<p>So I'm going to be a Sophomore and I'm really nervous about the PSATs. I know they don't count for anything sophomore year but here's how it goes at my school.</p>
<p>Friend: what was your score on that math test?
Me: oh I got an A.
Friend: what percentage?
Me: 98
Friend: OH I GOT A 99! I GOT A HIGHER SCORE THAN YOU!</p>
<p>So now you understand why I want to get at least a self satisfying score. I just want to be in a range higher than where most of the brag-a-lot people in my school are so I can avoid their insecurity detonating comments. </p>
<p>I took a practice McGraw-hill PSAT test that I found online. The first time I took it, I got an 189, but I think it was an 183 after counting in all the -.25s. I was content with this. With only a little bit of studying, I could easily get a 190+ which is essentially my goal as a sophomore. So I did a lot of SAT questions of the day and I was actually getting most of them right. I felt confident that my score would increase by atleast 5 so I decided to take another PSAT practice test, it was also McGraw-Hill (they post about 5 or 6 online with answers). I was pretty confident when I was done with the test, but then I started grading. 62 writing, 58 reading, 53 math. 175 total. This was including the -.25s, but it's still 8 whole points below my last time. I cried in a corner for a little while. </p>
<p>My questions for you:
1.) Is there any hope left in the world. Okay, just kidding, but I recently fell in love with Dartmouth and Rice, plus I've always been in love with Princeton. It's a tad bit depressing that I'm going to have to work so hard just to be on par with their academic level, or I'm going to have to set my standards a bit lower.
2.) Is there a difference between the difficulty of the junior and sophomore PSATs? This was NMSQT, so junior, does that mean when I take the PSAT next year as a sophomore, I'll have an easier test than the ones I've been practicing on? Does the fact that I haven't taken Algebra 2 account for anything.
3.) Is McGraw-Hill any good? It was the only online PSAT I could find, that's why I took it.
4.) can someone, anyone, give me hope :'( If you have any SAT imrovement stories that you want to share, feel free! But could you also put the time you spent studying?</p>
<p>Lol I said AN 189. I’m on my phone so I can’t edit now.</p>
<p>And it was actually a 55 math.</p>
<p>I never really cared much about the PSAT to be quite honest. As a result I know next to nothing about it. In my opinion the SAT is way more important than the PSAT.</p>
<p>All I know is that the SAT Writing section is very easy to study for.
I scored 560 W no study. Practice Tests = 680-730 5 hours studying</p>
<p>^I never cared about the PSAT either. I got a 192 in my junior year (60 R, 80 M, 52 W) with no prep. Got a 2070 SAT (610 R, 800 M, 660 W) with some reading/writing practice.</p>
<p>You’re going to (or might) realize in your senior year, after everyone’s been accepted into colleges, are dealing with their financial aid package, and graduating high school, that test scores don’t really matter. Just remember to keep up your A’s and remember to take your AP tests seriously (if you want to). Also, remember to start your private colleges as soon as you can - so you can get some feedback from teachers, etc. </p>
<p>1) In my personal opinion, it’s what you do with your college education that’s more important than what college you go to. Although, I admit, it is important what college you go to.
2) The PSAT is the NMSQT. When taking the PSAT as a sophomore or freshman, you’re taking the same test as juniors.
3) I dunno. When I was a freshman/sophomore/junior, I never prepped for the PSAT.
4) I believe you’ll definitely improve from let’s say, sophomore to junior year… if you learn during school, and learning’s not that hard. My PSAT scores were 174, 183, 191, in order from freshman to junior years. That’s with no studying. My SAT score was 2010 (end of junior year), and maybe it would’ve been higher if I took it a 2nd time.</p>
<p>I studied for HOURS for the SAT for two months and ended up getting a 1660. The year before (with no studying at all), I got a 1640 on the PSAT. I didn’t care about the PSAT score, but the actual SAT… well, let’s just say I cried for almost an hour. /Not ashamed to admit it. It’s not really an improvement story… well, 20 points, but yeah… I obviously had to rearrange my college plans because beforehand I was looking at Ivy League’s.
I just bought the Official Collegeboard SAT book and that’s where I’m working from now for one more try at the SAT. </p>
<p>Don’t feel like you have to impress your friends. You don’t have to tell anyone your scores. And yes, there is hope for you. 
Haha.</p>
<p>Just to give you an idea of possible improvement.
My junior year PSAT was 180. CR: 60, M: 63 , W: 57
Junior year SAT, no study. 2000. CR: 760 M:660 W:580
Practice tests after studying(range) CR:(720-760) M: (660-700)W:(680-700)
My Superscore should be about 2100 after this next test.
So 1800- 2000- 2100(Superscore). If you struggle in writing a little work can get you 650+ very easily.</p>
<p>^Didn’t mean to have frowny faces lol. Supposed to be ( )</p>
<p>For improvement, i took a course and for personal practice, i’d focus on one section a day, usually on Reading, because my reading scores were usually horrible.</p>
<p>i went from 154 (lol) something the first time to 211 by the PSAT (~4 months), where i might make national merit semifinalist in Michigan</p>
<p>good luck though:)</p>