<p>OP here. I am glad to hear that you can improve your score 30+. I will look for those vocab. cards as suggested, and maybe I can take the cards out of the box and quiz S3 now and again. I worry about putting too much pressure on S3 as in our distict we usually only get 3-6 NMFs every year and it is alot to expect him to be one of them. On the other hand, it never hurts for him to try and I don’t think its too much too expect him to take 4-7 SAT or PSAT practice tests this summer as he won’t have any job, and is only taking health in summer school. If nothing else, he/we are going to take this test seriously, but with the understanding that as long as he tried his best we are okay with the outcome.</p>
<p>I encourage those of you with rising juniors who have the potential to be NM Scholars to suggest to them that they sign up for the October SAT, which is offered a few days before the PSAT. That way they can study for both at the same time, with a possibility of getting a high enough SAT score that they won’t have to take it again. That can help motivate them!</p>
<p>My children used the October SAT as practice for the PSAT, making it a P-PSAT, I guess. My D was NMF and my S will be NM Commended.</p>
<p>Agree with Schokolade - we did it backwards, I guess, in that she took the Nov SAT, but she was in the “college test” zone and felt very well prepared based on her PSAT prep. She scored high enough to confirm her PSAT if she can squeak in NMSF.</p>
<p>OP, we come from a district that also has few NMSF’s (I think 5 last year, 3 from our school). A few years ago, they had none. Because of that, our district actually funded D’s (and other high scorers) prep class based on her sophomore scores - they are very focused on raising the number of NMSFs. You might check to see if your district does anything like that!</p>
<p>The bottom line is that whatever you learn, you’ve got in your arsenal. Test prep efforts help in every class, every application, every conversation, every thought process, every dream a person has for the rest of their life.</p>
<p>Being smart is a good thing.</p>
<p>This info on the PSAT is enlightening. My DS who graduates HS this year never even took the PSAT - that’s how uninformed I was. I want to know all I can in order to help my younger sons. </p>
<p>So, the PSAT is what gets one nominated for NMF? Wouldn’t he have to perform equally well on the SAT too? We are in MA so I expect that means one would need to score pretty high to be nominated here. Anyone willing to give me a quick overview on how to best plan on testing?</p>
<p>MA NMSF cutoff is typically 222(±1).</p>
<p>PSAT administered in October of junior year of HS is what counts for NMSQT. Good practice can be gained by taking it as a sophomore, or even as a freshman, if your HS permits this. Results taken before the junior year do not count for National Merit.</p>
<p>PSAT = 1/2*(SAT-Essay) - half an SAT without the essay. Thus SAT prep books and prep methods will work for it. Find “Xiggi” and “Silver Turtle” guides to SAT prep on in the CC test prep forums for low-cost (i.e., self-study) advice about what to do.</p>
<p>I would suggest some prep starting 6-8 weeks in advance (about when school starts) for optimum results, but my own approach as a parent on matters such as these is only to advise and monitor and never insist. If they succeed in doing only a couple of practice tests ahead of the real thing that will put them well ahead of what most HS juniors will do before the test.</p>
<p>Preparation carries over for future SAT sittings in the junior year as well as this one-time event. Consider taking the November or December SAT if PSAT goes well.</p>
<p>Test prep should not take precedence over homework. Good grades are much more important that PSAT results.</p>
<p>Everything is done through the high school for the PSAT – registration, administration, results. Scores come back to high schools in early December, but some schools won’t share them until after holiday break. “Top 50,000 scorers” are notified in April, NMSF qualifiers in late August/early September, NMF qualifiers in February.</p>
<p>NMSF qualifiers depend on junior PSAT scores only (and state cut-offs). NMF qualifiers must apply respectfully, submit a “verifying SAT score” (>1950 or so, doesn’t have to be equivalent to PSAT), have good grades, and be recommended by their schools (typically this means no disciplinary issues). 92% of NMSF’s become NMF’s.</p>
<p>Thank you SO much. That is very helpful, Descartesz</p>
<p>I’ll second Schokolade on the October SAT. It is VERY helpful for PSAT scores. It is perfectly aligned a few days before the official PSAT testing date. We did this method by accident, not by design, but it completely worked. D was done testing after PSAT and ended up NMS (except for some optional SAT II’s).</p>
<p>Taking the October SAT in advance of the PSAT would make for good preparation, too. I would still suggest additional prep in the form of self-study (it is unlikely you’ll get your SAT results back to see your weaknesses prior to the PSAT test date) and an understanding to plan on taking the SAT again in the subsequent spring or fall.</p>
<p>I have another, unconventional, suggestion, which we strongly believe benefitted my DD GREATLY.</p>
<p>We got her a MINDSPARKE account and she did the mind-growth excercises (games) every night for 6 weeks leading up to the Jr PSAT. Luminosity is another BRIAN TRAINER-type vendor which is probably comparable.</p>
<p>These actually do improve your brain’s response time, and DD thinks (and we, by observation, agree) that working with them has a measureable effect on her test-taking abilities.</p>
<p>[Brain</a> Fitness Software : Brain Training Online : Brain Fitness Programs MindSparke](<a href=“http://www.mindsparke.com%5DBrain”>http://www.mindsparke.com) was only 20 bucks a month. Pretty good trade-off for a NMF Free-ride. We canceled after the PSAT because she did not have the thirty minutes a day during the school year, but will re-up this summer. DD LIKES working the program, and it keeps track of your individual progress. For a competitive person, that’s very motivating.</p>
<p>Taking the October SAT in advance of the PSAT would make for good preparation, too</p>
<p>Yes, but it usually is only about a week before the PSAT. It might be better to take the June SAT and then work on weaknesses during the summer.</p>
<p>Great thread - my daughter also benefited from the NMF gravy train (although only indirectly, as she ended up accepting a non-automatic full ride, but had several of the NMF-automatic awards to choose from).</p>
<p>The Midwestern ACT-centricity was mentioned. I agree you need to move beyond that and make sure you are well positioned for the PSAT/NMSQT, which is clearly the most important test for defined merit scholarships. </p>
<p>However, their are many excellent defined merit awards tied to the ACT itself and many students are simply better able to perform on the ACT because the format is substantially different from the PSAT/SAT, so it’s worth your while to be well positioned for both. The pre-test version of the ACT is called PLAN, and is also worth taking to understand your outlook for the ACT. It is intended to be offered in 10th grade, however our school has the freshmen take the PLAN, and the sophomores and juniors take the PSAT.</p>
<p>[PLAN</a> | ACT’s College Readiness Test for 10th Graders | ACT](<a href=“http://www.act.org/plan/]PLAN”>http://www.act.org/plan/)</p>
<p>I agree that schools don’t do a very good job of informing students and parents of the importance of the PSAT. When I took the PSAT (back in the 80’s) we were told it was just a practice for taking the ACT and SAT. No one prepped. My wife and I were both NMF and went on full rides to a small private college which was where I planned to go anyway – saved my parents quite a bit of money. We made sure that our oldest prepped before taking the PSAT and he has scored at a level that he should make semifinalist in our state and hopefully progress to finalist. It can make a huge difference financially, particularly if you aren’t shooting for the elite schools.</p>