<p>Son just got Dec SATs. Exactly the same ( plus 0) as PSATs and up 60 points from November but a really nice balance. Now has his 800s superstore and is DONE with testing except for APs and Chem and Physics subject tests. He will need the break with sports.
Nov CR 680 M 800 W 800 (80/10) 2280
Dec CR 800 M 750 W 790 (78/10) 2340
PSAT 2340
We are glad he’s done mid Junior year and not looking at ACT</p>
<p>Maringirl - Congats on the great scores (hard to improve on perfect) and being almost done with testing. Just wonderring why he is taking both Chem and Physics subject tests instead of one science and Math 2. That seems to be the most popular combination of specific subject test required - at least for engineering.</p>
<p>Look what I found while avoiding house cleaning: <a href=“http://professionals.collegeboard.com/profdownload/understanding-psat-nmsqt-scores.pdf[/url]”>http://professionals.collegeboard.com/profdownload/understanding-psat-nmsqt-scores.pdf</a></p>
<p>Mom24boys- my son is a year ahead in math so was able to take Math II after sophomore year, Bio after freshman year so now Physics and Chem subject tests in June. He’s looking at mechanical engineering…I think anyone whose kid I’d ahead in math should take the Math II early to get it out of the way before they forget everything prior to Calc!</p>
<p>I agree about getting it out of the way early if possible. S’13 was in the same boat for math and it made sense to take Math II before starting calc this year. He was also taking AP World as a sophomore, so it made sense to take the SAT World History test in June since he was in study mode anyway. It worked out well, He’ll probably do the same this year.</p>
<p>Thanks sendemsoaring! I’ll be happy when they post the state level breakdown (which should be soon.)</p>
<p>
Is this what you were looking for?</p>
<p>[US</a> Patent # 7,831,196. Automatic essay scoring system - Patents.com](<a href=“http://www.patents.com/us-7831196.html]US”>http://www.patents.com/us-7831196.html)
The feature set may include the following 12 features: (1) length of the essay in total number of words, (2) percent of grammar errors with regard to total number of words, (3) percent of usage errors with regard to total number of words, (4) percent of mechanics errors with regard to total number of words, (5) percent of style feedback comments with regard to total number of words, (6) optimal number of discourse elements, wherein discourse elements are selected from the group consisting of background sentences, thesis sentences, main idea sentences, supporting idea sentences and conclusion sentences, (7) average word length of discourse elements, (8) score category to which the essay text is most similar with regard to vocabulary usage, (9) similarity of the essay vocabulary to the vocabulary used in essays scored in the highest score category, (10) ratio of number of words types to tokens in an essay, (11) vocabulary level, and (12) average word length.</p>
<p>Maringirl - Agree with you about Math 2 (one of the many things I learned on CC) - DS also took it after Sophmore. He took Chemistry in October (self studied over the summer) and we were not planning on him taking any more. He wants to take both AP Physics so won’t be done until end of senior yr. Is there any reason to take more then 2 tests? He scored 800 on both and has no interest in any of the Ivies.</p>
<p>Sacchi - Thank you for reposting that, it looks very useful. Son can do all the multiple choice stuff, but is very bad at timed writing.</p>
<p>Mom24bys: since some Engineering schools won’t look at his freshman Bio subject test ( life science as opposed to physical science) he will take Chem after his AP test. He 's already taken Physics Honors, now in Mech with E and M next year.
Having a solid 800 on his Math II, Chem ( hopefully ) and Physics will make him a more attractive applicant for an engineering program and possible merit aid. Not looking at east coast ivies either.
But you are right that they only request two subject tests. Wouldn’t three be better? He will submit Bio anyway as it’s an 800. How hard was Chem? I heard it was the hardest subject test of the sciences! Congrats to your son on his scores.</p>
<p>Thanks, sendemsoaring. Did you look at the selection index vs percentile?
In 2011 PSAT, to be in 99+ percentile, the students need to score 222 or above while it was 224 or above last year.</p>
<p>Happy Holidays to my new CC friends!</p>
<p>Happy holidays to all. Enjoying a typical Jewish Christmas today -movies and Chinese food. Enjoy.</p>
<p>Happy and Peaceful Holidays to all the 2013 Parents and their DSs and DDs!</p>
<p>From what I am reading over on the 2012 thread, things may be a little more stressful for all of us this time next year— so let’s enjoy the holidays that much more this year!</p>
<p>Happy Holidays to All! Chinese dinner has been cleared from the table and Dad took 3 or the 4 boys to Tin Tin.</p>
<p>Maringirl - DS said Chemistry was not hard, took about 10 hrs of studying and that was after a GT not AP Chenistry class, but DS thinks in Math, science and Latin if it had been English no amount of studying would have made it easy.</p>
<p>Merry Christmas to all!</p>
<p>Peace and joy to all of you this holiday season.</p>
<p>Hello fellow parents! I hope you had a wonderful Christmas yesterday or that whatever holiday you have been celebrating has been equally wonderful!</p>
<p>We had a great Christmas here. Good times with family, good times at church, all the kids were happy and everyone got along well. Sounds like a winner to me!</p>
<p>I think we are going to relax another day or two and then renew talking about colleges. I really want this break though. :-)</p>
<p>What were the favorite gifts in your house? D2013 got an iPod touch and was thrilled, S13yo and S9yo got a Wii game called Skylanders that has them losing their ever-loving minds. My husband picked it out over my caterwauling and it turned out to be the favorite gift! S9 also got a big Star Wars Anniversary Lego set that he is loving. 
My two favorite gifts were a Soda Stream and a “Reader’s End Table”- it’s a nightstand that has six shelves vertically so I can organize and store all my reading materials. </p>
<p>Can’t wait to hear the reports!</p>
<p>We had a nice Christmas as well. S’13 had an amazing experience on Christmas eve. He was singing a solo at church (O Holy Night) and, unknown to us, a “quite famous” opera singer was in the congregation visiting with his family. He (the opera star) made a point to come speak to S’13 after the service. He was very encouraging and invited S to come sing for him privately to work on his college auditions, etc. He also invited S to come visit backstage with him the next time he sings in Dallas (this Spring). I believe this was S’13’s favorite gift and I didn’t have to spend a penny!</p>
<p>Nice stories. We had some hits and some misses here. 2011 son’s climbing shoes didn’t fit. I ordered them through Amazon so I get the fun of sending them back and trying to find ones that fit. 2013 daughter loved her gifts. I gave her the huge Kelty backpack that I took to Europe 25 years ago and she thinks it will be perfect for her outdoor excursions. She also liked the chair hammock that I bought from a Spanish teacher to help fund his Mexican wife’s legal fees. 2014 son’s gift to me is learning to play Linus and Lucy on the piano. I’m loving hearing him practice. He got luggage and an Otterbox for the iTouch that he’ll get as soon as he finishes his study abroad/exchange scholarship applications. He’ll find out in April where he’ll be studying next year. The three younger ones got scrapbook and art supplies, legos, cheap cameras and DVDs. The favorite gift was the ridiculous repeating parrot that I got at a school white elephant gift exchange. I’m sure by next year’s party I will be more than ready to bring it back for a second year.</p>
<p>Christmas was organized chaos here as we have become accustomed to because Christmas Eve is also my D’s birthday. She plays the violin every year at Christmas Eve mass and it can feel very harried trying to celebrate her birthday properly, prepare for family to arrive from out of state, cook and bake, and get to the church on time! D got a new pair of Uggs for her birthday that have a cable knit wool cuff that can extend above the knee, fold down over the boot, or detached and the boot worn as it traditionally is. These were a big hit as well as the Ipod Touch she got for Christmas! I hope all the kids are enjoying their time away from the books. D has a lot of assignments she needs to work on this week, but at least she had all of last week off as well. Happy early and prosperous new year to all! </p>
<p>megpmom, what a wonderfully surprising experience for your S. He must be very excited! Good luck to him with his music career!</p>