how to do better on the psat next year??

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

I’m a sophomore and got a 1310/1520 on the PSAT (reading and writing = 650/760 and math = 660/760). I’m in the 97th percentile for everything. I’m somewhat disappointed in myself because I’ve been in the 99th percentile for nearly every standardized test since middle school. I’m also really worried that I won’t qualify to be a National Merit Semifinalist with my NMSC Selection Index score of 196; I would need to get around a 212 to qualify to be one in my state.

I’m not sure if this would matter but I’ve taken one practice SAT and ACT and got a score of 1250 and 31. I really want to be a National Merit Semifinalist and am wondering if it would be possible to qualify as one my junior year.

I will most likely be taking the ACT over the SAT - would this put me at a disadvantage?

2

Alright lets get down to business:

First, don’t be disappointing, that was close to what I got last year and this year a managed a 1510 (one wrong on the reading portion dropped 10 qq) :stuck_out_tongue:
Second, USE KHAN ACADEMY. You will not regret your time spent.
Third, Buy some prep books. I recommend the Collegeboard blue SAT book, barrons and princeton SAT Prep (Do them in reverse order :P) If your poor like me, your public library and school are two good resources.
Fourth, put time and effort into it. Your score is proportional to time spent. I put in around 200+ hours on SAT Prep last summer
Fifth, Make a review notebook. Write down all the things you do wrong and review them constantly

Good luck on your studies, work your arse off and if you have questions e-mail me at na4216w@gmail.com

3

Like @JustaKorean says , Practice Practice Practice!

4

Thank you so much! I’m planning on prepping for the ACT instead of the SAT, so would doing so put me at a disadvantage?

5

It may or may not, depending on what your strengths are and what math you are currently taking.

I actually dislike the advice of using just khanacademy and prep books. Instead, I would recommend typing yourself up a list of topics and fill in your weaknesses. There is usually very specific things that you do not know. After you actually know all the information, then and only then should you just practice taking the tests. Watch lectures on youtube. Self-study.

6

@Waterborne I’m using prep books. That’s my way of filling in my weaknesses and maintaining my strengths.

7

Sorry to say, but if math is really the biggest of your worries you shouldn’t be practicing SAT and ACT, you should borrow some textbooks from school and do some math :stuck_out_tongue:

8

It isn’t! I got a 35 on a practice ACT, but mid-20s in all other topics.

9

Then you need to find out what your weakness are. Yes, the ACT and SAT are infamous for displaying familiar concepts in unfamiliar ways; however, if you have not mastered the concepts to begin with that it is not your only problem. Please give us your subscores.

10

25E
35M
26R
24S
@Waterborne

11

Not that

Your subscores of those (i.e. Data Analysis)

12

@needtosucceed27 That’s a 28 btw, do the math.

13

@ab2002 I’m aware of what my composite score is; another user asked for my subscore.

As for my practice ACT score in my first reply, that was from a different test.

14

I need the subscores (i.e. Data Analysis) because I want to know exactly what you are weak in.

15

You can only qualify for National Merit as a junior, so you should prepare for the PSAT until you take it. Taking the ACT is definitely different than the SAT, because the PSAT and SAT are the same in format and style.
This might hurt you in that lots of kids who take the PSAT take it to prepare for the SAT, so you prepping for different standardized tests might leave you spread a bit thin. However, you seem like you’re on the right track with a 1310.
As a junior in NJ you need a 223 to qualify, so I definitely worked hard to achieve a score that put me above that. I mainly used Kahn Academy and prep books that I took out from the library. I like Princeton Review and the Collegeboard books the best. Barron’s prep books tend to differ from the actual format of the test and I rarely use Kaplan (not that I don’t like it, but I just don’t choose it over Princeton Review or the blue book).
Review the answers that you missed on your PSAT test from this year and check the areas they were related to (circle theorems, data analysis). You can also take a diagnostic SAT test online to check these areas. Then watch videos and do specialized practice that you can find on Kahn Academy.

16

Oh just an FYI if you want to be a merit scholar you need a good SAT score, they don’t take ACT :stuck_out_tongue:

17

You should start off your college process by coming to terms with not being at the best at everything while still striving for improvement (just because being disappointed by being in the 97th percentile made me groan)

Also, like somebody else noted, I’d think about what your best options are. If you take only the ACT, you’ll still need to be studying for the SAT at the same time (to retake PSAT and take SAT if you are semifinalist), which could be grueling.