<p>And I've heard of scores for a student on the PSAT going down over time. Plus some kids get a higher junior year PSAT score than they do on their (adjusted, very roughly equivalent) junior year SAT I (probably no mystery on that one, given the length of the SAT I).</p>
<p>My point is that test results are sometimes just a snapshot of that day and not terribly predictive or predictible (over a course of multiple tests over time, maybe; as between any two tests for any one individual, probably not). </p>
<p>I'd try to avoid the mindset of expecting a particular trend on a particular testing date and try to stay flexible, leaving your child enough time to regroup and maybe retest if the results for the first SAT I or for an SAT II aren't as strong as your child reasonably would hope. The PSAT has the NM cachet but it is the SAT I or ACT, plus the SAT IIs, that matter for admissions.</p>
<p>We are done with the testing, fortunately (senior accepted ED), but some of my D's classmates have been scrambling all fall because they didn't leave time for SAT retests. And now some of them are deferred and are upset that they just assumed that they wouldn't care about testing and didn't sign up for the Dec. testing date. Not a fun place to be as they are also scrambling to finish additional applications, using scores that they have lost some confidence in.</p>
<p>Good luck with the tests. It will feel good to have them done.</p>