<p>Friend of D who took it reports it was hard as well. Maybe that will mean a more generous curve.</p>
<p>Wrights, hang in there. It’s a long road ahead and your love is what will get him through. He knows it even if it doesn’t seem clear to you right now.</p>
<p>I warned D that the PSAT would probably be harder than last year’s version and that the practice tests she took might not be as hard as what she would see. She tends to freak out and I was hoping to ward that off by preparing her. I’ll let you know what I hear after I pick her up later.</p>
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<p>This seems fairly predictable. As more and more kids seem to prep for the PSAT (rather than just the SAT), it takes additional hard questions to sort out the outliers (NMSF 1%ers) from the “merely” well prepared. After the score cut-offs for NMSF went up in most states last year, the test designers may have added a couple of brain stumpers for the outlier end of the distribution so the score cut-offs wouldn’t keep floating up. It will be interesting to see what DC#2 thought about it, although he’s more likely to want to discuss the latest issue of Road & Track or the government shutdown than the PSAT.</p>
<p>SOG, that was my thinking too.</p>
<p>I’d prefer to discuss the PSAT over the government shutdown.</p>
<p>Wrights, sending positive thoughts out to you. Hang in there. The toughest thing as a parent is to see your child struggling and feeling helpless. I have a favorite saying that gets me through…everything works out in the end. If it hasn’t worked out yet then it’s not the end.</p>
<p>PSAT…I got 2 reports from other kids who said it was easy. But these kids didn’t prep at all so maybe they don’t know they were being tricked. D said some parts were hard but she thought it was fair. She skipped 4 on the math, ugh. Can’t wait for the ACT where you don’t have to gamble and you can just answer the question!!</p>
<p>wrights, I join everyone else in sending virtual hugs and support. Hearing about your son really keeps things in perspective for all of us. We want our kids to grow up to be happy and healthy…and that is the most important thing, period. Your son will get there with your love, support and encouragement.</p>
<p>PSAT: Just got a text from my S…said he thought it was really easy…that worries me a bit…I guess we shall see… Interesting to read about all of the different student takes on the test.</p>
<p>Son thought the PSAT math today was harder then his SAT practice tests Math from his prep place.</p>
<p>D said math was good, she “may have missed one” but vocab was really hard. Vocab is her weak spot in any case. She didn’t leave any blank…if she can eliminate at least one answer she will guess.</p>
<p>D said that she thought it went well, but she didn’t really know. She’s not one of these kids who remember test questions afterwards, even for things like an English test, or something she’s specifically studied for for a long time. We’ll see.</p>
<p>Does anyone else feel like we’ve now entered the hard part of the PSAT: waiting for results?</p>
<p>S felt like the PSAT went well. We are of the “non-prepped”, so he doesn’t have anything to compare it to. I am glad he felt confident about it.</p>
<p>wrights1994, sending good thoughts to you and your S, hoping he can get the help and encouragement he needs.</p>
<p>IJustDrive, the PSAT prep part was stressful for us but I agree that this waiting for results part is hard in a different way. When she got home D said “I hope I did OK…I don’t even want to think about it” so it sounds like she didn’t find it easy :-(</p>
<p>Does anyone else feel like we’ve now entered the hard part of the PSAT: waiting for results? </p>
<p>I wish!</p>
<p>DS thought the PSAT was harder this year than last year. He especially noticed that the math section was harder (he didn’t miss any on the PSAT math last year). I was happy to read all the posters who said it was harder this year. He is worried though that he didn’t do as well on the PSAT this year - when it counts.</p>
<p>AP Gov teacher meeting report:</p>
<p>D’s specific issue seems to be related to studying for tests with book, notes on book, class notes…everything except the study guide the teacher created and posted online. Oops :)</p>
<p>For what it’s worth, he also said the Constitution and branches of government will very likely account for 60+% of the AP exam and his own tests.</p>
<p>I’m with you suzy100. D taking PSAT on Saturday.<br>
Teachers not cutting any slack, piling on HW and projects all this week. :p</p>
<p>It’s the end of the quarter tomorrow so this week has been full of exams and papers and reading and whatnot. Teachers don’t make any allowance for the PSAT at all.</p>
<p>wrights1994, I am sorry you and your S are going through this. I was just reading recently that anxiety and depression issues have become something of an epidemic these days. I think our kids; the driven, often perfectionist types may tend to be more prone to going through it.I hope that he can find the help he needs. Just keep in mind that it may take visiting a couple/few different people before he finds a person he feels comfortable with.</p>
<p>BHG, Thank you so much for sharing your story. It really helps to hear stories of those who have struggled and then found their way to better balance and happiness in their lives. Your post was really beautiful. </p>
<p>I do love that kid on the couch so VERY much. It can be hard to navigate all the changes, never knowing when you are going to hit rough waters, or what is just a detour, or what may be a permanent change of course.</p>
<p>My daughter got hit in the knee very badly at her game tonight, which kind of threw her for a loop. She was seen by the trainer and is now fine- her knee is remarkably ok. </p>
<p>Her Spanish test was " much better than I thought it would be" which makes for a very good day today. It’s funny how our day is dictated by the type of day our kids are having. </p>
<p>I have been saying from the very beginning that all I want is a happy and healthy kid. That’s all that matters. </p>
<p>Friday she has her game, followed by the tutor, followed by a football game which will probably end around 9:00. I told her I would rub her feet for a half hour and read vocabulary to her. Whatever it is, it is. Saturday is the PSAT.</p>
<p>From a parent that has been through the PSAT wait - the wait for the score isn’t near as bad as the wait for the cut off! My DD13 knew she was on the cusp - and the wait is 4 months! She missed it by one point! BUT…it really was the best thing because she thought she would not have ended up at the University that she is currently at and VERY happy! It really isn’t worth the stress in the end. But she was “embarrassed” to only be Commended - her words!</p>