Raising my PSAT score?

<p>I know this sounds a little crazy, but is there any way I can raise my PSAT score of 1800 to an actual SAT score of 2200. I took the PSAT without any prep and this summer I planning on prepping a lot for the SAT which I plan on taking the beginning of next year. Even if I prep a ton is there any way I can raise that PSAT score 400 points?</p>

<p>definitely. Find your weak points and work on it...</p>

<p>i too am trying to raise my 1800 to 2200 and i def think it's possible.</p>

<p>My math was a terrible 660... it can easily be a 760 (1900)... my writing was a 560 only and i know it can definitely be a 700 if i keep improving (now i only get around 10 wrong and i know i can cut it down some more) that together would make my score about a 2040...</p>

<p>and then the final 200 points is easy as my biggest weakness in CR is vocab and i am studying it everyday</p>

<p>definitely possible</p>

<p>Very possible. Take lots of practice tests. My friend went to an expensive test prep place where they basically just take tons of practice tests. She went from ~186 on her PSAT (and a 1960 SAT, I think) to a 2250.</p>

<p>I got a 219 I'm looking at 2350+ so far, so it's very possible</p>

<p>Any strategies on how to study. I have both Barron's and Princeton Review's prep books which I plan to go through very thoroughly this summer. Any specific way I should go about this? Should I purchase any other books? By the way thanks for the words of encouragement I thought everyone would say yes it is impossible.</p>

<p>I "naturally" increased from 199 in soph year to 223 in junior year. Very little prep. Just went over some writing rules. The writing section was my lowest score by a large margin anyways though.</p>

<p>The books never helped me very much, I only bought them for practice tests.</p>

<p>However, it is highly dependent on what level you are at. Going by your PSAT score, here's what I would recommend based on my study experience and habits:</p>

<p>-Buy the Official Study Guide (blue book) by the College Board. Do as many practice tests as you can, DIVIDING THEM UP INTO SECTIONS (I never once took a full test, all in a row. All it can accomplish is give you an idea of how it will be test day. I think it's not worth the time spent because it will burn you out quickly. However if you think it would benefit you might consider doing a full test once, the week before the actual SAT).
-Each day only do one type of section - either essays, grammar, math, or CR
-Do several sections of that one subject (taking sections from multiple practice tests if necessary) on that day, if you have time (everything is flexible)
-Start off timing yourself on sections, but don't limit yourself to 25 minutes. Just keep track of how long it takes you to do sections. Don't cheat and use outside resources though!
-After a few of those, you will quickly find out if you need to focus on time, or on accuracy.
-If you need to work on time, then keep practicing but manage your time. Don't waste time on problems that are tough. You will never not get caught by at least one question a test - it's tempting to try to work it out, but it's faster to pass by it. Why? Because your mind will work on the problem as you move forward, and you might have an "aha" moment later in the section. Don't just stare at it and grow frustrated.
-Review every error immediately after grading! Then, before every week or so go over every error you have made and review how to do it the right way. Doing this for CR is pointless though :P
-Don't read the book before taking practice tests. The book is best as a supplement for reviewing concepts that you are shaky on (which will be revealed by the mistakes you make.</p>

<p>Yes, it is definitely possible to raise your PSAT score. Sophomore year, I scored a 172 on my PSAT...junior year (with studying), I received a score of 214...so don't feel like it's impossible!! I thought I was going to cry and give up when I got my score sophomore year. But instead of giving up, I did the practice tests from College Board. My main problem is that I'm a slow test taker, so standardized tests like the PSAT, SAT, and AP tests freak me out. I just focused on reading and answering the questions quicker, and that really helped me out. Also, don't worry about going to these expensive prep classes or reading those preparation books...just do the practice exams that are released from the College Board. That's all that I did...</p>

<p>i ALWAYS advocate taking actual prep courses. books are fine, but the in-class experience and the cheerleading of the teachers makes a big difference...as in POINTS and self-confidence! and the prep classes offer within the price, a refresher right before the test date. i strongly recommend Princeton Review.</p>

<p>^ do you recomend private lessons or "group" lesson?</p>

<p>A-card~ i'd say start with the usual group experience. you need to register and if you're early enough, you get to choose a convenient location. IF you want more attention, the instructors can advise how to go about individual tutoring, but i would only consider that after the group class/in addition to it. being in a room with others, simulating the actual timed-taking of the test is invaluable.</p>

<p>yea, I would go with group tutoring b/c its more friendly, not just award being one on one (Unless you need the single I help, I personally can't learn like that.)</p>

<p>ah i see that makes sense. It would be weird to take one on one. Plus individual is really pricey.</p>

<p>I have another question. What can I do to improve my grammar and such. I never really learned grammar, just kind of picked it up. What books can I get to learn all the rules of grammar?</p>

<p>it's definitely possible. My cousin said that someone at his school went from a soph. psat of 170 to a junior psat of 223.</p>