Preparing for PSAT... Could I raise my 205 to 215+?

Test Preparation
1

<p>I am an incoming junior and hoping to be a National Merit Finalist after taking the PSAT in October.</p>

<p>As a sophomore, I received a 205 on the test. For my state, I will need about a 215.</p>

<p>Some people have told me that I have a good chance of making the cutoff. However, I am concerned that my 205 was simply a stroke of luck. After taking a practice test, I only got about a 197. And that practice test was a few months ago, while my sophomore PSAT was almost 9 months ago... which means I certainly didn't do any better, and I didn't even retain my original score.</p>

<p>My question is this: Is it worth the time for me to prepare for the PSAT, or is there no chance that I will be a Finalist and should instead prepare for the ACT or something? If it is worth the time to prepare for the PSAT, what should I do to prepare? How can I raise my score by 15+ points in only a few months time?</p>

<p>Edit: My score was actually a 204, now that I looked back on it.</p>

2

<p>i think you should try to raise your score for the PSAT because it can also help you with the SAT…definitely get a tutor if you have the money, it really helps…also do one practice questions a day so you get in the habit and make sure your timing is good. Maybe you got the 197 bc you werent as focused as you were before.</p>

3

<p>It’s definitely possible and worth trying if you’ve got the time. You can get the NSMQT which brings you a few benefits when applying to college such as scholarhsips</p>

4

<p>Well I got a 179? Or something like that the first time. Then junior year I got a 219. Prob just missed the cut off though, and I screwed up in math. So it’s definitely possible. I didn’t do any specific studying for the PSAT either. I took an SAT course over the summer but otherwise not much. IT really helps to study the grammar though. Writing on the psat is harsh and so like math, if you get one wrong, you lose major points. And btw I took a psat practice test the night before the test and got a 205-ish. So a lot of it is in the right mindset and mood I believe.</p>

5

<p>Okay. Thank you for the insight!</p>