<p>Hi everyone, Im a Sophomore that just got my PSAT scores back,
M-78
CR-64
w-54
TOT: 196
I only missed one math question (dumb mistake), but my Critical Reading and Writing stink. I plan to rigorously study the blue book, and the online course over the summer, so that I can take the SAT in October. Any more advice? Thanks!</p>
<p>Hello Andrew, </p>
<p>First off, let me start by saying that for a sophomore, your scores are very solid and put you in a good place to improve. Your math score is particularly good, but I advise you not to count on the PSAT projection. The SAT is designed to exhaust you. One dumb mistake on the PSAT may or may not transfer to three or four dumb mistakes on the test. Get a good night sleep and be ready to go to battle with your own boredom. </p>
<p>For your Critical Reading section, believe me when I say there’s no substitute to actually READING. Not practicing for test or turning the pages of Shakespeare for an English course. Reading itself is the best method of success for the CR. You’re a sophomore, so you have time to pick up a dozen pieces of real, well-written literature before you take the October or November test your senior year. Test-taking techniques can be focused on during junior year. For now, I beseech you, read. (I know what I’m talking about; I scored a perfect 800 on the CR, omitting one.)</p>
<p>While you read, you’re going to notice your writing improve. This is because you are expanded your arsenal of language. Your vocabulary and understanding of language mechanics will show through by your senior year, I assure you.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>While I definitely agree with the reading part, but you also must do practice tests!
In less than 3 weeks I brought my W score from a 620 to an 800 just by doing practice tests. And my CR from a 590 to a 760 (though this took a bit more time).</p>
<p>For W, all you have to do is practice and your score will rise a lot.
For CR though, it’s a bit more tricky. You have to learn lots of vocab (learn direct hits, hot words, krieger’s essentials and you should be good) but you also have to do well on the passages. Just reading alone will make reading the passages easier, but not really answering the questions. For the questions, you must practice.</p>
<p>I actually started exactly where you were, with high math (1 wrong for me was a 76 though) and lower CR and W for a 198 on the PSAT. I ended with a 2330 on the SAT, so you can definitely raise it a lot. Good luck!</p>
<p>Thanks for responding @veritasrmc! Do you have any suggestions for well written literature that I should look into?</p>
<p>Read classics, memorize vocab/grammer. Take about 40+ practice tests and you will get 100+ points in each section.</p>