PSAT scores...oh God!

<p>Okay so i just got back my PSAT scores last week and i have to say i'm highly disappointed. I'm currently a sophmore in high school and i'm one of those kids who gets straight A's and is in all high level classes. But when it comes to big tests like the PSAT or things of that nature i always do bad on them. I remember my favorite teacher saying "there's no such thing as a bad test taker" and i don't know what i'm doing wrong. I think it might have to do with time because i'm a careful reader when it comes to tests like this and honestly i have a short attention span.</p>

<p>On my PSAT i got a 47 on CR, 47 on M, and 54 in W, which compared to everyone in my class is quite low. No, it's not m first PSAT, i took one in my freshman year, but i did improve. I know for sure that if i ignore my PSAT scores i will do horrible on the SAT and i don't want that happening.</p>

<p>I talked to my dad about it and he said he was planning on registering me for SAT prep classes which i'm unable to take at school due to my schedule.</p>

<p>I know i'll have another chance to take the PSAT during my junior year and later on that year i'll take the SAT. I plan on doing better on that PSAT. Does anyone have any tips on taking tests like the PSAT and SAT?? College isn't that far off and i wanna get prepared.</p>

<p>Why don’t you go over to the test prep forum and see what you can find there:</p>

<p>[SAT</a> and ACT Tests & Test Preparation - College Confidential](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/sat-act-tests-test-preparation/]SAT”>Test Preparation - College Confidential Forums)</p>

<p>you need to take a practice test every two days. and study all the tips. it is possible to do this on your own.</p>

<p>and dont cheat by looking at the answers in the back.</p>

<p>but idk if you can make national merit anywys.</p>

<p>PROVE ME WRONG</p>

<p>PSAT means nothing period. Especially if it was your sophomore psat, that literally counts for nothing. I got a 202 on my junior psat, ended up getting a 2400 on the real one. The psat is actually harder believe it or not, because you don’t have an essay to bring up your writing grade and the ratio to easy:hard questions is skewed. Don’t let it freak you out too much, but yeah, you should probably do prep classes.
Protip: Practice makes perfect. Once your mind subconsciously memorizes the test format, your score will suddenly jump 150 points in like a day. Just keep practicing, it’ll first seem like you’re not making any progress for a LONG time. Then, it’ll suddenly click. Thats what happens with most people, according to my tutor.</p>

<p>" But when it comes to big tests like the PSAT or things of that nature i always do bad on them. I remember my favorite teacher saying “there’s no such thing as a bad test taker” and i don’t know what i’m doing wrong. I think it might have to do with time because i’m a careful reader when it comes to tests like this and honestly i have a short attention span."</p>

<p>Your teacher was flat-out wrong. There are any number of reasons for having difficulty with standardized exams, and you have identified what you believe to be your particular difficulty. On Monday, trot yourself into the guidance office at your high school and tell your counselor this, “It has been suggested to me that since my standardized test results are consistently lower than what would be predicted based on my in-class performance, I should be screened for processing speed, and possibly for dyslexia.” Then sit down and wait until the Resource team has set up a time for formal evaluation. Guess what, you are old enough to ask for this on your own. You don’t have to wait until your parents or teachers call for it. And that they haven’t done this yet indicates that someone is asleep at the wheel at your school. You are entitled to this under the federal ADA legislation.</p>

<p>Pay a visit to [The</a> National Center for Fair & Open Testing | FairTest](<a href=“http://www.fairtest.org%5DThe”>http://www.fairtest.org) for the current list of no-test and test-optional colleges and universities. If you find something there that looks promising, you may never have to take a standardized test again in your life.</p>

<p>I’m not exactly having difficulties with standarized tests because i got significantly high scores on all my HSA. It’s just my PSAT i need to focus on. Thank God! they give us back our test packets when we receive our scores. So i’m just gonna review it and try to understand the test format and everything. I can bring my grade up, it can totally happen!</p>

<p>Don’t worry about too much. I’m a Junior, and I thought I was guaranteed to be at least a semi-finalist for National Merit in my state (SC). My last SAT (which i took last summer) score’s were: CR680, M750, and W750. However, on the PSAT I took in the Fall, I only got CR70, M68, and W66. I think the curve is much harder on the PSAT, making it a harder test, really.</p>

<p>Hi there, I’m a sophomore also and I got a PSAT score of 164(64M 50CR 50W), which to me seems unsatisfactory.
Instead of my saying of how I resented my score, let me help you out.</p>

<p>I suck at CR so I can’t really give you any advise but read novels; this is what I’m doing as of now. </p>

<p>For writing, one of my favorite sections as of right now, I suggest that you get the McGraw Hill’s SAT. My score of 50 has improved into the 60s range after practicing with this book. Last 2 weeks before over the Christmas break, I had taken a practice exam on College Board’s website, of which I did only the writing section, and I got a 630(64MC and 8 Essay).</p>

<p>For math, as you can see from my PSAT result is my strongest area, I suggest that you go to your local library and get the Barron’s Algebra and Geometry Review books and self-study them.</p>

<p>Hope this helps!</p>

<p>hey at least you know you’re ready for college - i mean you did get over a 142; be happy</p>

<p>lol jk practice practice</p>

<p>I know it’s a bit Jaded but consider taking the test not so much to find the right answer but instead to eliminate wrong answers. Think in terms of what is wrong instead of what is right and eliminate down to the best answer. Good Luck-Get them next year.</p>

<p>Just buy the practice book. For me, sitting down and just doing problems didn’t help as much as secluding myself at a desk with a timer and simulating the real testing environment. You can raise your scores a ton simply by becoming used to the questions within the allotted time.</p>

<p>When I was a Freshman I got a 197 on the PSAT but I spent the entire two weeks before the test reviewing for at least an hour everyday. Taking SAT prep really helps but sometimes it’s ineffective because the teacher just makes you take tests (goes over them later). But PSAT books are really helpful. Princeton Review sucked (too much blank space between words to make the book look thicker) I Really like Gruber’s tho.</p>

<p>Sign up for the “SAT question of the day” on the College Board website. Each day they will email you a new questions. You can still do a class, but the daily questions are helpful too.</p>

<p>Purchasing the self-study materials (like test prep books), taking a structured SAT prep class, and signing up for the “SAT Question of the Day” are all great strategies. Be sure to set aside time each week to take at least one full SAT practice test. Don’t let one week go by without taking a full test. It really helps with retention and timing to keep the material fresh in your mind each week. As the saying goes, “you play as you practice” and that sentiment definitely applies to the SAT.</p>