Psat

Test Preparation
1

<p>Hey everyone. I'm a rising junior and I'm starting to think about planning my junior year. I want to take the PSAT next fall and do well enough to get me a National Merit Scholarship. Since I go to a New England boarding school, the cutoff score is 221. I'd like to do as well as I can on the PSAT.</p>

<p>I took the PSAT last fall and I scored around a 200. I don't remember my exact score, but I scored high in Reading, moderately high in Writing, and relatively low in Math. I'd like to get at least a 221 next go, preferably higher (so there's a decent chance I'll actually get some scholarship $$).</p>

<p>With that in mind, a few questions:</p>

<p>1) Should I start preparing over the summer? I know that junior fall is supposed to be hellish, and my junior fall is going to be incredibly busy with AP classes and over 20 hours a week of ECs. I won't have a ton of downtime for PSAT prep. I was thinking I'd do some prep starting in August, and then do some lighter prep leading up to the exam. That sound like a good idea?</p>

<p>2) What is the best prep book for the PSAT? Does the PSAT have a "Blue Book" thing like the SAT? Specifically, which book has the best math and writing prep sections?</p>

<p>Thanks so much!</p>

2

<p>The best time to start to “prepare” is almost always “now”.</p>

<p>I recommend that you work with a SAT preparation book. Most likely you’ll want to take your “first” SAT sometime in mid-Junior year so you can begin to prepare for that test at the same time as you’re working on the PSAT. If you are well prepared for the SAT you’ll do well on the PSAT. Do however take a PSAT sample test or two. It will help you with time management.</p>