<p>So, for the PSAT, I didn't study. At all. I kind of actually forgot that we were taking the PSAT when we did, early junior year. I was terrible at pacing, didn't get to the last 3-5 questions on every math section and some other sections. I ended up with a 190 - translates into 1900.</p>
<p>I took the SAT today, though I didn't find it particularly difficult, and I got to every question and I prepared the month before (specifically in math, because math was my weakest on the PSAT) -- will the margin of improvement in my score be significant? </p>
<p>(I know that none of you know me or my abilities so its impossible to give a definitive answer - I'm just asking for answers derived from your personal experience/observations, etc)</p>
<p>In my experience yes. I’ve never had a score go down and it doesn’t really make sense that one ever would. I mean, the SAT isn’t really based on short-term memory.</p>
<p>You think I don’t know that the whole lot of you are collectively scheming against this post, refusing to answer it - I know you are. I know you’ve all looked at this post. Silently judging it.</p>
<p>Shame. Shame on all of you.</p>
<p>Just kidding. Bump.</p>
<p>EDIT: At the time I had written this, I had not seen halcyonheather’s answer. Sorry 'bout it.</p>
<p>Although the questions on the PSAT are the same difficulty as those on the SAT (with the exception of the slightly easier math), the SAT is of course about twice as long and also includes the essay. At the same time though, there is a lot of intellectual growth that occurs during this time that will naturally increase your score. </p>
<p>Personally, my test scores went up a lot without any studying at all from the beginning of my sophomore year through partway in my junior year. But everyone’s different.</p>
<p>Mine went down, but I prepared for the PSAT too. Most of the people I know went up, and you probably will too if you’re looking at a studied-for test vs a not studied-for test.</p>
<p>Yes, for most people it will. PSAT is meant to be a practice SAT, to gauge your knowledge so far and what areas you need to work on. Also, you will have learned some more(I’d hope) between taking your PSAT and your SAT, so naturally you’d get a better score. It also depends where you live. i’m guessing you live in a state where most students take the SAT over the ACT. I live in Minnesota, so our schools prepare us more for the ACT than the SAT. As a result, some of my friends who took the PSAT and the SAT did do significantly better than they did on their PSAT, some did not.</p>
<p>To tell you the truth, in my conversations with people, standardized testing doesn’t come up enough for me to have a good picture of what’s normal.</p>
<p>But I scored 5 PSAT points / 50 SAT points higher on the SAT.</p>
<p>I took each test exactly once: PSAT around October (I think) of sophomore year and SAT around March of junior year.</p>
<p>I went from 175 as a Sophomore to 193 as a Junior then 1960 in February of my Junior year, then 2040 in May of my Junior year. All of these increases were with no/minimal studying. </p>
<p>In my experience, my scores did go up as I continued to take more PSATs and SATs. </p>
<p>I’m hoping for a 2150 in October, but I may be a lazy with my studying this summer so I shouldn’t be overly optimistic.</p>