How Does PSAT Difficulty Compare to SAT

Test Preparation
1

<p>Are PSAT questions as difficult as SAT questions? Or rather, I should say, does the PSAT cover the same scope or craft a test considering that people take it much earlier in their high school careers than when they take the SAT? </p>

<p>I have looked at several recent SAT exams but only one of the recent PSAT exams, and am not sure how much to generalize off of the PSAT that I saw. I realize that there are just fewer PSATs so it is hard to generalize. </p>

<p>In any event, the math did not seem to cover some of the more advanced algebra topics, and the sentence completion did not seem nearly as difficult. For example, I did not see a question on absolute value or questions that require you to rearrange an equation to get the value of another expression (e.g. if x^2y=10, recognizing that x^4y^2 is 100 by squaring both sides of the equation). The writing questions did not appear as difficult to me as the recent SAT ones either.</p>

2

<p>They are comparable except for the essay and the length of each section. My D took SAT a month after PSAT and the scores are comparable.</p>

3

<p>Yes I am aware of the differences in the format. It just struck me that the harder questions on the PSAT math focused more on the geometry, although I may just have fewer PSAT exams at my disposal to go off of.</p>

4

<p>The questions are not more difficult, but the SAT is a lot longer and some kids run out of gas. Most kids take the SAT after the SAT and they are more familiar with the format plus a little older. They tend to do better on the SAT than the PSAT, but that is just what I have observed.</p>

<p>Just get a copy of the CB Blue Book and jam on it. That will help you prep for either test.</p>

5

<p>Questions are pretty much the same. But imo, it’s easier to get a better score on the SAT than the PSAT because of the latter’s harsh curve.</p>

6

<p>For me, the PSAT was easier. This was mainly because I felt that the math was much easier, and my essay brought my writing score down.</p>

7

<p>Yes I agree with everybody about the curve and the endurance. I just didn’t know if there was a tangible difference in say the level of vocab in the harder questions or the omission of more advanced algebra topics in favor of more advanced geometry for psat, or it was just this one particular psat i saw.</p>

8

<p>PSAT Math does not include any of the Algebra II concepts like the SAT does</p>

9

<p>Actually I don’t think the curve is steeper in PSAT, it just has less questions that each careless mistake would have a larger impact.</p>