@snicks1234 How far apart did he take the PSAT and the SAT? I jumped 110 points on PSAT in a year, so I can see that happening if he took them at least 6 months apart.
Do you all think a 225 will qualify me for NM in CA?
Also, I understand that you must take the SAT in order to be in the running for finalist. Would you guys say it’s worth it for me to take the SAT just for this purpose, especially since you’re not even notified for being a finalist until after you’ve applied to colleges? I already took the ACT once and scored a 35, and I get really bad testing/post-testing anxiety…is it worth it to take the SAT? Please advise!
My son jumped 80 points from the PSAT last October to the March SAT.
@wormholes Congratulations! While no one can be certain, I believe you will be a semifinalist. Yes, in my opinion you should take the SAT. Maybe you could use practice tests to help decrease the anxiety.
The notification of semifinalists is usually in early September, which is nice because it is early enough so you can list it on your college applications.
DS jumped up 90 pts from PSAT to SAT. We are hoping a 220 SI in Mass. will just make it into the NMSF pool. I think Compass predicts that his SI score on the PSAT is one point to low for our state. We are not complaining and are very happy that his SAT score puts him in a good range for all of his “reach” schools.
Well…actually my son complains that the SI calculation is not good for math kids like him, but the rules are the same for everyone and the current system seems to follow the old SAT setup. Most of my son’s improvement from PSAT to SAT was on the English/Reading/Writing side.
He needs to take a few subject tests in June and then hopefully he is done with standardized tests (besides AP exams). 
@snicks1234 and @BunnyBlue, keep in mind that the PSAT score was based on a 1520 scale (not 1600, as it is for the SATS), so the jump in your children’s scores may not be as dramatic as it seems. However, both have excellent scores, to be sure!
@chillkitty Thanks! Yes, I see your point that an increase is sort of built into it, and should be expected. Way back in the dark ages when I took the PSAT and SAT, my SAT scores were higher than the PSAT scores by the same number of points. When S1 took the old PSAT and old SAT, both scores were about the same. Now with S2, there is a jump from the PSAT to the SAT again.
On the college board page,below his Psat score it said “this is what you would have scored if you took the SAT today”. But like @annana implied six months apart does give room for improvement.
D3 jumped 30 points and we were happy. Jumping 60 to 90 points is unbelievable. You guys have really smart kids!
@Mamelot Thanks. So do you.
D1 went from a 710 to 760 on the reading. Unchanged on the math - 750.
I had a 40 point increase, 730 to 770 on R&W.
As I said, smart kids.
For March SAT, S1 went from PSAT 720 (R&W) to SAT 730, but went down from PSAT 740 to SAT 700 (Math). We’re hoping that the 1430 on the SAT is enough for conformance – he’s not thrilled at the prospect of taking the SATs again. There’s plenty of other stuff to catch up on. Like, you know, sleep. I-)
Has anyone seen this? Hmm!!!
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/grade-point/wp/2016/05/11/why-your-new-sat-score-is-not-as-strong-as-you-think-it-is/
@SLparent Someone posted that earlier in the week. I don’t think the article says much of anything really.
It was helpful to post that link because some people may have missed the article before. It is important to keep in mind when one is deciding which colleges to apply to that the new SAT scores equate to lower old scores.
IMO, to increase chances of getting admitted to a school of your choice or a school you want to attend, it might be better to build up one’s Extra Curricular stuff rather than try to get 50 to 90 points higher on standardized tests. I have seen many kids with great GPAs and standardized test scores but with so-so EAs get denied from UCLA/Berkeley and other high ranked schools, while I have seen many kids with good GPAs and good (not great) standardized test scores BUT with good to great EAs get admitted from the same schools. I truly don’t think colleges care whether you got 33 or 35 in ACT or 2150 or 2250 in SAT. I am betting they don’t care and instead I am focusing on school work and building up my EAs.
Interestingly, I have seen some kids with 35 ACT and 2300 SAT scores not make NMSF, and I have seen kids with 33 ACT and 2150 SAT make NMSF in CA. Go figure.
^got a 2380 on the SAT, don’t think I’m going to make the cut in CA for NMSF 
I agree, EC’s are much more important these days, and not just for private schools.
Kids, you can go out there and volunteer all day long everyday, but ya still have to have a great GPA and top SAT scores to get into the top schools. Now if two applicants have the same GPA and SAT scores then the extra curriculars may be what sways their decision, but top colleges still want top achievers academically. So keep studying and dont get discouraged. That article is arbitrary in some ways,partici