<p>Did anyone else's child's PSAT scores go down as a junior from what they were as a soph? Last year, D was only 1 point below NMF status in a tough state. Now she will be nowhere near the cutoff. We're so disappointed!</p>
<p>did she skip any? Worth a handscore?</p>
<p>Well, our very smart DD took SAT in the early year of middle school and scored well. However, when she took it again as a junior in high school, her score actually went down, by a lot. </p>
<p>So, it could happen.</p>
<p>Remember the test is just a snapshot of that one day. Its success depends on so many factors. How did she sleep the previous night? What did she have for breakfast? What were the conditions of the room? Was it too hot or too cold?</p>
<p>I know of one kid who took the test when (very loud) construction was going on outside his test room. Another had to take the test in the gym, sitting on a bleacher and using the bleacher one row up as his “desk”. Not ideal test taking environments.</p>
<p>I’d definitely pay for a handscore. </p>
<p>Of course, maybe she didn’t feel physically up to snuff that day. It can make a big difference in how you perform…nothing like cramps to distract you during a long reading excerpt.</p>
<p>Mine went down from sophomore to junior year - I don’t remember the scores exactly but I know I got an 80 on the verbal and was above the NMF cutoff the first time I took it but my score went down probably 15 or 20 points the second time I took it. Disappointing, but what can you do?</p>
<p>My D had some issues with test-taking techniques. Among these was occasionally skipping a question in the book and not skipping on the answer sheet. One of her PSAT scores was abysmal. “I don’t understand Dad, the questions weren’t that hard.” With this early warning she was able to get the issues straightened out before the SATs. So I’ll add my voice to the chorus suggesting a hand score as the first step toward figuring out why the score ended up where it did. Good luck!!!</p>
<p>Both of my sons’ PSAT scores went down from freshman to soph years, then went up for junior year. Scores can fluctuate due to quirks like unfortunate mistakes or being stressed or under the weather. Both had junior SAT scores that were above what their highest PSAT scores predicted. It’s really the SAT that counts, and fortunately one can take those over.</p>
<p>I’m not sure I understand the purpose of a hand score. What might it do?</p>
<p>At minimum it would confirm that the reported score is actually the student’s correct score, instead of some machine scoring error.</p>
<p>Highland mom said it well.</p>
<p>As a sophomore my son’s score was, oh what do you call it? In the top 50,000 (commended?) I hope he does as well or better this year but it’s one day, one test. The things that can come with a high score are wonderful but there is an element of chance involved that no amount of prep or practice can overcome.</p>
<p>How frustrating! Because the PSAT is so short compared to the SAT I think there can be a lot more fluctuations in scores. My older son’s PSAT scores were fairly similar over all, but math went down 60 jr. year while writing went up 60. Both his PSAT scores were higher than his SAT scores.</p>
<p>Here’s some perspective. Last June, my S took the Math 2 subject test (known for having a generous grading curve) and reeled off an 800. His math PSAT this year was a 72, by answering correctly 36 of 38 and omitting one.</p>
<p>My S’s went down from sophomore to junior year. With his sophomore scores, he was well into merit scholar range, but missed by 1 point his junior year. Didn’t turn out to be a big deal. Could it be that there is no stress sophomore year as opposed to junior year?</p>
<p>Y’all are making me nervous.</p>
<p>My youngest’s score went down about 15 points from sophomore to junior year. It happens. He has no idea what happened. His SAT scores were comparable to his sophomore PSAT.</p>
<p>We finally got my S’s PSAT scores. His went down a bit from last year … one score went way up, while one went way down (around 100 points for each!). I assume it’s just the day … the test … whatever … </p>
<p>He missed any NM status, but that’s okay. He did a practice ACT through Princeton Review and scored quite well, so that will be his test of choice.</p>
<p>This is why my son’s only took it once LOL. One day testing is luck of the draw and you will score in a range. One day at the top of the range the next at the bottom of the range… </p>
<p>frankly you have to hope for the lucky day</p>