<p>I have from Wednesday to Tuesday to prepare (fall break). Consistently getting around 60-65 in Math and would like to raise into 70s. Getting low 60s in CR and would like high 60s to low 70s. Writing is in high 50s and would like mid 60s.</p>
<p>Any excellent guides on the forum? I have a Barons SAT book (2009) and Princeton Review PSAT book (2006), but the SAT book is pretty heavy reading, and I didn't find the PR book to be that helpful.</p>
<p>I'm struggling with the writing section, critical reading isn't bad, and math is usually pretty good, but I make careless mistakes.</p>
<p>Your school uses PSAT to judge what classes you can take? That’s very strange. Normally, PSAT isn’t use for anything except for NMSQT in Junior year.</p>
<p>Yes. I think that the system that they use is VERY flawed, since they are determining what classes I am capable of taking this early in the year. </p>
<p>They use a combination of grades in previous courses and standardized testing scores for placement.</p>
<p>Very VERY flawed indeed. I took the PSAT my freshman year and didn’t even get a score. I took it again my sophomore year and got a score high enough to do it for NMSQT my junior year. When I took it, the entire purpose was to familiarize yourself with SAT-like questions early on to have an idea of what to study. </p>
<p>Personally, I wouldn’t worry about it at all. If you’re a dedicated enough student to actually be on this website(as a freshman, no less), you’ll do fine, I’m certain. </p>
<p>Here are a few tips for scoring higher. You want to pay very close attention to this if they take the PSAT as seriously as you say.</p>
<p>Make sure you’re answering the right question. In math, make sure you know what you’re solving for. In reading, check the text to make sure you aren’t confusing one thing for something else. Many people know the material but screw up because they didn’t read the question twice.
MOST IMPORTANT: The SAT and PSAT are tests where TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE. Do not waste ANY time. This being your first time, you will probably not have enough time to answer every question on every section. Bring a digital watch, know how much time you have, and adjust your strategies according to the time. Start with the easy questions, then try the hard. Generally, easy questions will be at the beginning while the hard ones are towards the end, though there are some exceptions. The reading passage questions come in no order of difficulty. In math, do the first half of the test first; it’s easy. When you come to the harder ones and time is dwindling down, pick what questions seem easiest to you. Like data analysis? Try those. Hate algebra? Stay away from the algebra questions at the very end of the section; some those are really tricky, especially for freshmen. Lastly, there are grid-in sections where there is no penalty for missing a question. You may want to omit multiple-choice questions if you cannot eliminate a single option(guess if you can eliminate two or more, though.). On grid-ins, since there is no penalty, put in whatever you think is reasonable. Remember: there are no negative answers, no answers greater than 9999, and no answer can possibly be an irrational number.</p>
<p>Don’t stress. If you were looking for more reading tips, I’m sorry, but I’m a WAY better math student than I am at reading.</p>
<p>Scrap the Barron’s SAT book (for now). I have it, and the grammar review section doesn’t cut to the chase with what you need to know for the SAT. Read silverturtle’s guide, complete official SATs for practice, and learn a couple of tricks for grammar, and your writing score should be set :). </p>