<p>I'm a sophomore, and they're forcing us to take the PSAT this October. The problem is, I'm prepping for some SAT II's and the ACT (I took the ACT already, but it was like a year ago, so I'm out of practice). Since I've got four other tests to prep for, I don't have time to prepare for the PSAT. Should I just go ahead and skip it?</p>
<p>I plan to take the PSAT my junior year for NMSQT, though.</p>
<p>Just take it. It doesn’t count until you take it Junior Year anyways. It’s not like the SAT - only questions are similar. It’s a much shorter test overall, and doesn’t require much as a sophomore.</p>
<p>Isn’t it a waste of time, though? I mean, what does it really do for me?</p>
<p>If anything, it’s a mini practice session for you. Is it administered during school?</p>
<p>Take it. It’s been proven that people get better scores when they’re more familiar with the test.</p>
<p>All these tests are the same, or at least the differences are exaggerated. If you’re preparing for the PSAT, you’re also preparing for the ACT, and vice versa.
(I never prepared for the SAT specifically…I only ever took ACT practice tests. But I got comparable scores on the SAT and ACT.)</p>
<p>You should take it to see how you do.</p>
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<p>That’s not true for (most?) everyone. I got nearly 500 points higher on my ACT than on my PSAT.</p>
<p>Some people do better on one test compared to the other, and there are some differences like the ACT science reasoning section and the SAT having vocab questions, but they’re both basically multiple-choice tests that feature questions on English grammar, high school math, and analyzing “literature.”</p>
<p>I find SAT math harder, but that may just be me.</p>
<p>Alright, so I’ll take it, I guess. For math, I can just do practice sections, but what about vocab? I mean, I can’t memorize 1000 vocab words in two months, so what’s the best way to tackle the vocab?</p>
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<p>SAT is slower paced and tries to trick you whereas the ACT is faster paced and just wants to see if you can do the problem.</p>
<p>Well since it’s your soph year, your scores won’t count. You don’t have to study if you’re already busy studying for the ACT.
In general though, the Princeton Review’s Hit Parade is pretty good for vocab.</p>
<p>Don’t even prepare for it… sophomore year doesn’t count. Prepare for the one in junior year.</p>
<p>No point in being a prima donna and annoying your GC office. You need their help in the future. Treat it like you are taking one more practice test. Just go take it. It doesn’t cost you anything except time (there is no fee), and the practice might give you a boost toward NMF next year. No need to study for sophomore year PSAT at all.</p>
<p>It’s my last year at my school LOL
I’m transferring to my state’s math/science academy next year.</p>
<p>Eh, I guess I won’t study for it. I don’t really feel like it, anyway.</p>