<p>Let's talk PSAT. For those parents who have been through this before what was your take on the new test? Son (#4)who had s no experience with a test like this prior to last year improved by 210 pts! The only thing we did was the Princeton Review classroom course. Did anyone else see a great improvement and what do you think was the cause of this improvement?</p>
<p>BackhandGrip:
Do you mean the equivalent SAT I score went up 210? Or did his PSAT go up by 21? (There must be a typo in your post, since the PSAT is on a scale of 0-240, no?)</p>
<p>Equivalent, sorry not to be more specific.
Anyone want to clarify results for me? Thank you.</p>
<p>I mean, if an equivalent score goes up 210 pts and the scale is now 2400 not 1600 what is the actual significance of a 210 increase?</p>
<p>I dare not ask my son's 26 yr old school guidance counselor out most days with a new baby.</p>
<p>Congrats, BHG. I don't know the answer, though.</p>
<p>Any way you look at it, a 210 point increase is pretty darned impressive - congratulations to your son! Heck, 210/2400 works out to an 8.75% increase - it's roughly equivalent to a 140 point increase on the old 1600 SAT I scale.</p>
<p>BHG, this is a good result. congratulations! Is that an overall score increase of 21 points (i.e. did the "Selection Index" go up by 21) or is it the sum of the Critical Reasoning + Math (ignoring the Writing score)? I think we're all a little confused with the test changing. Soon the discussion about the SAT will be based on a 2400 pt scale rather than 1600, and that will be confusing as well. </p>
<p>Anyway, I have an old percentile breakdown from last year (old PSAT) that shows a 21 point increase in the Selection Index from, say, 180 to 201 as being a jump from the 86th percentile to the 96th percentile. Outstanding.</p>
<p>Thank you.Equivalent Score, must clarify, I guess knock it down 1/3 .
I remember last year seeing a thread where many kids had increased greatly also. (have another child 1 yr. older) Son was a virgin going into that PSAT last year. He had never seen a test like an SAT. I knew he needed more exposure. Other son's score only incresed 30 pt. But I think when coming to the actual difficult questions, prep won't help. The prep can help with easy and midrange, but the difficult questions can be a roadblock.</p>
<p>Critical Reading 9pt increase, Math 9 and Writing 8.
I'm confused also about the new SAT. I had been encoraging son to take the old SAT in Dec.but he said the PR folks said don't take it.Why would they say that?</p>
<p>There is quite a bit of conflicting advice for the class of 06 on the old/new SAT. Many private colleges will accept the best section scores from either the old or the new SAT (including old SAT II Writing). However, most public universities (the UCs especially) will only accept the new SAT. It's an interesting opportunity for 06ers to pick and choose which test to take, depending on where they want to apply.</p>
<p>At this point, the question is moot. There is only one "old" SAT remaining and, unless you take it standby, it's too late to register for it.</p>
<p>BHG, such an increase is always very good, but you'll have to see the relevance in its context. Increasing from 150 to 171 is different from an increase from 200 to 221. In general terms you can expect an increase from sophomore year to junior year, especially if your son took a PR class. Most students do not score at their ability level on the PSAT because they did not prepare and were unfamiliar with the test. </p>
<p>As far as Princeton Review recommendation NOT to take a current SAT test, I am sure that they could give you a logical explanation. The explanation is probabybased on the fact that the new test will be easier for advanced students, will not include analogies and QC -areas that gave problems to most students- and will be universally accepted. Obviously, the fine line won't tell that they also believe that their classes will be very effective to prepare for the new test. There is not a better recipe for alarming unsuspecting parents than the current cloud of obscurity that masks the new versus old test. You cannot blame PR to exploit this set of circumstances to the fullest. </p>
<p>From my vantage point, you have received very bad advice but not everything is lost. Your son can still present the January 22 SAT on a standby basis. This is an opportunity to establish or grandfather 1600 out of the 2400 points. Very few schools will disregard the math or verbal scores earned in January 2005. The same opportunity exist for students who already earned a good score on the SAT. They can grandfather the writing score by taking the last SAT-II Writing test ever offered. The same theory applies!</p>
<p>For what it is worth, I would tell your son to stick to TCB material from now on, and to take as many real practice tests as possible. The real SAT are the ONLY test that gives a legitimate insight in your performance. With the help of the PR course and its widely available strategies, your son should be in good position to reach his potential score by working on real practices test. If his CR score does not improve, check the strategies offered by Kaplan for a change of pace. Among the big boys, the math strategies are universal among companies but the approach for verbal is slightly different.</p>
<p>My daughter's scores jumped 160 points from sophomore to junior year on the PSAT. She did not do any prep or take any classes. What she DID do, however, was finish an extra year of math, an extra year of honors track English and a year of a very rigorous AP history course. I think her jump is attributed more to these things than any thing else.</p>
<p>I read somewhere on the college board that the typical student increases about 50 points a year on each part of the SAT just from academic preparation.</p>
<p>I have 3 kids. #1 is a college junior and his score jumped 24 points between sophmore and junior year. #2 is a college freshman and jumped 1 point. #3 is a hs junior and jumped 23 points. Sons #1 and 2 both tested on the old PSAT. Both also increased their SAT scores slightly from their PSATs. Son #3 is the only one who took the old one as a sophmore and the new one as junior, but based on the jump his older brother also made, I don't think the change in the test made that much difference for #3. None of my boys did any kind of prep.</p>
<p>Thank you. I know there is a thread in the college prep section which asks about increases. But I appreciate hearing some in depth thought by the parents. We all do not have multiple children scoring in the 220's.Shennie; And the disadvantage goes to those kids who only take the test once as a junior. Xiggi, it's time to have your book published! Perhaps a catchy title ? It you start now good chance you may be able to fund grad school with the proceeds!</p>
<p>Thank you, BHG. </p>
<p>As a tribute to you, I would not mind using this title, "Swinging from the other side". It seems appropriate considering that I tend to have contrary views on many issues. In the meantime, I find that the greatest attribute of giving free and unsolicited advise and opinions is that the price is always right, even it the contents might be erroneous. :)</p>
<p>I dunno, "Swinging From The Other Side" raises a number of very different meanings in my mind. . . . </p>
<p>Xiggi, your comment about going from 150 to 171 vs. 200 to 221 is well taken. The latter could have tangible financial benefits, while the former is simply a good jump on a test that doesn't mean anything. But of course there is the psychological/confidence angle as well. Based on the 2003 percentile index I have, a 150 would equate to a 56 percentile, while a 171 would equate to 79 percentile. That would, I hope, give a student more confidence in their abilities and encourage them to keep working since they are on the right track.</p>
<p>BHG:</p>
<p>PR's basic position, as written, is that the new SAT is easier to prep for, and, more importantly, this first, March administration should have an easier curve based on past CB practices. According to PR, every decade or so, CB rolls out significant changes to the test. And, each time, the first admin has the easiest curve, at least according to them. Yes, of course, PR claims to assist with the new test (their shareholders demand it), but their recommendation is not necessarily economic for them. Would not PR be better off financially to encourage kids to take the OLD SAT + Writing II, and then, come back for more prep for the NEW test? </p>
<p>Kaplan has the direct opposite recommendation of PR, and has stated it publicly in a Newsweek college edition (both Newsweek and Kaplan owned by Wash Post) -- prep for and take both tests, and go with the higher inidividual scores, as Xiggi suggests.</p>
<p>CB mirrors PR's approach -- "As always, the College Board recommends that you wait until spring of your junior year to take the SAT...."</p>
<p>BHG: I would encourage you to check the college websites that your S is considering for their specific SAT requirement. I know in my S's case, the majority of schools that he is considering require the NEW SAT. Thus, it would not of much value to him to pay the $$ to take the old SAT + Writing. IMO, his time is better spent studying the College Board materials (thanks to Xiggi's rec) for the new SAT since we live in UC-land (which, with all the rainfall, is beginning to look a lot like the NW).</p>
<p>How can a student take as many 'real' tests as possible when the test is new this year? "10 Real SATs" book being revised?</p>
<p>Yes, it has been revised; it's now The Official SAT Study Guide for the new SAT. It became available in October and contains 8 practice tests. For an additional fee, you can register for an online course at collegeboard.com which includes scoring of essays.</p>