Hello all, a newbie here. I want to give you all a bad news from me: I have a score of 560 on the PSAT. I did horrible on the math, reading, and the writing (proof read) section of the test. I don’t know how much wrong with me, that can I make that score considering my intellectual nature. Like, how can I suck so badly on the PSAT? It must be the test anxiety that I had during the testing.
I had signed up for Khan Academy, because there’s no way I can allow myself to subdue myself into that kind of bad surprise on the real SAT. (A score of 560 is in the 1st percentile, by the way). Users: Do you have any methods that I can use to revive the chance of getting a higher score from this abortion of a score? Anything, at least remedies, that could help me in the real SAT. A PSAT score correlates well of how well you could in an SAT test (as said by different many people from many different places).
I am not planning to work as a janitor who makes 10 dollars an hour, and lives in his parents’ garage and listens to Megadeth during being depressed (metal is one of my favorite music genres). That is not a career that I could put my self-welfare on, at least not very frequently. I hope that this is comprehensible to you, because I don’t want a misunderstanding on my embarrassing fail at life.
Is it possible that you mismarked the bubbles on a section or two (got off on the count or something)? Your writing in your post seems reasonable – you know how to use apostrophes appropriately, for example.
I would start with the Blue Book from the College Board for studying. If you can afford a SAT prep course, also take that. Try to leave enough time in junior year to test twice if you can. Some students also do better on the ACT, so you could try that. But either way, you need to study before hand.
If you really can’t pull out a decent SAT score after a lot of effort, you should look at test optional schools.
Oh, a comment . . . that’s good. I am a tenth grader–who really tries to be the best of himself–and just have a bad score of 560 (as stated before). Maybe it is just that I am not that familar with the layout and the style of a PSAT test. I don’t know if I mismarked some of the bubbles on the test booklet; I checked them before I go on the test. It’s just that . . . I am a SLOW thinker during pressure, especially when it concerns time. I can’t think well enough during the time range of the test (which is too short for me). Plus, the test uses different concepts and abstractions that I’ve heard never before.
I know partially, it is my fault. I didn’t study for the test (lazy guy here), and my mind rather seeks short-term pleasure than long-term success. I have horrible self-control during my task (like focusing to be procrastinating). I would rather watch a YouTube video or listen to music, rather to do anything valuable to my academic position. I tried to do anything that renegotiate my mind to do these task rather to waste time on useless distraction.
You said “reasonable” at the writing of my OP: Is there anything that should be corrected to be appropriate? I know you can’t edit your post after a certain time (I have learned that immediately).
Is English your first language? Wondering now that I read your 2nd post. How are your grades in math?
“Is English your first language?” Oh boy, sorry to give you that impression. Yes, but I have dyslexia. I self diagnosed myself with that, because how frequently I make mistakes. Anyway, I do well in math (a B+ usually).
Oh, and I have some dysgrapia as well if you are even more wondering.
^If your dysgraphia is documented, you should be able to get Extended Time on either the SAT or ACT. Speak to your high school counselor for guidance.
The Extended Time will improve your score, probably significantly.
I will try to do that, thank you.
Hi there! I took the PSAT as well. As mentioned before, is there a possibility that maybe you just bubbled the wrong answers?
Well, it’s only just because of the short time the test had. It only had two hours for me to finish the test. That’s not enough for me to think effectively. Thus, not giving me the enough time to think about the right answer for the question, and to bubble it on the answer sheet.
Ah I see, well I’m sorry and just continue studying for the SAT itself because that is what matters. At least you know what you have to improve on which is always good.
Some very good advice here already, especially from the always helpful @intparent. The only thing I would add (in addition to supporting the suggestion that you look into getting additional time) is taking a prep course that focuses on strategies for recognizing types of questions. I think SAT & ACT are trying to minimize the value of that approach, but I doubt they will be completely successful, and you sound like someone who could benefit from it.
Thanks for the advice.
Alright, I think I have enough from this thread. Mods: shut this thread down.
A 560 is unheard of. From what I have calculated, to get that low of a score, you would need to get just 5 questions correct on each section (you did worse than just guessing). Obviously, you have made some error on your answer sheet. You may have made your marking too light, did not use a #2 pencil, or got messed up with the numbering. I would recommend practicing bubbling in answers so that they are nice and dark and making sure that you bubble in the correct corresponding number on your answer sheet.
By the way, since people are saying that you must have bubbled in the answers wrong, I believe you can get your test questions, the correct answer, and your answer for the PSAT on your CollegeBoard account. Unless they changed it this year - I took mine last year.
Good luck!
I already have my PSAT test with me, along with the answer sheet.
On your PSAT score report, does it say that you answered something for each question or does it say that the question was omitted or unscorable. It is very likely that there was a scoring error. Just go to the top of the screen on your PSAT score and there should be a file called your score report, which is four pages long; the last page has your response for each question.
Oh sorry, I was doing my homework. Anyway, I have seen the score report, and most of the questions are omitted. All of the questions on the reading section are omitted (when I didn’t have enough time to finish).
How many questions did you answer on each section? That you remember?
If the OP’s goal is to go to college, he needs to get the dysgraphia, dyslexia, and any other learning issues documented. If the OP has an IEP, it will help. But testing usually has to be done every three years or so. He can call the College Board and get instructions to begin that process soon since specific tests are required.
It’s possible to go the CC route to transfer into a four year university without having to take the SAT, but it’s still really important to consider that accommodations may be necessary in college as the OP makes plans.