<p>I recently got back my PSAT results and I got a 177. I didn't prep or anything (besides the SAT Question of the Day for a few months), so I suppose with prep my score will be much higher (I'm a sophomore now). I am very disappointed though, because I want to get a 2200 at the very least for my SAT, because I'll be applying to schools like Northwestern University, Carnegie Mellon University, UCLA, University of Chicago, and Columbia University. </p>
<p>Should I start prep now? I was thinking of using the Collegeboard online lessons because of the price. Should I get a tutor instead or full blown classes? </p>
<p>Is there any chance I could dramatically raise my score to the 220s by next year? It doesn't possible to me right now. :(</p>
<p>I wish I was in your position. I regret not preparing for the SAT earlier.
I got a wayyy lower score on my soph PSAT and have improved by an immense ammount; I’m still studying/improving today. All in all, a 177 isn’t the end of the world. It’s a great starting point to be honest…</p>
<p>Just go through CC SAT guides. Read through all of them. There is a sticky at the top of the SAT section with all the great guides I’m talking about. That should start you off.</p>
<p>Good luck. With gradual prep you can, for sure, hit 220’s/2200’s by next year. Self-study can work wonders if you’re motivated.</p>
<p>Remember that the PSAT doesn’t have an essay. There are differences between the SAT and PSAT–like 1.75 hours.</p>
<p>That said, my daughter decided to prep for the ACT instead. She has stamina, works fast, dislikes tricky questions. She took a mock ACT and scored in the same range as her PSAT score but it seems possible to raise her ACT score higher.</p>
<p>I would say you definitely can do this! My sophomore year I scored in the 150’s, junior year (without prep) I scored 173. </p>
<p>After receiving the second score, I started studying extremely vigorously for the real test. I had two private tutors (one for math, one for writing/reading) but also read dozens of books on the SATs and over three attempts I have a super score of a 2140. If you start your preparation during your sophomore year, a 2200 is completely possible!!! Good luck, it’s a long and hard process but completely worth it in the end.</p>
<p>My son had a 1730 (173)on the PSAT in sophomore year and 2190 (219) in junior year to become a NMSF. Last month, he took the SAT to verify the NMSF and scored higher on all three sections than on the PSAT. So, it is possible.</p>
<p>Son did not use any tutor or classes. He used the Blue Book to prepare over the summer after sophomore year. He did no preparation for the SAT.</p>
<p>The PSAT is irrelevant lol. I’m a Junior, got a 215 on my PSAT, didn’t study and took my SAT December first and got a 2340 (740 CR/800 M/800 W). Don’t take the PSAT too seriously.</p>
<p>You should not be disappointed. You have plenty of time to prep to improve your score. If you haven’t already, pull up the score report on CB to see which problems you got wrong. If you omitted questions, is it b/c you didn’t know the answer or ran out of time? Both can be remedied by practice.</p>
<p>Buy the blue book and work through it diligently. Work through one test during the course of a week w/o paying attention to time. Identify the areas where you need instruction, look up/research those areas, then start taking the practice tests timed. Create a realistic schedule for yourself and stick to it. You will be in fantastic shape by next fall if you can carve out thirty minutes/day. You do not need to complete one section a day; you can spend thirty minutes on vocabulary or relearning a type of math that causes you trouble.</p>
<p>Gruber’s book is helpful for math, Direct Hits for vocabulary (also Hot Words for the SAT), Meltzer for grammar, and of course, sign up for the SAT question of the day from CB and from Testive (SAT Habit). Testive will also allow you to answer ten questions/day on their website.</p>
<p>Study for the SAT and you will do well on the PSAT. Good luck!</p>
<p>The PSAT doesn’t matter until junior year but in my school no one took it seriously anyway. And don’t freak out- as a sophomore I got a 165 with no prep, and a 189 as a junior with no prep. My SAT scores(highest single sitting) was a 2090, and the superstore was a 2130, with only a little prep. Don’t worry about it. The only thing I can say if you want to score a 2200+ on the SAT is practice tests are your best friend good luck, and relax!</p>
<p>I know the PSAT doesn’t matter outside of scholarship opportunities, but I’m looking at it by how it translates to how I’ll do on the actual SAT. I omitted questions and ran out of time on the math section, so I have to work on that.</p>
<p>Thanks so much for the good luck wishes, guys!</p>
<p>I just wonder if I should go for a tutor or self study. I’ve self studied classes before, and I’m afraid I won’t do as well as I would in a class. Then again, I tend to lose interest in classes. I might use the Collegeboard book and the online lessons, since they’re only $80. Is that the best book for self studying? I’m willing to look at online classes because I think they’re a good combo of self studying and actual lessons; any recommendations?</p>
good luck, and relax!</p>