Really possible to improve PSAT score by 37?

mymaus · 09-24-2012, 05:58 PM

My d got a 176 on the PSAT when she took it for practice as a sophomore. Cutoff in our state was 213. Work on her current classes, theatre participation, leadership activities and community service give her about 3 hours/week to have fun with her firends.

I was thinking about encouraging her to find some time to study but I really wonder if it is worth it. Isn't PSAT only used for National Merit?

If so, even if she finds 20 hours to study and practice for it, do you think she can get the 37 or more points for the cutoff?

UrAverageAzn · 09-25-2012, 01:31 AM

Just a personal story but I got a 179 my first time on the PSAT as a sophomore, but last year I scored a 218~ish (don't remember the exact score). I also don't remember prepping for it that much- but I did take a practice test the night before... Anyways, it is definitely possible though!!

ahsmuoh · 09-25-2012, 08:20 AM

I think it is possible but probably not worth stressing too much. Yes, the PSAT is only for National Merit and while it is nice to get the recognition and there are some schools that have very nice scholarships - the truth is - if she can prep for the ACT/SAT and get a really good score then the merit scholarships will come with those scores.

tjmom · 09-25-2012, 08:25 AM

It is short timing now to do much prep but prepping for the PSAT will boost the SAT score also so I would say it is worth it. My son boosted his score from sophomore year to junior year by 35 points but he did spend a good bit of time studying for it. It did pay off on his SAT also. He did make NMSF and has scholarship offers in hand from his SAT/GPA combo.

mymaus · 09-25-2012, 10:55 AM

Thanks for the great info. She's weakest in Critical Reading. If she chooses to prep a little, any resources you guys recommend for improving that? I may start a separate thread.

mitchklong · 09-25-2012, 02:45 PM

My S and I have been preping for about a month. He started at 185. His last test was a 205. MN cuttoff is around 217.

Reading is his strength so we havent done much there. I would suggest reading through the strategies in the books. We have used princeton and kaplan. Both are similiar in their approach for reading.

Eventually you will hit up against what I call the "vocabulary wall". If they dont know what a key word means they wont know the answer. At that point its tough to improve. You can learn a hundred new worlds and they might not be on the test. Thats where my S is now, but he is in the 70s so Math is the new battleground. GL in Oct.

AsmallSteP · 09-25-2012, 02:55 PM

Yes..how to break that "vocabulary wall", it's hard to memorize those 500 to 1000 words in the those princeton or kaplan books?

Sticker · 09-26-2012, 02:44 AM

My child scored a 181 soph year with no prep. She needs about a 30 point increase for NMF, but really wants to go for it. I don't know if that's doable, but I'm not selling her short. I got a tutor to work with her twice a week for the six weeks leading up to the test. She has taken two practice tests so far and scored 191 and 196 respectively. So she is making progress. I don't think she's hit a wall yet as she is still mastering the actual tricks and skills to approaching the test. Good luck to your child on the test.

BigG9695 · 09-26-2012, 05:18 PM

I'd reccomend to study for actual SAT/ACT

Sticker · 10-15-2012, 03:09 PM

Good luck at all taking the test Wed.

SerenityJade · 10-15-2012, 07:31 PM

In that year, she could easily have learned the material already. I went up 8-9 points each on critical reading and writing from sophomore to junior year with no prep. And that's after I ended up nearly having a panic attack during the test that messed up my math score.

Emc2Fma · 10-15-2012, 07:47 PM

Yep def. possible!

This was my progression (freshman --> junior) 176 ---> 199 ----> 221.

This was done with very little preparation. My conclusion? Just trying to do well in school improves your score.

Tell her to not waste money on prep books by Princeton/Kaplan or whatever, but to instead buy the released PSAT tests by CollegeBoard. Take these under timed conditions, and then go back and review WHY you got questions wrong. Use online resources (sparknotes) to help.

I did this method and it worked for me. Good luck!

perazziman · 10-15-2012, 07:53 PM

46 points: 173 --> 219 (sophomore to junior yr.)

ROCKFISHDG · 10-15-2012, 08:06 PM

My daughter improved 180 ---> 211 from Frosh - Soph year... She's hoping to get "halfway to the goalline" again as a junior (10-15 point jump) to make NMSF (we live in CA)... Scored 2280 (740 CR, 760 Math, 780 WR - 11 Essay) three weeks ago on princeton review practice SAT... Really hoping for: SAT 2200+ (Oct 6th) / PSAT 221+ (Wednesday)... Good luck to all!