongly suggests the incoming 9th graders who are in gifted or who are taking classes above grade level ( Algebra 2 honors or Pre-calculus) as 9th graders take the PSAT along with the juniors. Just wondered if the actual SAT would give her an idea of what the PSAT would be like. Not a lot of kids took the ACT for the DUKE TIP as 7th graders. Most took the SAT and none achieved Grand Recognition in our county except my daughter. That seems to suggest the ACT might be more “friendly” and when she gets into the SAT she may be unhappily suprised with the rigor of it. What do you think??</p>
<p>Well technically she really doesn’t I suppose but that would only be the case if she got her ACT’s up in the mid 30’s and did well enough on the PSAT to at least get commended status.</p>
<p>IF she get get mid 30’s then I am pretty sure she can get atleast national merit semi-finalist.</p>
<p>You are worrying too just have her take a practice test every other weekend and I can almost guarantee that if she keeps that up until her summer of sophomore year, and does a daily practice maybe even a class, she will score 34-36. My friend did 1 hour a day for one year and went from a 1620 sat to a 2370 sat, which is practically like a 36.</p>