Hi all,
My 10th grader son will be taking the PSAT this coming October, he’ll be a junior by then. He took the PSAT once before and only scored somewhere around 1150 if my memory is correct. He didn’t do any prep at all, and said that he left many questions unanswered. A couple weeks ago, both he and I registered at Khan Academy online. Of course back in my day, there was no such thing as online prep course, so looking around KA website, I didn’t feel very knowledgeable. I study best with a book in my hand. My son is not the type who is self-motivated to study. My wife and I have to pressure him. I think that in order for me to tutor him, I’ll need a prep book so I can follow along with his progress. Sure, the same thing can be done online at KA, but somehow navigating the website doesn’t feel “natural” to me. Anyways, I intend to buy a book or 2 at the local Barnes & Noble to get things started. I looked at their website to see what’s available, and there are several to choose from: Kaplan, Princeton, Exam Prep Team. I only searched for PSAT prep books, not SAT. I’d appreciate any advice/recommendation.
PSAT prep is the same (or virtually the same) as SAT prep. I wouldn’t bother getting anything just geared to the PSAT. I am an SAT tutor. My favorite resources (and I have checked out A LOT) are Erica Meltzer for Grammar, and Mike McClenathan’s PWN the SAT Math. Erica Meltzer’s Critical Reader is the best for the reading section, but it is a little dense and not as user-friendly as the other two books. If you’re going to go with one of the common, commercial guides, I prefer Barron’s to Kaplan or Princeton. The best and most important resource is College Board’s Official Study Guide, for its official SAT practice tests (NOT its strategies or explanations, which stink). Don’t let your son waste his time doing anything but official practice tests. The current version has 4 practice tests in it. A newer version is coming out in a week or two and it will contain 8 practice tests. Wait for the new version. You can buy all these books cheap at Amazon.com.
By the way, I became an SAT tutor after I decided to tutor my own 10th grader over the summer prior to junior year.
I found a lot of the best advice on how to prep for the SAT here on CC. Search the “Xiggi Method.” Very short summary is the best way to prep is to do timed practice sections (each SAT has 4 sections), and then do a deep study of each problem type for questions that are missed. Khan Academy or the books I mentioned are great resources for that extra study / practice of particular topic. Also, both Meltzer and PWN the SAT Math have charts at the end of the book that list each question of the first 4 (Meltzer) or 6 (PWN) official practice tests, indicating the topic tested by the questions and where in the book to find an explanation of that topic.
Thank you so much for your detailed response! I have another question: many people have said that the PSAT and SAT are very similar. My concern is that that SAT assumes the student has finished materials taught in 11th grade, but a 10th grader will have no idea how to answer those questions, since he hasn’t learned the material. Is that a valid concern?
Reading and Writing will not be grade specific, but math might have concepts not covered yet, depending on math taken so far in school.
I think your S should do a practice test and then you can go over the answer sheet and show him why the answers are wrong. He can then watch the khan academy videos covering that concept.
If he doesn’t want you to tutor him, see if local community colleges might offer SAT prep classes.
He should definitely answer all questions, since there is no penalty for guessing.
Ok, I think I’m gonna spring for the following books: Meltzer grammar, Mac Clenethan Math, and College Board Official SAT Study Guide . I already bought Barron’s PSAT book. Thanks,