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07-16-2008, 08:13 AM
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#1 | | New Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 16
| Should you wait to get the PSAT results before taking the SAT?
My son is a rising Junior. He took the PSAT last year just to see how he would do without any preparation. (He did okay- 62 V 63 M and 56 W (YIKES!)) He will be studying for the PSAT/SAT this year. I was wondering if he studies for the PSAT if he should be taking the SAT closer to that time? I know that the results of the PSAT can show you some weak areas, but he has it from last year? I'm sure that he needs to take it at least twice, but if he takes it in March...May/June are so pressure filled with AP and SAT II tests. The fall of the senior year seems late or is that a good time? Just wondering.. | 
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07-16-2008, 08:17 AM
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#2 | | Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 303
| My son did PSAT October, SAT March and June. The June SAT was AFTER our school had been out for a week, and several weeks after the AP exams. So it wasn't that stressful for him.
You might also look at which SAT test dates offer the question and answer service. I think that could have been valuable, but we were only looking at the calendar and chose dates that didn't offer that service. | |
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07-16-2008, 09:29 AM
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#3 | | Member
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 880
| What's the Q&A service? | |
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07-16-2008, 09:56 AM
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#4 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,279
| Good idea to get as many test taken and out of the way early. D took the PSAT in Oct, SAT in Oct and June, ACT in June, and 2 SAT subject tests in May. Only test left is one more SAT subject test in the fall.
If you need to take SAT subject tests, May is a good time because you are likely all studied up prepping for the AP tests. | |
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07-16-2008, 10:01 AM
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#5 | | Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 303
| Question and Answer Service
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07-16-2008, 10:18 AM
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#6 | | Member
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 880
| Hmmm. I guess I'm confused. Is the SAS always part of the PSAT? I remember ds receiving that, and we didn't pay anything extra for it. | |
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07-16-2008, 03:27 PM
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#7 | | Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 248
| My son, who is a rising senior, wanted to take the SAT as a freshman -- just so he had an idea what would be on it, especially with the new writing section. He called it his "baseline." From there, he could see where he needed to improve. As a sophomore, he took the PSAT as practice, and then the following spring, he took the SAT to see if he had improved. His score jumped 140 points. As a junior, he got the PSAT again -- this time, it counted for NM (and he should be a semifinalist), and the SAT last January. He does not plan to take it again. He is satisfied with his scores.
He is also finished with his SAT II.
He would tell your son that taking the SAT for the "baseline" score is a good thing. It helped him to focus on what areas he needed to improve, and he did that through his regular classes. No prep. He says that he owes his writing score to an incredible English teacher. | |
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07-16-2008, 03:30 PM
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#8 | | Member
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 771
| I'm very tempted to have my rising junior prep for the PSAT in October, and then take the SAT while the prep work is fresh. If it's good, he's done, and otherwise he can take it again in the winter/spring of 2009 and get it out of the way. As long as *he* buys into that idea, I am all set! | |
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07-16-2008, 04:43 PM
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#9 | | Member
Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Arizona --> PENN 2012!
Posts: 427
| I took the PSAT 3 times (freshman-junior), got a 205/230/240, took the SAT in January of junior year, got a 2250, took it again in June, got a 2380.
My friend took the PSAT junior year and the October SAT that same year. Found out she got a 2400 on her Oct SAT before she even found out about her 230+ PSAT score.
Soooo, basically it doesn't really matter. But I would still say taking the PSAT and waiting is better (even though my scores state otherwise), unless you're confident in your test-taking. | |
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07-16-2008, 05:47 PM
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#10 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,279
| >>I remember ds receiving that, and we didn't pay anything extra for it.<<
You are right--With the PSAT, the test taker will get back the test booklet and a sheet that gives the right answers and the answer the test taker actually bubbled in. I didn't realize that the same package was available for some of the SATs (for a fee, of course). | |
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07-16-2008, 05:51 PM
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#11 | | Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 175
| Why not just use a prep book such as "10 Real SATs" and take numerous practice exams? Then a student can know approximately what SAT score to expect and can review and work on deficiencies before the PSAT and SAT tests count. Obviously, some students have more nervousness problems than others, which might affect the final score, but many students find this approach helpful. | |
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07-16-2008, 06:04 PM
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#12 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,279
| Agree with pafather--10 Real SATs (or whatever the equivalent is nowadays after the recent changes in the SAT) is a cheap way to prep--if your kid is disciplined enough to do it. One D was disciplined; the other was not.
The one D who did not prep by taking many practice/real tests did use the book SAT 2400--for "strategy tips." She did find it useful.
She also found that her junior English class was VERY helpful, so put effort into that school class. | |
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