<p>I'm sorry if this was in the wrong topic, I couldn't really find any others that suited it (to me).</p>
<p>I'm turning a Junior this year, and I really want to make National Merit when I take the PSAT in October. I have my PSAT tests from Freshman and Sophomore year, as well as the study guides for them, the scores weren't very good. Freshman year I scored 140 and Sophomore year I scored 148. Both were done without studying and were on 'off days' for me, as I was sick on the first and pulled an all nighter before the second.. On both, I scored rather high on the math portion, and erm, lower on the Critical Reading/Writing Skills portions.</p>
<p>So, what I want to know is, what should I study for the PSAT? Will the study guides help me a lot? Do you have any good sources I could use to study from? Where I live, the score required for National Merit is 228. I know I can make National Merit if I try, I would just like to be guided in the 'right' direction. I really, really want (need, in my mind) to make Nation Merit, I would love your advice.</p>
<p>And no, I cannot afford any tutors/classes or anything like that.</p>
<p>The PSAT is a shorter and slightly easier test than the SAT, but for the most part, the material tested is nearly identical. You can use the SAT blue book (The Official SAT Study Guide) for PSAT study—just ignore the essay portion. Some Algebra II that is tested on the SAT is not tested on the PSAT, but these questions in the blue book have some good basic information and will not detract from your PSAT preparation.</p>
<p>I’ve read in some places that the Blue Book is really good if you want to prepare yourself, but some people tend to think it is easier than the actual SAT. Is that true?</p>
<p>I’ve also read some books make it harder and try to over prepare you, seeing as I want to be prepared as possible, could I be recommended any? I’m aiming for a perfect score of 240. :)</p>
<p>The thing that affected my PSAT scores the most in the last two years was time. I never really got to answering all the questions because I didn’t go quick enough, and I suppose my lack of motivation to do the tests didn’t help that any. Most of the questions that I got ‘wrong’ on the tests were omitted, because I never got to them.</p>
<p>^ I understand that, but you can’t expect to magically improve in a month to a point where you get everything right. You don’t know if you would have gotten those omitted questions right had you reached them. Your goal of a 92 point improvement is extremely ambitious, no matter how capable you think you are. Regardless, good luck. You’ll need it.</p>
<p>I read that “Professor Dave’s Owner’s Manual for the SAT” is a good read for strategy/tips and what not if used along with practice test books such as the blue book, is this true? Hm…</p>
<p>I’m pretty much in the same boat as you. I got a 146 on a December PSAT during sophomore year and I am trying to achieve a high PSAT score for National Merit. The cutoff for my state is a little bit above your’s (geographically above as well). I started studying in the summer and my scores have risen to the 1900 range on practice SAT’s. </p>
<p>I hope that I can improve enough to meet the cutoff, but time is not in my favor. Summer freetime is ending and my junior year in which I am taking multiple Honors/AP classes is starting. I am also limited on the weekends with sessions, activities and whatnot pertaining to different things. </p>
<p>Please don’t tell me though that you are giving yourself just a month and a half to prepare for the PSAT by starting just now. Regardless of how hard you study, you still need a lot of time. </p>
<p>It’s very possible to take your score from 140’s to maybe 170’s or 180’s in this span of time, But to take it to all the way to a 216? </p>
<p>Improving on the sat can be compared to the leveling system of almost any game. Initially, you rapidly level up and you quickly see improvement with not too much work, effort, or time being spent. But as you go higher, more time, effort, and work has to be invested to see a significant increase.</p>
<p>I’m not trying to discourage you, since anything is possible. But I think you might want to reevaluate.</p>
<p>Also, I used to think that a lack of time or motivation was the cause of my low PSAT score, but I was surprised when I realized that I still needed a lot more prep even with motivation and reaching all of the questions.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, that is true. But I’m still going to try, no matter how unlikely it is.</p>
<p>I do not understand what you mean by I should ‘reevaluate.’ Yes, I understand that it is very likely that I will not meet the 216 cutoff. But that is not going to make me completely give up and not even attempt.</p>
<p>It would really be nice if someone could recommend me sources/books/advice for the test etc. like the original question asked, rather than tell me that It’s very likely that I’ll fail, even if I put a lot of time and effort into studying for the next month.</p>