How to improve PSAT score from Freshmen year?

philosopher4life · 05-11-2007, 08:45 PM

I received a score of 170 on the PSAT. I don't know if it's good or bad, but I was wondering about the ways I can improve it.

I'll be a Sophomore next year, so how can I improve the score?

Are there any good prep books?

Thanks

philosopher4life · 05-12-2007, 11:14 AM

I've seen a thread saying Kaplan SAT book for 2007 is really good. Has anyone had an experience using it to improve a PSAT score?

quitejaded · 05-12-2007, 11:19 AM

I recommend Rocket Review and consistently working from past SAT tests. Also study vocabulary from past SAT tests (don't waste time studying a list of 1,000 words or whatever).

Carpe Aeternum · 05-12-2007, 01:00 PM

Just going to school between your freshman and junior years is going to bring your score up a lot. You haven't been instructed on everything that is on the test yet.

If, near the end of sophomore year, you don't think you have improved enough to reach any goals you have for the National Merit competition, purchase a book such as Kaplan's PSAT book (which I used- National Merit Commended) and work through it steadily until October of your junior year. If you don't want to spend the money on a PSAT book, getting an SAT book will also work, and save you having to pay for both.

stix2400 · 05-12-2007, 07:06 PM

What did you get in each section?

philosopher4life · 05-13-2007, 12:07 PM

63 - Math

56 - Critical Reading

51 - Writing

Also a friend of mine told me that the scores are good for Freshmen non-native English speakers. Is this true or was she just trying to be nice?

akvareli · 05-13-2007, 12:20 PM

^ Don't worry. I had the same problem my frosh year. I studied math, but didn't study writing or CR. My math ended up improving by 13 points from a 54 to a 67 just because I studies. My frosh year wasn't the greatest CR or WR scores either: Cr: 54 and Wr:55. Since I didn't study, my scores didn't improve my sophmore year, but I'm going to study a lot over the summer and hopefully raise it to a high sixty low seventy since I saw it was possible with math.
You are doing perfectly fine. I'd suggest only studying if you don't improve after your soph year.. that's it.
Don't worry. You are only a frosh. You will be fine.
Btw, I have only lived in the U.S. for 5 years. Came here from Russia and didn't know a single word in English.

milki · 05-13-2007, 12:58 PM

Philosopher, I have similar scores too. People recommended the Barrons book to me.

philosopher4life · 05-18-2007, 05:52 PM

Anyone else?

(Filling 10 Character Limit)

Thanks for the reply milki.

iin77 · 05-18-2007, 06:46 PM

Just take lots of tests under the conditions. Getting used to taking 4 hour tests is the most important skill you can develop in high school (sadly). Also, remember the test is out of 240, not whatever score you're aiming for. Always try for 240, even if you don't think you'll get it.

You can even take SATs. Their format is similar enough that it'll be good practice for the PSAT and make you think they're pretty easy when you're taking them.

RDarin · 05-18-2007, 09:17 PM

Thats damn good for a freshman, just keep going to school

, and im sure you'll be getting 2100+ on your sophomore/junior PSAT

Anyway, im a sophomore now and I got a 160, so you kicked the **** out of my score :P.

I have the Barrons SAT prep book which I like

afro_ninj4 · 05-19-2007, 10:54 AM

a 170 isnt that bad, especially for a foreign student. it translate to about a 1700. And its only freshman year so u'll learn a lot more from then until u take the SAT. When i was a freshman i got a score of 104/160 (1040/1600- pathetic i know). I toook my first SAT this may and am still awaiting scores, but on the last practice test i took, i got an 1180/1600 (i know still pretty bad, but still an improvement nonetheless). Im praying for a 1300/1600 or 2150/2400 so we'll see what happens

philosopher4life · 05-19-2007, 06:30 PM

Thanks afron-ninj4, RDarin and iin77. So is Barrons THE PSAT book to use? I see some praising Kaplan and Princeton Review. How are they?

stix2400 · 05-19-2007, 10:09 PM

Soooo... I went onto amazon.com among other places to see the reviews of psat books. Barron's was quickly out, as were some others which left Kaplan and Princeton Review. Both of their reviews were 4 stars+ and, based on the recent edition reviews, it was indecernable as to which company has the better book. However, after checking older versions of the books (which are almost always identical) Kaplan edged out only slightly.

One reviewer of Kaplan said that it was better than Princeton and one reviewer of Princeton said the same. Now, both of the books consistantly got more than four stars so its more of a tossup than a runaway, but the reviews seem to suggest that Kaplan's book is slightly better. I'm sure either would suffice, though.

philosopher4life · 05-20-2007, 08:54 AM

Ya I did that too, but the Barrons book took a beating but milki emailed me with stuff he/she claims some other person gave him and it had stuff about just studying Barrons will take the score to 190.