My school was able to get our scores for the PSAT early this year. I got an 1190, which is sad and embarrassing because I got an 1170 last year as a freshman. I really don’t know what to do from here as I thought I was performing at a much higher level than that, but I guess not. I’m going to have to work harder than anybody else to get my scores up for the minimum cutoffs at bs/md programs but I’m really just not understanding where I went wrong and what I can do about it.
If you received your PSAT score, you should have gotten your test booklet back along with a score report sheet that tells you which specific problems you answered incorrectly (if not, you can find this online using your testing ID). If you log into your account on the College Board website, you can see a detailed analysis of each problem on the PSAT, explaining why the correct answer is correct and why the other answers are incorrect. Look at each problem you missed and determine why you got it wrong.
See if there’s a pattern in what you didn’t do so well on. Do you have a specific “problem area”? Are you simply running out of time, either to finish the problems or to check your work? If the former, drill practice problems from that subject area until you become proficient in it. If the latter, keep taking practice tests until you can finish each section with at least 5 minutes to check your work before time is called - the PSAT is a routine test with no surprises when it comes to content, and you can become decent at test-taking strategy with practice.
^The online reports won’t be available for another week. Scores only became available to counselors electronically today.
@ephemerally0 The scoring scales were a bit tough for this year’s PSAT, at least for one of the test dates. If you are a junior, try free practice tests online for SAT and ACT - maybe you’ll do better at ACT.
My daughter found that her PSAT 8/9 and 10 scores did not really reflect her SAT score. I think she did similar to you on the PSAT but then got in the 1300s taking the actual SAT in the December test of 10th grade. I would take some actual SAT practice tests.
So basically the only math you have had at this point is freshman math. As you take sophomoer and junior math, you will do better. Also use khan Academy to study for the sat.
Do you think that with enough study and dedication, I could get at least a 1450 on the SAT for college? I’m looking at top 100 universities as well as my state flagship’s BS/MD program and I need to be as competitive as possible.
Take a prep class or get an SAT tutor who will work with you on your problem areas. Remember highest score on the PSAT is 1520.
@Groundwork2022 And what do you suggest for those who can’t afford tutors or prep classes/books?
Check you local public library. They probably have the test prep books.
And what do you suggest for those who can’t afford tutors or prep classes/books?
Some examples: DD’s school offers free mini test prep sessions. They focus on a particular skill or section of the test. Students can join one session or join them all, and they last for a few hours each in the summer. They are focused on mastering the skills rather than giving you shortcuts for test taking strategies, but that may be exactly what some kids need. If your school doesn’t offer something like this, ask your guidance counselor how you can get something started.
Students trying for NHS have to volunteer tutor in the library (teachers are there too), so if you know the test areas that are your weakest (taking a practice test will tell you this information), you could go in and work on questions in your specific area of concern. Again, this is skill-focused, not strategy-focused, but if you don’t have the skills down, you won’t get by with strategy alone.
Our library offers evening prep sessions for free. They are about two hours long. They’re pretty broad and superficial, but it’s a good info session, with leads both on test prep books and on where to go for further resources. This one gives some strategy tips.
Our park district offers complete 8-week long test prep classes for a very modest fee compared to Princeton Review, etc. Khan Academy offers a test prep class for free online, but that is going to require discipline to stick with it.
You could also get a group of friends together to take practice tests on weekends; get everyone’s parents to take turns to “proctor” one exam (keep it as real as possible - mind the clock, remind everyone to be quiet, etc.).
Sign up for the SAT-Question-of-the-Day emails.
Bottom line is that I don’t know what resources are available to you, but with discipline and creativity, you CAN make a good score happen. You have plenty of time ahead of you, and that is half the battle.