<p>PSAT. I’ll assume it is a pre-SAT test? Correct me if I’m wrong… Sorry, my school follows a different, but probably similar, course. Does anyone else take the PLAN, EXPLORE, etc.?</p>
<p>^I’m on the PLAN/EXPLORE route. Midwestern ACT takers UNITE! But, my school also tests all Juniors with the PSAT for the Nat’l Merit Scholarship.</p>
<p>PSAT is the pre-SAT. It qualifies you for the National Merit Scholarship which is a huge honor even though the money isn’t that big for a national scholarship (I think it’s only a few thousand) My school is so SAT oriented (East Coast) and really doesn’t know the format of the ACT. My school’s SAT average is horrible, so we aren’t moving on to another format.</p>
<p>Yay Midwest! I thought, but wasn’t quite sure if, it was just a regional thing! In which state are you, Anaychi? If you don’t mind me asking. :)</p>
<p>@Evan, that’s cool about the merit scholarship! Sorry to hear about your schools performance… Though, I’m sure you shine right through it!</p>
<p>@RLlover: Yea…last year’s average was 1226 and my PSAT score was higher than that in 8th grade (143 or 1430 on SAT). My location should pretty much tell you what my school is like. Most rural schools are horrible. But my school made AYP this year! :D</p>
<p>I took the first PSAT as a freshmen and got 162 (Highest in the school).</p>
<p>Hoping to get 220+ by junior year.</p>
<p>@Evanb1996</p>
<p>Yes it’s the book from Mortal Instrument, I recommend it. I got it from my library, so it’s free. It has an extremely appealing beginning. I am still reading it. I still love it.</p>
<p>@RLlover16 Illinois, a state I have a love/hate relationship with.</p>
<p>I’ve noticed many of you are “well-versed” in SAT Math. Do any of you have tips/study recommendations for helping boost my knowledge and and SAT score in math? (I already have a rather large SAT prep book from Kaplan that seems sufficient at the moment) I would like to make the SAT a supporting friend, not an enemy.</p>
<p>^I would drop Kaplan. It’s not a very reputable prep company.</p>
<p>If you are at a <650 SAT math score, BUY GRUBER’S COMPLETE GUIDE NOW! The math section is, apparently, really helpful. Plus, it’s only like $11.</p>
<p>If you are at a >650 SAT math score (like myself), Dr. Chung’s SAT math is for you. It’s hard to find, but a few copies can be found on Amazon from time to time. I’ve found it to be immensely helpful; it’s a must have for people looking to score 750+.</p>
<p>@Studious: I despise Kaplan too. The senior counselor here discourages it because it actually made some people’s scores stay the same or go down. My school uses the College Board blue book and the Princeton Review book. </p>
<p>@nothingto: I’m hoping for 220 on PSAT junior year also. I think the cut off for my state is 207 (plus or minus a few points).</p>
<p>I’ve had opposite results compared to most people. I really don’t care for the Blue Book, it’s results on my improvement were dismal if anything, but the Kaplan book (SAT Premier 2011) is relatively helpful. I’m probably going to use it for the year, and shop for a few others later on.</p>
<p>@anaychi: I don’t care for the blue book either. My scores went up in reading and writing, but my math score stayed the same. I am using number2.com now and the tutorials are really useful. I have to take the SAT again for my application to NCSSM, so I’m trying to get my score up to 1900+. But, there isn’t a magic number to getting in, so my ECs, courses, and other factors really come into play.</p>
<p>^^That’s very strange and really counterintuitive. If you’re talking about the explanatory sections of the Blue Book that aren’t the practice tests, then that makes sense. They’re really not useful, except maybe for the practice questions. </p>
<p>My advice for the most effective SAT prep: Take the tests in the Blue Book. They are official College Board tests. For the first three or so tests, don’t constrain yourself with a time limit. Take your time and work out the problems. Then, carefully review each question you missed and/or were unsure of (if you guessed and got it right, review it). Books like Tudor Ted’s (complete solution guides) can really help you here. </p>
<p>After the un-timed tests, start to replicate the conditions of an actual SAT test (ie time limits, quiet room, etc). This will help you get a feel for the actual test. Once again, review thoroughly after each test (this is extremely important). Eventually, this strategy will allow you to achieve consistently high scores on every section.</p>
<p>Finally, to supplement your studying, purchase trusted and effective prep books like Dr. Chung’s, Gruber’s, and Rocket Review (This is a little too expensive for most people, though.). There’s a new grammar guide coming out that’s supposed to be very good by Erica Meltzer; I’d check it out. </p>
<p>Together, we’ll all get 2300+ scores!!</p>
<p>Thanks for the tips! I really don’t have time to do the practice tests because I am always on the go, even during the summer. After sophomore year, I’m going to get serious about SAT prep and make ETS and College Board cry. (LOL :D) We can all make 2300+s!</p>
<p>I took the ACT in seventh grade and got a 25, but it’s the only college test I’ve taken. My math skills are awful, lol, and I’m worried they’ll kill my PSAT/NMSQT chances! Only reason I did well on the ACT was because of English and Reading.</p>
<p>I hope to get a 2300 too, but I absolutely have no idea where my test scores are at, since I haven’t taken any tests. Realistically, my goal is a 2250. I’d love to score really high – my dad got a 1590 when the test was scored out of 1600, and this was his FRESHMEN year of high school. Needless to say, I’m under crazy pressure to do well.</p>
<p>Would anybody recommend taking the SAT this spring, just to get a feel for things? I’ve read a few articles suggesting this, and still I’m uncertain.</p>
<p>^I plan to take it this coming spring. Not really to get a feel for it; to get a good score. I just think I’ll be much too busy Junior year, and I’d rather not have to worry about the SATs then.</p>
<p>I think I can achieve a 2300+ with a good amount of studying. In the Blue Book, I’ve scored around 2270 with some practice. After studying with Chung’s, Silverturtle’s Grammar Guide, and Direct Hits Vocab, I think I have a realistic shot at 2350+. It’s going to require a lot of work, though.</p>
<p>@franz:I would recommend that you take it in the spring to get a feel for things. Look at your schedule to see what is best for you. I took it in June becase I knew that I would be done with school and wouldn’t have anything to worry about (exams, homework, etc.) I’m taking it in October because the boarding school I’m applying to will only take scores from Oct, Nov, Dec, and Jan tests. I won’t be at home for the November one because of a band competition out of state. December and January’s test days get cancelled a lot where I live because of snow, so October is the only choice for me. </p>
<p>@Studious: 2270 and only going to 10th grade? What do you do? I can write a pretty good essay in 25 mins. (got a 10 and didn’t even finish) Math is my strongest (640), but it sadly stayed the same even after taking Algebra 2. Reading (600) is something that I may work on, but I’m satisfied for now with that. I’ll work on my writing (570) a bit (basic grammar rules, essay writing, etc) to get it up to at least 600. Looking at 1900 in October!</p>
<p>^I guess I’m just a really good test taker. Look at my post a little while back, where I describe my method for achieving higher scores. It really works.</p>
<p>Check out Silverturtle’s Guide in the SAT subforum. It’s very helpful, and it should boost your scores significantly (at least in writing). </p>
<p>If you scored a 640 in Math, I guess you could try Dr. Chung’s SAT Math. It’s a fantastic book, and it prepares you for almost anything that’s thrown at you. It might be out of stock, though. Check Amazon to see if there are any copies left.</p>
<p>A basic outline for helpful materials:</p>
<p>Math: Gruber’s, Dr. Chung’s
Writing: Silverturtle’s Guide, Improving your score in 3 minutes a day for the SAT essay (There are some others, but I can’t think of them right now.)
Critical Reading: Direct Hits Vocab Volumes 1 & 2 (truly amazing resources), classic/complex literature</p>
<p>All three: Blue Book. I’ve heard Tudor Ted’s Solution Manual is a good supplement to this, but I haven’t used it. Take these tests and carefully check through your mistakes.</p>
<p>Finally, you really shouldn’t take the SAT more than three times, as it gives the impression that you are obsessed with scores. You’re about to take the test for a second time this coming October, which means you’ll only have one test date left. My advice: Seriously study for the October test, and try to score 2100+. If not, you might regret it in the long run.</p>
<p>Wow a lot of SAT talk now. P: I am taking the real SAT for the first time this winter, and the PSAT somewhere in october. I took an SAT prep class for 3 weeks this summer, and I actually thought it was pretty helpful… but I have the worst problem with being persistent/consistent, so it’s been a couple weeks since i did /anything/ SAT related. 
My weakest is writing, and i really need to practice it. On a practice test i took in the summer prep class I got a 660 on reading 590 for writing- with an 8 on the essay. Hopefully with many of the new novels I’ve been reading, I’ll do better for writing.</p>
<p>@studiusmaximus: dang, a realistic shot at a 2300 already? Which section did you find the most difficult to improve?</p>