HUGE disparity between PSAT and SAT scores...does it hurt my chances??

Test Preparation
1

<p>Hi everybody, I'll get right to it. I dont know whether Im jsut a bad test taker or what, but I didnt do as good as I thought I would have on my SATs.
Im going to be posting a chances thread once I get my JUNE SAT scores back, but for now I'm just wondering if colleges would look down on a drop from PSAT to SAT.</p>

<p>PSAT (soph year): 76 math, 63 cr, 710 writing = 21 OVERALL</p>

<p>SAT (only took once junior year, waiting for June scores): 650 math, 650 cr, 630 writing = 1920 OVERALL</p>

<p>I honestly don't know what happened. I mean I'm definitely happy with my scores and all, but I was expecting ALOT better, like 100-200 points higher overall....</p>

<p>What will colleges take be on this drop/major difference, if any at all?? Also, does it totally kill my chances at top notch schools (like IVIES)...liek I said I'm not going to post all my grades (however, so it doesnt look like I'm completely dumb 3.98 UW, 4.87 W) and ECs, but based on those alone does it knock me off the list for like WUSTL, Cornell, UPENN, UCB, etc???</p>

<p>THANKS</p>

2

<p>yeah man anybody can tell you cheated on the PSAT.</p>

3

<p>well colleges dont see your PSAT scores i dont think, so its not a problem
and that 1920, lets just hope you improved in june...most colleges just look at your highest scores and will ignore the 1920 as long as your score improved, so i dont think you have anything to worry about. i'm in a similar position...i took the SAT early in my junior and got a 1940, but then retook it and got a 2110...hopefully colleges don't pay much attention to that 1940</p>

4

<p>Yeah, colleges don't see the PSAT. What would be a problem is if your GPA is significantly lower than your SATs (demonstrating that you're smart but don't work hard...)</p>

5

<p>meh, chill and take it again... i did the same thing, actually...</p>

<p>PSAT-- M: 680 V:730 W:730
SAT-- M:680 V:650 W:680</p>

<p>Retake-- M:690 V:740 W:750</p>

<p>You might've gotten flustered just because you had a lot of pressure to do as well as the PSAT said you would. Try not to feel that way. R-E-L-A-X. It's only a test... employers don't really care about where you went to school so long as you prove that you can do the job (ie, through work experience).</p>

6

<p>Our school posts our PSAT scores on our transcripts...</p>

<p>you probably should just keep in mind that the PSAT is really short in comparison to the real SAT...and it has no essay</p>

<p>so I think your first SAT is gonna be worse than the PSAT</p>

<p>work on it, and you shouldn't have a problem getting a higher retake; look at everyone else</p>

7

<p>thanks for all the replies, i appreciate it.....</p>

<p>im the oldest out of all my sibligns and it was my first time experiencing the SAT...i had it in my mind that i NEEDED a 1270 for a florida 100% tuition scholarship offered by our state, not thinking that i was CAPABLE of like a 1400....</p>

<p>i appreciate the responses and the words of encouragement, and hopefully can post a better score monday!!</p>

8

<p>Hey don't worry...I think a huge drop from PSAT to SAT is not unusual (since the PSAT is easier and shorter anyway).</p>

<p>My friend and I both scored 238, but I dropped down to a 2220 and him a 2140 on the actual SAT that we took in January.</p>

<p>That's a 160 and 240 point drop, respectively!</p>

<p>We're both hoping to do significantly better on the June...we'll see how it goes.</p>

<p>Relax and good luck!</p>

9

<p>Variance. It's one test, a 200 point swing will happen.</p>