<p>My DD was at the 91st percentile on her PSAT, which she took in Feb of her soph year before finishing Geometry. Her grades are at a 3.0. </p>
<p>We recommended she take the SAT early, with the idea that if it comes up at a reasonably good level again her time is better spent increasing her GPA than taking a review course.<br>
Her counselor suggested all the kids take the PSAT, because it is the test that would qualify one for a National Merit Scholarship. We are middle income, white, and have some savings for college but not enough to cover 4 years of private school. </p>
<p>Should we have her take the PSAT again or start with the SAT to get more time to review in case she does poorly on the essay? </p>
<p>She's our first, so we need guidance! what are the chances she will increase her scores enough to qualify??</p>
<p>Okay so if it is the beginning of Junior year take the PSAT this semester so that you can apply for national merit, this will also prepare her for the SAT. You should take the SAT somewhere around the 2nd semester of your junior year, or the beginning of your senior year to ensure that you have the score in time for applications.</p>
<p>You do not “need” to take the SAT before the very start of your senior year. Just make sure you take it before you have to apply for the college to meet its deadlines. I would recommend taking though at the beginning of next year, to see how well she does. If she does not do well by study/prep books and after reading through them all take it again a little bit later in the year.</p>
<p>The PSAT is just a practice SAT it is of no importance besides the fact that there is the National Merit Scholarship involved. To be national merit she must score above at least 210 on the PSAT in most states. She should not score badly on the essay hopefully, if she does on the first time buy a writing workbook to help her prepare for the next SAT.</p>
<p>I may have misunderstood you…if you meant taking a prep class then no, do not take it. Prep classes cost way to much money when a simple $15 dollar book would do the same for her. I recommend personally Barrons workbooks or Princeton Review guides. There are tons of books out there just go to the local book store.</p>
<p>If you fail at first, you can always try again.</p>
<p>I think that you should emphasize more on the SAT than the PSAT. The PSAT is mainly for getting the scholarship money (and some recognition), but the SAT seems to be a lot more important for colleges (more weight on deciding if you get in or not, regardless of money). There are a lot more ways to getting money scholarships. You just have to look around. Good luck to her and you!</p>
<p>She should definitely take the PSAT next month…with her school as a junior. The “official” PSAT is in October of junior year…that’s the one that counts for NM.</p>
<p>BTW…are you sure she took the PSAT in Feb??? it’s not offered in Feb…only in October (and sometimes in Nov if there is some kind of emergency - like Katrina).</p>
<p>Then, after she takes the PSAT in October, then start concentrating on SAT & the ACT. That is what colleges use for entrance.</p>
<p>She’ll get her PSAT scores in Dec or Jan. You’ll learn the following Sept if she makes NMSF. If she makes NMSF, then she’ll continue for NMF…If she makes NMF, then she’ll get more $$$ offers from some colleges. Even if her college choice doesn’t give NM $$, it’s a great thing to be able to state that she is a national merit finalist.</p>
<p>I have a son who is NMF, so I’ve been thru it all. LOL</p>
<p>Buy some good SAT and ACT prep books. Then have her do a few sections, have her circle the ones that she kind of guessed the answers. Then have her check her answers to see why she got certain ones wrong and look at the ones that she “guessed right” to see WHY those guesses were right. </p>
<p>Don’t time her at first. Later, definitely start timing her to help her get used to long test-taking and “pacing yourself”.</p>
<p>(you can even use the SAT prep book to prepare for the PSAT…just ignore the essay part for now)</p>
<p>BTW…if you need to…dangle a carrot to get her to do some practice test sections…once she sees her scores improve, she’ll practice on her own, no motivation needed. At first, I would pay for movie tix for my son and a friend if he practiced. Soon, he began practicing all on his own.</p>