<p>I got myself into a bit of mess. I am trying not to over-react. My D took PSAT last year. She made the cut just barely. Her GC suggested that she get some help to bring up her math a bit. I figure she could prepare for November SAT and it will take care of PSAT without trying. The tutoring service must have had a different idea and was pushing to do well on PSAT. I repeated myself that we shouldn’t worry about PSAT many times. She already made the cut. If she brings up the math score a bit, she is good. I thought we were on the same page except it turned out that they were teaching my D strategies on how to approach CR questions. That is skip 2 or 3 in each section. I am furious. My D got 80 in last year’s CR and generally scores well on reading section on any test. How would she get anywhere close to 80 if she skips 2 or 3 in each section? Besides, why would anyone discuss strategies in a strong section? If you are strong at it, you don’t need strategies, you just do it, don’t you? I don’t want to upset the process but I am also afraid they may feed some wrong ideas trying to be helpful. Shall I skip tutoring until after PSAT? Or shall I just let them and fidget on my seat?</p>
<p>Wow, I can’t believe that test tutor!!! I would tell your daughter to disregard them on the CR section…she knows better than they do!!! Tell her to do what she knows has worked in the past on that section. On the math, maybe their strategies will help her (but IDK, I have never heard of a tutor telling a strong test taker to skip questions).</p>
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<p>Then it’s worth of pushing him a little. If he’s willing to take 5 APs, he should try to be a commended.</p>
<p>Maybe you should open the book and pick 1 question that you know he couldn’t do and give him the time and space to think about it. One question a day may be all what he needs. Not a firsthand experience though.</p>
<p>D just got an email from American University-- sent I guess to all juniors who had expressed interest-- reminding them exactly that the PSAT is a practice test. I must say it made my interest in American skyrocket, lol. It’s just nice to see some sense! I do mean to push D to do the practice questions in the PSAT booklet because I don’t want her to miss things out of unfamiliarity.</p>
<p>Iglooo-- do you trust this tutor? Sounds like not-- can the tutoring service give you someone else? I’m intending to tutor D myself, basically on the Xiggi method. Mostly because I know how D learns (and she’s odd, bright but odd)-- but also because I’m afraid of other people’s mistakes. I always like my own mistakes better.</p>
<p>…but IDK, I have never heard of a tutor telling a strong test taker to skip questions…</p>
<p>seiclan, That’s what I wondered, too. Skipping 2-3 in each section and there are two sections in reading or math. That’s going in with 4-6 handicap! That doesn’t make any sense to me.</p>
<p>Gwen, I wish I could tutor my D myself. It gets a bit complicated if I try to get involved in her affair. It used to be that she didn’t want anyone else to teach her anything except me. I had to be an expert in jump roping, gymnastics, soccer, tennis, math, lit. Now she is breaking away. I am glad she is but it complicates the matter.</p>
<p>I trusted the tutor up to this point. She seems nice and my D liked her. But it makes me wonder if her experience is limited to weaker students and she is having difficulty changing her approach for a stronger student.</p>
<p>Boy do I understand, Iglooo! We’ll see whether my resolve holds-- D seems to have come out the other side of the 'I don’t want YOUR help," phase, but she might just be taking a break from it. I can’t imagine why anyone would skip a question s/he could answer. Maybe if you’re uncertain, for the sake of time…?</p>
<p>My son is also in this “breaking away” phase. Yes, it is an essential part of separation and maturity (especially because we are such a tight family) but, at an inopportune time. He balks at just about anything I suggest or encourage. He seems to sometimes be doing the opposite of what he thinks I would want him to (study wise) just to prove that his method is better than mine. I do like the idea of giving him one PSAT question a day but no idea if he will “humor me” and do it. My daughters btw, were the opposite. One is now a college grad and the other is a junior in college. They both didn’t protest when I got them a tutor for the SAT and both admitted that it helped them quite a bit. Too bad DS is “separating” from them too or I would have them try to talk some sense into him!</p>
<p>seiclan, I know. I deal with it by not having an opinion most of the time. On this matter tho, it looks like I have to have an opinion. Wish me luck!</p>
<p>Skipping one or two math problems may be a good strategy. She runs out of time. In reading, she usually finishes well before her time is up.</p>
<p>"I’m afraid of other people’s mistakes. I always like my own mistakes better. " </p>
<p>Gwen Fairfax - I love this! (And by the way, if someone can tell me how to show a quote in a quote box, I’d appreciate it!)</p>
<p>Igloo - I’d feel exactly as you do! If I were you, I’d ask the tutor the strategy behind this advice, and how it applies to a student who already scored very high in that section. I’d probably tell my daughter to ignore that unless she can identify some way that it is helpful to her. in other words, she shouldn’t take advice blindly - weigh it for herself and decide if it has merit. </p>
<p>My son isn’t prepping other than taking one practice SAT test at home last month. My older son (college freshman now) wouldn’t prep either, and didn’t even want to take it a second time. i finally told him, “that’s fine, but just so you know - while taking it once with no prep and being done with it may be more authentic, you are going to be compared to all the kids who are taking prep courses and taking the test 3 times.” He did relent and take the test a second time. He also signed up for a $25 prep course at his school, which was essentially test taking skills and 2 practice tests. His second score was about 140 points higher overall, so i think it helped. </p>
<p>My junior is signed up for the SAT in November, so we’ll see if he needs/wants to take it again in the spring. And hopefully he’ll do as well on the PSAT as he did his sophomore year - that would be high enough for NMSF in our state (we have one of the lower cut offs here in Indiana).</p>
<p>Yes, at least my son did take one SAT practice test (full length old SAT timed) two weeks ago. So maybe that will help his PSAT a bit. But what kills me is that he scored 170 points lower on CR than M. He really “should” practice some CR questions before the PSAT!</p>
<p>OH, to do quotes. Highlight the quote and click to copy it. Then in the quick reply box type: [ quote] then paste the quote right next to the end bracket, then type NEXT to the quote (no spaces) [ /quote]</p>
<p>take out the spaces that i put in between the bracket and the letter!!</p>
<p>I think you are all describing the plight of mothers of boys. I am no longer “allowed” to discuss grades with my son. He just doesn’t want me to say ANYTHING. For the most part, he does have it under control. He is very mature for his age and I am learning to let it go. Would he do better if he let me “help” him? Maybe a little. I’ve decided that I will only step in if there is a big problem. I have to stop micro managing the little things. He will compete for spots with kids who let their parents help more, but that’s ok too. He is who he is and I happen to like him as well as love him.</p>
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<p>Just checking…</p>
<p>Cool - now I’m officially techno-savvy. my kids will be impressed, I’m sure.</p>
<p>Thanks seiclan!</p>
<p>Anything to impress the kids! ;)</p>
<p>Wow, That’s great. I always wondered about that, too. I am bookmarking that post so that I could quote in style next time. Thank you, seiclan.</p>
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<p>me too! thanks!</p>
<p>I can’t motivate my 2012 daughter to study for the PSAT either. She would just have to boost her sophomore score by 10% to make the cut-off for semi-finalist but she just won’t take the time to review math. And, unfortunately, after a year abroad, I’m not sure her English is as good as it was her sophomore year. Oh well, I keep telling myself she has a 32 ACT from sophomore year and that is good enough to get her merit at one of the schools that interests her. She’ll probably take the ACT again in the spring. It is aggravating when kids are so close, just not motivated. 2011 son ended up commended. 2012 daughter probably will too. Now 2014 son, he’s a horse of a different color 
That one will probably finally hit the magic number.</p>
<p>Having a tough time getting my DD12 to really focus on the PSAT prep, but she has done some work on it. She may not do as well as she might have if she was really motivated, but I know that she will do better than she would have cold. I think she takes it a week from tomorrow - yikes! Does everyone in the country take it on the same day?</p>