I got a 1320 on my PSAT. This is an above average score, obviously (93rd percentile) but, I need to bring it way up for my top pick schools, which are selective. My math is what’s really bringing me down. I got a 610 on math, which is way below where I need to be for my top schools. I’m less concerned about Reading & English, as I got a 710 on this portion, but it would obviously still be nice to bring that up as well. Is it possible to get my math section into the 700s? And, how much can I realistically improve my SAT score?
I’ve heard of a few kids that lacked in the Math section and were able to improve their scores overall with Khan Academy. D21’s teacher said that the most Advanced Math students she had to remind to refresh their Algebra skills as the feedback was always that they felt a bit rusty in this area. I wish you the best!
There is not a straight conversion from the PSAT to the SAT score. By which I mean, they are graded on a different scale, as the PSAT is based on a maximum 1520 points, where the SAT is a maximum 1600 points. Your 610 and 710, respectively, do not give you a 610 and 710 on the SAT.
You will want to strengthen both of those scores if reaching that composite (or those respective content area scores) is the minimum you would like to achieve on the SAT.
I agree with Meddy that you can do practice and strengthening on Khan Academy.
There is a parent on CC, @ChangetheGame, I believe, whose son had a practice to which he committed for studying for the college entrance exams which really worked for him, as he was busy with other work and also wanted to gauge what he could do on his own and then in translation on the exams, but did not want to stress himself. As he was a strong student, as I take it you are, and he committed to his plan of 15 minutes a day of study toward the next standardized exam, he found he had a happy outcome.
Don’t know if you have a plan, but wouldn’t it be great to not stress, while working consistently to improve your readiness for the structure and content of the exam?
Your scores are great. If you’re looking for the same in translation, just figure out a plan of action and I’m sure you’ll do great.
You can definitely go up before taking the SAT. As @Waiting2exhale stated, my son saw great success with a 15 minute a day regimen of looking at Khan Academy to review areas of weakness. And my daughter got a 1280 (600 EBRW and 680 Math) on the PSAT in October of her Junior year, 1390 SAT (660 EBRW and 730 Math in January of Junior year, up to 1470 SAT (680 EBRW and 790 Math) by August of Senior year. So you are starting from a better place than she did. Develop a plan that works for you and work on your weaknesses. One thing that both of my kids did that helped with standardized testing was to tutor middle school and young high school students in Math. That helped keep some of those math skills from years past sharp that may have been forgotten otherwise. You are already a great test taker and I am sure you will do even better by working on your areas of weakness (while make sure you work on testing taking strategies as that probably helped my son the most).
While the PSAT and SAT have different ceilings, the scales are actually supposed to be the same. That is, the PSAT was designed to show what the student would score if they took the SAT on the same day and to show “growth,” i.e. a higher score, when the student takes the SAT at a later date. (Whether the PSAT will continue to be a good estimate for the SAT under this year’s intentionally easier tests with harsher scoring scales on the top end is questionable.)
Some students seem to see a significant increase in the math score after finishing algebra 2. So, if you are taking algebra 2 now, plan to take the SAT in the spring and possibly again in early fall of senior year, following test prep.
Wholeheartedly agree with @evergreen5 that depending on where you are in your math studies, you could see a big increase by year end simply by having learned concepts required on the test.
Working on vocabulary can also make a big difference.
I’m in Honors Pre-Calculus. I’m in the honors program in math and a year ahead of the “normal” track, which is why it’s quite annoying that my math score was lower than what it should be due to my math level. We’ll see, I’m going to self-prep and hope that the rigor of my current math class (it’s VERY challenging) will improve my score!
Is there a moderator around? I have been flagged for much less incendiary language than what is posted above.
@marco18181818 Then it sounds like it’s a matter of disciplined prep. Go over every single question you get wrong on practice tests and be sure you know the stats concepts that have been showing up lately. Note that more recent tests have been on the easier side with harsh scoring scales that take a lot off at the top end of the scale (in particular, if you took the Oct 24 PSAT, you would see -90 for two wrong, -120 for three; this scale represents a bad test and hopefully would never show up on an actual SAT). Avoid careless mistakes.
Not sure if this has been mentioned already, but the “average” gain PSAT-to-SAT is 80 points. We know this because the SAT curve shifts 80 points to the right (1600 vs. 1520); 40 points on each section. Where you end up will depend on preparation and where you tend to fall on the curve to begin with (testing ability, etc.). The SAT is a nice test in that preparation can pay off. Unlike the ACT, there’s no added stress of time pressure.
Buy College Panda math. Helped my dd get 800 in math on December SAT. (She got a 720 on October PSAT, but then did all the problems in that book, as well as a few official practice tests in the two months in between tests.)
Also, don’t neglect R/W. She dropped from 750 to 690 in two months of no studying.
@marco18181818, D took the Oct 24 PSAT and scored 1260 (640 EBRW) and (620 Math). She’s in DE Calc I as a Sophmore and got an A+ this past semester. Her only B ever in a math class was a B+ second semester of Freshman year in PreCalc/Trig Honors (she wasn’t a big fan of Trig). She hasn’t had HS Alg 2 since 8th grade so I agree with what @Meddy said in post #1 about refreshing Algebra skills.
That’s the plan for summer prep for D, along with improving the EBRW section as well. We’re looking at some direct admit programs where D needs to have a certain gpa (which won’t be a problem) and SAT/ACT score. Luckily they super-score the standardized tests, so that can help if schools you’re applying to also super-score. Good luck with your test prep!