SAT/ACT concerns

<p>I'm am a sophomore and I took the PSAT a few months ago. I didn't do that well on it needless to say. Not horrible, but not great either. I'm am in all advanced classes, except math (my weakest subject) but I am an overall bad test-taker who gets very nervous. My questions are, how did your PSAT reflect yoru actual SAT score? and I am defintely looking for a tutor over the summer to help with both tests, do you have any suggestions? is it a good investment overall? Is Sylvan any good? lol, sorry for all the questions but any help i smuch appreciated. Thank you!</p>

<p>What was your score?</p>

<p>223 (junior) -> 2310 (March); okay so that's not a good example...</p>

<p>My friend:</p>

<p>200 (sophomore) -> studied like crazy -> 236 (Junior) -> 2340 (Junior)</p>

<p>204 PSAT went to 2080 SAT. A prep centre called C2 (Cambridge Prep) is well-reputed around my area and has offices throughout the country. My one concern with them is that they set the diagnostic test harder than the actual test, so when they promise a certain increase in points, it's pretty easy to get that increase on the actual SAT since its easier. Other people don't feel that way about it and everyone gets excellent results.</p>

<p>If you did decent on the PSAT, just buy prep books and learn on your own. I took a supposedly awesome prep course at my school, and it kinda wasted 150 dollars... :(</p>

<p>My score improved a lot when I studied on my own (up 220 pts). So... yeah, self-prepping works. ^^</p>

<p>54 math to 640, 72 cr to 720, 80 writing to 770.</p>

<p>I didn't study for the PSAT. To prep for the SAT, I took a practice test administered by Kaplan, nothing more. It was good to get a feel for the timing of the test, because I think keeping my brain working for 3:45 was the hardest part of the SAT. A lot of the SAT is about being good at taking the test itself - do some practice full-length tests in real time.</p>

<p>Don't worry about your PSAT scores...colleges don't consider them anyway. </p>

<p>I tend to get nervous before standardized tests too (not school tests, though), but I've found it helps to really be prepared. Do a lot of practice tests, analyze your answers, know the shortcuts. I wouldn't start off with a tutor; very expensive. Start prepping over the summer on your own.</p>

<p>You'll have plenty of time to take the SAT a few times if you need to (and schools really don't care if you take it 3 times).</p>

<p>btw the other thing that helps with nerves is avoiding sugar and caffeine!</p>