I am currently a sophomore thinking about my SAT testing dates for this upcoming fall (I’ll be a junior). I took the PSAT as a sophomore and did okay but definitely not great. Since then I have hired a private math tutor whom I have been working with since March (1 hour a week plus doing one SAT practice test a week) and will be working with through the rest of school year/summer into next school year. Math is much weaker for me then English. I do plan to do some English tutoring but since it is my strong area not nearly as much. I really am aiming for national merit for my junior psat (finalist or whatever I can get). I am wondering if it would be a bad idea to take the October 7, 2017 SAT before the PSAT. They seem to be predicting the PSAT will be October 10? Isn’t that a little too close? PSAT scores take a long time so I am kind of conflicted as to when would be the best time to take it for the first time. Should I do November 4 or December 2 instead? Or wait until March? I will be taking the SAT in school in April (you can’t do the essay in school) should I wait for that to be the first time I take it? I am planning to take the test at least 3 times or more since my school doesn’t offer the essay and I want to take it at least twice with the essay since I am a fairly strong writer. Any thoughts?
You’re still a sophomore so there’s still time to improve your SAT score, relax.
There is no reason why you can’t take the SAT before the PSAT but there is no hurry either. I would schedule so you have time for two attempts during your junior year.
I also wouldn’t plan how many times you think you will take it in advance. You may do really well on the first test and be done. If you are doing one SAT practice test per week, you will get a sense of your scores. You also will likely see a leveling off in your improvement. When your practice tests fall start falling within 100 point variation (across both sections), you have probably hit your limit and your real score is likely to fall within that range.
Good luck!
I am also a sophomore in a very similar situation and am planning on taking the new August date because it will be before school starts for me and scores will be released before the PSAT date so I can get my scores for feedback before I take the PSAT. From what I have seen, the PSAT is like a shorter and slightly easier SAT, so SAT and PSAT preparation can be done at the same time.