<p>So guys I've been wondering what the heck to do to get my score up within the next two months to around a 220 for my PSAT. Naturally, I find the ACT "easier" than the (P)SAT, but I've been improving my PSAT and SAT scores since 8th grade. Now I'm around a 195-200ish on several practice tests, but I feel like I hit a dead end. I always end up missing a few questions or leaving 1 or 2 blank due to the penalty. I've been studying vocab using the Princeton Review's SAT Vocab app for the iPhone, and it's been great. How do I raise my score by 3 or 4 raw points in each section? I'm scoring 64ish on CR, 69-70ish on M, and around a 65 on W. Help... please?</p>
<p>p.s. - I've been through so many threads on CC and I've done many practice tests, but I don't see gradual improvement.</p>
<p>Guess every single time. You’re bound to get some right.</p>
<p>But isn’t there a high risk of getting them wrong too? It seems that every time I bring the answer choices down to 2, I choose the wrong one instead of the right one >.<</p>
<p>Hey Skorada123, </p>
<p>I’m taking the PSAT this October too. Basically, I’m in the same position as you; I do many practice tests and study but my score doesn’t seem to rise by much, if at all. Your math score is pretty good, and was thinking maybe we could exchange advice? I usually get 76 or above on the writing section and usually over 70 for critical reading; math is where I have seem to have a problem. I can’t seem to break 70. I usually get a 64–I sometimes run out of time. Do you have any math tips?</p>
<p>I think for the critical reading section you should try to figure out why you always choose the wrong answer when you narrow it down to two choices; it seems like you’re losing several points due to this. Basically, you need to ask yourself for each choice, “where is the evidence?” It may sound obvious, but the information is always in the passage. Always. In the explanations for almost all critical reading questions, you’ll find references to the passage(s).</p>
<p>I think the writing section is the easiest to improve on. I would recommend McGraw Hill’s PSAT/NMSQT guide. It’s helped me a lot. It has 13 rules that you need to know and once you’ve learned all of the rules, it should be much easier for you to find the problem with a sentence as soon as you see it. </p>
<p>I hope my advice has helped. If you have a question, don’t hesitate to ask! If you have any math advice, I would really appreciate it!</p>
<p>Ash</p>
<p>Thanks Ash for the tips. I’ll check for that book. By the way, when you mean rules, what kind of rules does the book talk about? The PSAT Booklet that is distributed when you register for the test has a section where it talks about the 17 different writing components it tests. Is the McGraw Hill’s book similar to that? I’ve see a lot of improvement in my writing section so far, and I hope I can bring it up to at least a 70, if not higher. </p>
<p>For critical reading, I’m confused on how to approach reading the passages? I’ve seen: 1) skim the passage and get a general overview… 2) thoroughly read the passage and make notes on the side… 3) Read the few sentences at the beginning and ending of the paragraph to get the main idea. What is your method? </p>
<p>As far as math, I always use most of my time on the last 2-3 questions (the hard ones). I try to work as fast as I can through the easy and medium, and then check my answers to them once I’m done with them. Then I tackle the hard questions. This is also where I mess up sometimes and end up leaving some blank. I also always answer all the grid-in questions. To improve my math, I’ve been going through all my practice tests and trying to understand what exactly I did wrong. The big thing is that the math problems are always similar. For math, I’m using Barron’s practice tests and looking at the problems I miss. The book seems a bit more difficult than the real deal, but there’s no harm in that is there? </p>
<p>I hope I can at least get my scores up to yours by this October! Thanks for the help!</p>