Is it OK to take the SAT a few weeks before the PSAT?
My D is close on the PSAT score, so we’re hiring a tutor to nail the final bits. The tutor recommended taking the SAT in October since she will be well prepared. Has anyone done this?
Many kids do that. Our S19 studied over the summer before junior year. Took the Aug SAT junior year and had a high enough score to be done. Then took the PSAT in October.
Yes, my dd2020 took the SAT in October last year and then took the PSAT the following week. It worked out well. My younger dd2021 will be doing the same thing this year.
Absolutely, YES, if your kid has National Merit potential.
All 3 of my kids have taken the SAT before the PSAT. If your kid has NM potential, I highly recommend taking it at least by June of Sophomore year, and even earlier if it’s convenient (and repeat in June or August between Sophomore & Junior years).
I have had all 3 of my kids take the SAT as a “practice” for the PSAT, as strange as that sounds.
If they take it in June of their Sophomore year or August that summer, it can actually count as their “confirming score” for their PSAT. Both my older kids had high enough scores on their June of Sophomore year SATs that they knew they already had their confirming score in their pockets walking into the PSAT. (And both went on to become National Merit Scholars.)
My youngest just took her SAT this past Saturday (August before Junior year) and I expect she’ll be in the same position, based on her Freshman year score and her recent ACT score (and how she felt coming out of the exam.)
I have them “prep” for the SAT reasonably well – at least have them take a practice exam or two and review missed questions. My kids have put minimal effort into prep (maybe 10-20 hours) before their first SAT, and then prepped a bit harder for the PSAT since it’s so high stakes (maybe another 10-20 hours for my kids, but I’d do more if you can get your kid to do it). It’s important to at least do a few hours of prep before the first one since they will do MUCH better if they’re at least familiar with the question formats, etc.
Frankly, WORST case, they walk in totally un-prepped for their first, early SAT, and they will get a really good “practice exam” taken for that critical PSAT. So, if your kid isn’t great about follow through with prep on their own for the PSAT, I’d at least make them take the SAT that summer before their PSAT, because the $100 is well worth it to just force them to do that practice exam, lol.
Great because DD21 did just that over this past summer, study study study… and took the Aug 24th SAT. I’m praying she is done.
DD 21 has taken multiple SATs, taking the PSAT next month with goal of NMF. The SAT has been very helpful to her.
Just wanted to say that, in my opinion, taking the PSAT sophomore and possibly freshman year should be sufficient before taking the SAT right before the junior year PSAT. The PSAT is much cheaper than the SAT and is a reasonable prep vehicle. Along with prep and some practice tests over the summer before junior year, this schedule should work well and still give your child time to retake the SAT if necessary. YMMV, of course, but this was our approach.