<p>Hey guys, I'm currently a rising sophomore and I just recently took a practice test for the PSAT from the PR Cracking the PSAT book. I'd just like to know...how much is a score on the PSAT reflective of a score on the SAT?</p>
<p>So supposedly my SAT scores would be something like this?...</p>
<p>Critical Reading-640
Math-550
Writing-690</p>
<p>I plan to take the SAT by the end of my junior year and the PSAT when my junior year starts.</p>
<p>Does anyone have any suggestions for me to improve my score? Do I have a chance at at least being commended for the PSAT when junior year rolls around? (I live in California)</p>
<p>Any chance of hitting 2200-2300 on the SAT by junior year?</p>
<p>I know I have a lot of questions, but I'd appreciate any and all feedback.</p>
<p>First off. In order to qualify for National Merit for the PSAT, you must score in the top 5% of all test takers. In order to qualify for National Merit SemiFinalist for the PSAT, you must score in the top 1/2%. So basically if you don't get atleast 230, I doubt you'd make it.</p>
<p>Second of all. It is very possible of hitting 2200+ if you are willing to put enough work into it. I suggest you reading daily, learn lots of vocabularies, and brush up on those math skills. I hope this helps.</p>
<p>"In order to qualify for National Merit SemiFinalist for the PSAT, you must score in the top 1/2%. So basically if you don't get atleast 230, I doubt you'd make it."</p>
<p>That right there is incorrect. The PSAT cutoff varies by state and you have to be in like the top 1% or something (correct me if I'm wrong). If you needed a 230 on the PSAT, then many many people would not be national merit</p>
<p>PSAT cutoffs vary from state to state. Arkansas' cutoff was around 202 last year....Massachusetts was like 221. Big difference.</p>
<p>Wow 218. I have no chance. Probably over 50% of test takers are from Stuyvesant High School and another 25% are from Bronx Science High School and Brooklyn Tech. While the remaining 25% are from people with lots of LUCK!</p>
<p>lil_killer......do NOT lose hope.......plenty of people have gone from where you are now to the big time. You are only in 10th grade! Just prep well, do some practice tests, rest up & hope for the best.</p>
<p>Thanks for the encouragement but I only have about 2 months to raise my PSAT score by 60 points? Even a Princeton Review course only guarantees a 20 point increase approximately. 60 points is just impossible considering my VERY low verbal score.</p>
<p>1st, as a soph, your scores will not count yet for national merit.......the "official" PSAT test-taking for National merit is your JUNIOR year (assuming you will not skip your senior year & go straight to college). So relax. Soph PSAT taking is just a practice for the practice (Psat) test.</p>
<p>2nd.......look at that thread link I posted above. For PSAT test takers, predominantly Juniors, the average improvement from PSAT to SAT with starting PSAT in the 180 ballpark was about 200 SAT points (look at conclusions near the end of the thread). There should also be an average increase between soph & junior test taking. So, you have plenty of potential for upward movment based upon what happens with the rest of the world.</p>
<p>lil_killer....sorry, I was confusing you with the OP (forgotten), so I don't know if you are a soph or junior nor do I know your PSAT score. In any case, never lose hope! & forgotten, yes others with your starting points have made it to your desired end point, not everyone of course, but you have a mission so you are ahead of the game.</p>
<p>I recently took a practice test in August and got...</p>
<p>750 math 350 reading 460 writing 41 grammar 6 essay
It sucks I know. I'm on the verge of raising this low 1560 to a 2000+ by the March test. I started to read a lot [3 hrs a day], do a few math sections on practice tests and looking over explanations, and looking through most common grammatical errors daily. Hopefully that will raise my score atleast 500 points in the 6 months I have.</p>
<p>"Hopefully that will raise my score atleast 500 points in the 6 months I have."</p>
<p>You have SIX months. A potential 1560 as of right now. Intensive studying (I mean real intensive studying, focus to the bone) you could raise your score to a 2200 in 3 to 4 months.</p>
<p>If you intend to continue to study like you say you will, you will get a 2350+</p>
<p>INtensive = 3+ hours on study and moreso on weekends.</p>
<p>The guy who went from a 132 to a 2380 focused extremely hard and made up his/her own problems. He/she studied for about 4 months and fintially received a 2260. Then studied some more, and got a 2380. I believe he/she was studying for like 2 or 3 hours a day.</p>
<p>Wow. Thats amazing how he has the time for that much studying considering the amount of hw from school and EC's. But I think I can spend 3 hrs studying for SAT.</p>