Hi guys,
I’m a junior and I’m aiming for national merit scholarship and for that I’d need a top score on the PSAT. I also want to get into research programs like RSI next summer. Since RSI weighs in your PSAT score, I want to get a 1520.
I’ve only taken one SAT practice test and my scores are:
Math - 760
EBRW - 650
Reading section score (40 right, 12 wrong): 33
Writing and Language Section score (35 right, 9 wrong): 32
I just made 3 dumb mistakes on the Math section so I know my actual score is an 800 (I just didn’t read the questions carefully enough). That would improve my score to a 1440, but to get a 1520 on the PSAT, I would need to get a 760 on EBRW. That’s a 110 point improvement in EBRW.
I have 7 weeks before the exam. How can I improve my EBRW from 650 to a 760? What resources should I use? How much time should I spend per day? I’m currently on KhanAcademy and I’ve set my practice for 45 minutes per day. Is that enough time to get a 1520 by October 11?
Also, do I need to get any external books/prep programs/tutors just for EBRW?
Thank you!
Any tips? I got the Erica meltzer grammar and critical reader books
My D used the Metzler books and her EBRW score went from 620 to 780 on all Khan Academy practice tests. She took SAT today, so it’s too early to tell how much they actually helped, but I was shocked at how much her practice tests scores increased. I thought she was joking when she revealed her score, but after each test (she didn’t cheat, either…I was in the kitchen making dinner while she would take her practice tests! ) her scores were roughly the same. Lowest was 740, highest 780–
Hope this encourages you to utilized those books!
Edit: D got 780 on 2 Khan Academy practice tests, not all—
@mimi2018 Khan academy tests (especially math) are usually much easier than the actual sat’s in my experience, although today was probably an exception due to the stupendously easy test. I would recommend using previous college board sat tests if you want to see your actual score. Hope this helps!
I keep hearing how crazy easy the math section was today. I wonder what will happen with the curve. Maybe one wrong will be a 750!
@homerdog I thought curves didn’t work like that? I took it today and I definitely got 2-3 wrong on math (both calculator and no calc).
Great idea. I will pass that along. She was working just on reading and writing, but I will pass along your helpful tip.
She was excited to see her scores improve, I don’t think she had any grand illusion that her actual test scores would be in the realm of her practice scores. For being a kid who is not a strong test taker, she feels the Metzler books have been very helpful. She also spent a lot of time examining her first SAT test, the questions she got wrong and why.
The curve is determined before the test by the college board, not after they see the scores. Some of the CB practice tests have harder curves. For one of them, you can get five wrong on the two math sections total and get a 760. On another one, you can only get three wrong total to get that same score. Usually, if you get one wrong you are already down to a 790. Two wrong a 780.
@Mimi2018
Thank you for that! Your daughter made a tremendous improvement going from 620 to a 780… Hopefully I can make my 650 a 800! I have much more confidence using the Meltzer books now.
@Sejoonjpppp
The Khan Academy tests aren’t easier or more difficult than the actual SATs. Why? This is because Khan Academy uses the 8 official practice tests that were given to them by College Board. If you buy the Blue Book you’ll see that all the practice tests are the same.
Bahubalo- she is using the math book recommended here on CC also. She finds Khan Academy videos very helpful, and the videos combined with the books have made a big difference in her confidence. Again, the actual test results may be all together different story.
I do want to emphasize that she has struggled with standardized tests, so she’s coming from a place where any improvement is a huge deal. Her PSAT math score was 490 or 510…something in that range… so even if Khan Academy tests are easy for some kids, they’ve never been easy for her. She got a 710 on last practice math test, 640, 670, on other two. Her EBRW scores were posted above.
Khan tests are no easier or harder than College Board tests. They ARE College Board tests. There seems to be alot of misinformation floating around lately targeting Khan…