<p>I think western schools, in general, and schools in states that mandate the ACT in 11th grade probably have a lower percentage of Juniors taking the PSAT. Considering that the College Board has conceded that their current SAT is not a great test (and are rejiggering it), it probably behooves the ACT corporation to come up with some kind of scholarship process for either their PLAN test or the ACT itself. I think it would greatly enhance the prestige of the ACT which still lacks legitimacy in the eyes of (especially the East Coast) some high schools and parents. </p>
<p>BTW @vistajay those numbers are incredible. I know it is a magnet school, but they must be doing a really good job or else the students/parents are very motivated! Congratulations to your student.</p>
<p>@numbersfun, yes my D’s school does have a high concentration of exceptional students, which is why we sent her there. They do a very good job, but the school’s reputation also brings in a lot of academic talent. </p>
<p>contrary to @vistajay’s school, in my D’s school, among about 400 junior students, we don’t know how many took the PSAT. She is the only one who got above 200. Last year, (class of 2014) there were 3 commended. Nobody made to NMSF. All three of the commended got into great colleges - Princeton, Brown, UVA. Being in schools like hers could be good or bad. </p>
<p>I just want to say I think that that western schools trend more towards the SAT than the ACT, although the ACT is becoming more popular. When I was a high-schooler (in the dark ages) in the west, we didn’t even know about the ACT test. Midwesterner’s took it, but not west-coasters. Most of the high schools here recommend, but don’t require that juniors take the PSAT.</p>
<p>Everyone is required to take PSAT at my D’s school freshman, soph and junior years. D progressed from 186 to 207 to 214, so the repetition helps. Ironically, D did better on ACT than SAT. </p>
<p>Sorry on being late to the convo - I know the schools get information to ‘scrub’ but any idea when cutoff scores are published by state? I know my S is right on the boarder with a 215, anxiously waiting. </p>
<p>My son’s school has them take the psat fresh,soph and junior year! They also offer a psat prep course…I think that is why we always have a decent # of commended students!</p>
<p>@vistajay what state are you in? and is your school specialized or a regular public high school?
When my kids were in Talent Search I was amazed to discover that there were study groups for the tests; that people were prepping kids for these things (in middle school or earlier) just for the bragging rights (it might have helped them get into specialized high schools). This whole testing process has become a huge business and if you don’t participate your chances of success are greatly diminished. As for my kids, they have all been more successful on the ACT, by varying amounts. And sometimes it is just luck. Son #1 got a 36 on the Science section and he is NOT a science guy, but he was lucky.</p>
<p>Ven, cutoff scores aren’t exactly published, though there is a state-by-state list that principals seem to get in their packet. Sometimes someone gets hold of the list and posts info about it here, or Fairtest did it on their site last year, I think(?). Also when schools tell kids early they are NMSF, or home-schooled kids find out earliest as their parents get the materials at home, people start to put the info together by listing here who made the cut with what score, or wasn’t on the school list with another score. This all happens in early September. Look at previous year’s threads at early September postings to get an idea of dates. By mid-September, it’ll all be sorted out, at the latest.</p>
<p>Thanks for the links above, PAmom21 and numbersfun. Looking at the numbers for Class of 2013 (2011-12 test), Class of 2014 (2012-13 test), and Class of 2015 (2013-14 test) for New York State, if one looks to the total number of juniors who tested within the state as compared to the national number, it goes as follows: 139,685/1,480,770 (qualifying score 215, commended 200); 142,997/1,495,306 (qualifying score 219, commended 203); 136,794/1,512,116 (qualifying score unknown; commended 201). Percentages are: 9.43 (Class of 2013), 9.56 (Class of 2014), and 9.04 (Class of 2015). Could I read this as encouraging that the total number of testers in NY as a percentage of national testers went down and thus we have a chance for a repeat of the Class of 2013’s low cutoff score? D is exactly at 215/99th percentile and what a stressful thing. Archives at: <a href=“SAT Suite of Assessments – Reports | College Board”>http://research.collegeboard.org/programs/psat/data/cb-jr/archived/2011</a> Thanks!</p>
<p>The state cuts are compiled through a somewhat lengthy process that involves many participants from around the country. Read some of this comparable thread for the 2014 cuts/class. Basically, someone (one of us!) will start a list once data rolls in, and it gets updated with each new data point. For example, my son got a 220 in PA. If I hear that’s he’s “in” early, I’ll share that, and PA will get listed as a 220 maximum. The following day another PA poster might share that he’s in with a 218, and the PA data point gets updated. In time, the data is darn near perfect. It will be interesting to live through it this year.</p>
<p>Our principal, who sometime this week was supposed to call in all the students named in his top 50,000 letter, must have forgotten. I predict he will also “forget” next week. Son #3. Deja vu. </p>