<p>I scored a 168 on my sophomore psat. If I take classes in the summer and work through books, how high can I get this score? Any success stories or tips? Feel horrible…</p>
<p>I can relate. The very first time I took the PSAT, I scored a 171. Granted, it was a practice PSAT test (taken a day before my sophomore PSAT, which I got a 181 on) but I took it cold. Without any practice, my score was only slightly better than average.</p>
<p>I did some prep during the summer before my junior year. It was nothing major-- I just became more familiar with the test format and time restraints. I made the mistake of grossly overestimating my abilities and underestimating the test. Reality slapped me in the face when I received my junior PSAT score and saw a puny 191. I felt terrible, to put it lightly. Especially since I had thought that I would at least get a 200. </p>
<p>So again, I prepped some more for the mandatory SAT in May. And… I got a 2080. My CR was by far my worst score-- 630. I felt really inferior next to my classmates who got in the 2200s and 2300s with little prep. But I kept trying.</p>
<p>The summer before my senior year, I worked my butt off studying for the SAT. Everyday, I would wake up at 7:00 so I could go along to my dad’s office and study SAT (ACT and SAT subject tests too…but mostly the SAT). I knew that I wouldn’t do anything productive at home, so I disciplined myself to sleep early and get up early. I went through every page in The Rocket Revolution Guide to SAT, The Critical Reader (Erica Meltzer) and also The Ultimate Guide to SAT Grammar (also by Erica Meltzer-- I HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK. IT IS A GODSEND FOR YOUR WRITING SCORE IF YOU USE IT CORRECTLY). I did a lot of BB tests (THIS BOOK IS ALSO A GODSEND). At times I felt like I had hit an SAT “plateau.” My scores stayed in the high 2000s low 2100s for the longest time. But I persevered, believing that my work would eventually be rewarded.</p>
<p>Weirdly, I got past my SAT plateau after I prepped for and took the ACT (scored a 32 comp). Suddenly, I was pulling off scores in the 2200s. My score increase seemed to come out of nowhere. My theory is that studying for the ACT gave me the time I needed for my brain to properly digest all of my SAT prep (or maybe it was the ACT prep that benefitted my SATs? Probably not).</p>
<p>This November, I got back my scores-- received a 2260 (CR 770 M 730 W 760). It’s pretty average score for CCers, but it was good enough for me to get accepted ED to my 1st choice school, Williams College. Over the course of two years, I increased my SAT scores by 550 points (if I add a 0 to the end of my first PSAT-- 171). I firmly believe that, without my hard work over the summer, I wouldn’t have even broken the 2200s. </p>
<p>All in all, the sophomore PSAT isn’t the greatest predictor of how well you’ll do on the SAT. Just work hard (but not TOO hard) and — I know this is corny, but always have hope. It will keep you from being too discouraged. </p>
<p>So, word of advice-- there is no need to feel “horrible.” Time will inevitably pass, but it mostly matters what you do with it.</p>
<p>I wish you all the best!! =)</p>
<p>It’s funny. I scored 168 on my PSAT in Junior year (146 in Sophomore) but then I took several practice tests and scored 1980 on the May SAT in junior year, 2040 senior. Not too bad</p>