<p>Hi. My school requires that 9th, 10th, and 11th graders take the PSAT. I'm starting 9th grade, and even though the scores don't count, I still want to do the best I can. Can you guys suggest the best ways to prep? If you used any prep books, or went to any classes, I would love to know. Also, how do I break down prep time considering the fact that the PSAT is in mid-October, and it's almost the beginning of September giving me a month and a half to prepare? Do you think this is enough time? I know everybody going to say that I'm only a rising (soon-to-be-in-a-few-days) freshman, but I really do want a good score, so I know where I am among my class.</p>
<p>Honestly you should do fine without studying unless you want a 200+ score. I took it last (freshman) year, never studied, had just started geometry, and got a 176 (which is a decent score for a freshman.) This year I might buy a PSAT prep book because it’d be nice to break 200 as a sophomore.</p>
<p>Okay!! Thanks! I’m taking Geometry HN, and I was worried that I didn’t have enough math to do really well on the PSAT, but I guess I’ll do fine. Do you know what the average score is for a 9th grader? Thanks again!!</p>
<p>Yeah the Psat only covers up to Alg II. Your math score will probably be the lowest, but it’s no big deal. As for freshman average, I’m not really sure. I only saw three of my freshmen friends’ scores last year. They had: Low 120’s, High 110’s, and one of them had high 90’s. I dont think any of those indicate an average since theyre scattered, but the average for a Junior is around 150ish.</p>
<p>I would say you don’t need to prep much freshman year, just see where you are. What I did leading up to my junior PSAT was: study vocab and root words, do SAT question of the day from College Board, maybe one practice SAT from the big blue book by College Board, attend a free prep session offered by my school that provided a practice book and an “Up Your Score” guide, and read over the big blue book’s sections on my most difficult concepts. This helped me be on the road to National Merit! I also think one of the biggest contributing factors to my success was being able to take the test three times, like you will. It really helps to just practice and you WILL get better just by taking your classes over the next few years. Best of luck!</p>
<p>Chill out foodlover! 
I took the PSAT last year (without studying, lolol. I wanted to see what I could get without it) and it wasn’t too bad. I thought a lot of the reading part was common sense. And the math is easy enough (though there will be problems you have no idea how to do). And that was when I had barely started geometry so the only math I had under my belt was like 75% of algebra 1. (Bad algebra 1 teacher lol)</p>
<p>Well for me am a Junior and am studying constantly (except for four days because i was sick) for the PSATs because I want to achieve a national merit scholarship. Am using the Princeton Review because the book is extremely candid and lucid to grasp all the info I need to achieve a high score. I also have a Math 1 and Math2 because am not very well at math so am going to study that. Lastly, I also obtain a grammer book to improve greatly on my grammer in general. Am going to studying up tell the date of the PSAT. That’s basically all :):)</p>
<p>I took PSAT in 10th, hadn’t really done any geometry or Algebra II yet, and I got a 58 M, 72 CR, and 80 W. I took one practice test on which I way underwhelmed, so I don’t consider that I really prepped. Consider this a trial run to know what/if you should study for the next go-rounds.
Good luck!</p>
<p>Thank you so much for all your input!!</p>
<p>I know the average for my school for juniors is around 135 or 140. Simply based on the fact that you’re eager to do well, I’m sure you’ll be fine. I got a 159 with only 2 days prior notice and wasn’t able to do any studying. If you just review basic grammar rules and understand how to tackle passages, you’ll do great! Good luck</p>
<p>Thanks!! I feel that most of my friends won’t prepare anyway, but I just want to know where I am among everybody. I think I’m better with the find-the-incorrect-word than anything. LOL, I don’t know what that’s even called. Passages are probably the hardest, mainly because I have to read them and comprehend them really quickly. Do you think it’s better to use a PSAT prep book, or a SAT prep book for certain sections?</p>
<p>Personally I feel PSAT Prep is a waste of money just bookit and get other books to understand a section on the PSAT. In simplest terms, get a math. Ok if you don’t understand the math. For SAT get PREP if you want to achieve high. I know I am :)</p>
<p>Okay, so is there a specific math book dedicated to math on the PSAT? Oh and is PREP the name of a book, or did you just capitalize it? LOL, I sound dumb, but \ it’s just that I’ve never taken PSAT before…so, you’re saying I’m better off getting a SAT book or a specific topic book?</p>
<p>Lol no there is no book that I know of is named PREP just capitalized by mistake. But anyways just get a book that dedicates itself to math for example am using Princeton Review Math 1 and 2 book because am not great a math. Am also using the Princeton Review PSAT book as well. The Princeton Review Book covers all section of the PSAT book but breifly that’s why I need a Math 1 and 2 book because I did really grasp all the info I needed for math. You can get a SAT Review book but it’s just longer because it has the Essay in it.</p>
<p>Okay!! Thank you so much!! Do you think I have enough time to prepare?</p>
<p>I personally didnt do anything to prepare for them Freshman or Sophomore year. Freshman Year I got a 1540 and Sophomore year got a 1660. Don’t sweat it really, the real challenge is in the real SAT I took a full length practice one this summer, got a 1570 and it was hard as crap but what makes it hard is not the material but the 4 hours it took, you need mental endurance to do good. I find the questions on the SAT to be easy but there are some hints that can make it easier for instance on the Math questions the harder ones are near the end of the section so it’s easier to know which ones to omit to increase your score, when preparing for the SAT that’s the kind of stuff you need to learn, as far as the information goes you either know it or you don’t sure you can practice it but not like the day before the exam or weeks before, be cause the information on there spans pretty far.</p>
<p>@foodlover Yeah! Ofcouse remember your just a freshman that’s mean you don’t have to worry about the PSATs. Even if your taking it, it’s because your school what you to, to see where your at. 9th and 10th graders whom take the PSAT are not in the running for the National Merit it’s your 11th grade year where you enter the running (if you tell your school that you want to enter).</p>
<p>Okay!! Thanks!! I feel less worried now!!
@JosiahAd: Yeah, our school makes us take it, but I think it’s nice because now we know where we are!! Thanks for your help!</p>