<p>Hey,
How is the real SAT compared to the PSAT (hardness and extent of curve: eg, is curve for SAT easier) and the practice tests in the SAT blue book?</p>
<p>All three tests test the same skill set.
Blue book generally yield higher scores for most students because they’re taken at leisure.
PSAT is rumored to be easier, but most people score a bit lower (not true for me 23x PSAT vs 2300>n>2250 first time SAT). The curve is also harsher.
The SAT is, well, the SAT. It’s supposed to test the same concepts every time and yield generally uniform scores, which are “assured” through a curve. You can expect to score within 100/150 pts of your BB tests on the SAT.</p>
<p>For me I found the PSAT was the hardest and the blue book was the easiest, which would make the SAT in the middle. </p>
<p>Blue book seems too easy at times. PSAT is only really hard because the curve is insanely harsh.</p>
<p>The SAT is basically the PSAT with slightly more difficult math, an essay, and analogies.
Blue book is basically released tests from College Board. </p>
<p>I wouldn’t recommend trusting the score that you get from Barron’s or Princeton Review. They tend to make the diagnostic test hard and make the last test relatively easier.</p>
<p>I caution students to simply add a 0 to their PSAT scores to convert to an SAT score. The PSAT has no essay, so depending on how you do on the essay, your score could be drastically different. The PSAT is shorter than the SAT, so the endurance factor won’t wear you down as much. The curve may be slightly different too since you’re usually competing with generally younger students (by one yr…soph, jrs) than students taking the real SAT (jrs, srs).</p>
<p>But in terms of concepts tested, all three (PSAT, SAT, BB) are testing pretty much the same stuff. You’d be hard pressed to truly find any difference. Some say BB is easier than the real test. It really isn’t. In fact, the first three BB tests are actual SATs they gave to real students in the past. It may feel easier because you are more relaxed in a practice setting than at the real testing arena.</p>
<p>The PSAT may also feel harder because you’re typically a year younger when you take it compared to when you take the SAT. You haven’t learned as much in school yet.</p>
<p>The PSAT is rumored to be easier, but I disagree. Although the PSAT technically lacks Alg II skills such as prob, it doesn’t make much of a difference. However, there will definitely be more variability with PSAT scores since it is a shorter tests.</p>
<p>In my opinion, the blue book is pretty much identical to the SAT.</p>
<p>I took PSAT without prep (didn’t know it mattered!) and got a 216. 3 blue book tests from 2170-2290 (~800M 720CR 740W on average).</p>
<p>March SAT 2300 (800M 800CR 700W)
Interpret this as you may.</p>