<p>So I took the PSAT as a sophomore, so maybe I shouldn't be worrying about this quite yet, but I'm genuinely concerned. </p>
<p>I got my scores today. 77 on reading, 69 on writing skills...and 49 on mathematics. To add insult to injury, the math score is DOWN two points from when I took it last year as I freshman! My PLAN scores tell a similar story: 30 on English, 27 in Reading, 28 in Science, 22 in Math. </p>
<p>Now, I took Algebra 2/Trig as a freshman so I had NO geometry when I took it freshman year, and about a month's worth when I took it as a sophomore. So that obviously affected my scores. But I'm just worried because my scores are so unbalanced! Should I be concerned, or chalk it up to being a sophomore with very little geometry and just work really hard for PSAT, SAT and ACT next year? Also, does anyone know of any prep classes or books that focus on the math section of the SAT or ACT? </p>
<p>Oh and one more thing...let's say despite all my hard work I still can't pull up my math score to the level of my reading and writing. If I pull up my writing score so that my composite is in the low 2000's (my PSAT composite for this year was a 195), will colleges notice that my math score is staggeringly low compared to other two scores, and will that negatively affect my chances of admission?</p>
<p>Chalk it up to being a sophomore - and plan to practice because all of these tests show big practice effects. As for recommended texts, get the book of 10 actual SAT exams from the College Board to practice with. There are subtle differences in the language and problem styles between the various books (Princeton Review, Kaplan, etc…) so you want to use actual tests to practice with whenever possible. </p>
<p>If, after its all said and done, your math score is weak, you shouldn’t despair: Your grades are much more important (at one top LAC, we were told grades count for half of the admissions decision, the ACT or SAT for 25%, and everything else for the last 25%). Know that there are many excellent schools out there a one weak test score isn’t going to keep you from attending one of them.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t worry too much about it because you’re only a sophomore and the PSAT doesn’t really matter much. The first time I took the SAT I had a similar trend (math significantly lower than reading and writing). Then I did a little prep and got my math score up 100 points and a 34 math ACT. While it’s not perfect, math is my worst subject and was fairly easy to improve. Less than half an hour a week of math prep, really not that much at all. Here’s what I did:</p>
<p>I only used one book: the big college board one (the one with a bunch of practice tests and review at the beginning). I took the math sections then corrected them and got help figuring out WHY I missed questions. I also kept a notebook of all the concepts I’d forgotten/missed. The week before the test I reviewed my notebook and got a 740 (not perfect, but I’m really not a math person). Like I said, only like half an hour a week of work over a few month time period. </p>
<p>Colleges will notice a lower math score, but as long as math isn’t your major, I don’t think they’ll be that concerned. I think you could easily get the 49 up to a 60, which is reasonable for most schools. Math will be easier to improve than reading and writing because you have so much more room to improve! If you want your composite to go up significantly, you should focus on math.</p>