<p>I have the hardest time keeping things straight when I have info about too many similar things. D takes the PSAT this Saturday. Just to make sure I am not mixing it up with the ACT info…on the PSAT you should guess only if you can eliminate an answer choice or two, but you should not make random guesses, skipping the question instead if you have NO idea, but you should not skip any of the grid-in math problems (that aren’t multiple choice). Is that correct?</p>
<p>The SAT penalizes you for guessing so it’s best to not guess wildly. Better to skip. You should do all the math grid questions ( fill ins) because you will not get penalized for a wrong answer. </p>
<p>How long is the PSAT? Will it start on time?</p>
<p>A new AP Bio was introduced last year and there was ton of complaining because there were not very helpful updated test prep books (and almost no relevant practice tests) available for studying. My S’s teacher was no more helpful: taught the same curriculum as always. And as another mentioned, there was much freak out when a mere 5% got 5s (with a lower percentage of 4s too). The trend is to more math, and analysis and application (i.e. data,graphing, seeing trends, applying concepts) and less of the pure memorization. It’s becoming more like the Science section on the ACT, so for AP Science takers this year, work on those skills will likely pay off. My S had to work hard outside of class (which did not evolve with the new test) to get a quality score, but honestly, I think he learned more about using his brain than if it were another monkey memorization test.</p>
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<p>Right.</p>
<p>On the SAT (and PSAT) an incorrect guess is -1/4 point, a correct answer is +1 point, no answer is 0. So if you can eliminate just one of the 5 possible answers on a question you break even with leaving it blank, probability-wise. </p>
<p>There isn’t a penalty for wrong answers on the grid-in questions so guessing is a good idea even if you have no idea.</p>
<p>[PSAT</a> Scores - About PSAT/NMSQT Scoring](<a href=“http://professionals.collegeboard.com/testing/psat/scores/about]PSAT”>http://professionals.collegeboard.com/testing/psat/scores/about)</p>
<p>There is no wrong answer penalty on the ACT.</p>
<p>I don’t have enough post to PM you. I just want to let you know how much I appreciate your message.</p>
<p>Thank you for the confirmations about ‘guessing’ on the PSAT. We just got a reminder email about the test for Saturday. The kids have to be there at 7:50, and they warned us that it will likely be cold in the room where they will take the test…taking a sweater or something is probably a good idea for anyone heading to testing, just in case.</p>
<ol>
<li>My son’s Bio teacher told me that the AP prep books out there now will NOT help him on the exam. Glad to hear some of your kids’ teachers also second that.</li>
<li>AP US History will have new test next year. Yay for older son but bummer for my younger son…</li>
<li> I AM SOOOOO HAPPY THAT PSAT IS OVER! S took ACT in September so he is done for now until next spring, AP/SAT2 and possible ACT in April. I told him I will get off his back for now :D</li>
</ol>
<p>Newtoday</p>
<p>How are things going with your d? Been thinking of you.</p>
<p>I’m also hoping things are going OK with Newtoday and her D, as well as wrights1994 and her S. Sending you all good vibes.</p>
<p>D is studying for the PSAT tonight with no prompting from the mama. Must be peer pressure of the good kind. ;)</p>
<p>NewToday I hope things are ok for you. I am starting to get a little nervous about this PSAT tomorrow even though I keep telling myself " who cares." I gave her the 2010 test this past summer ( without studying) and I am curious to see if tomorrow’s test is harder. I have a feeling it is- oh well. She is not willing to study two hours a night for these tests and sacrifice her school work and GPA- I don’t blame her. By the time she gets her PSAT score back she will have already gotten back one SAT and ACT and will be getting ready for her second round in Jan/Feb. The studying that she is doing will have to be good enough. </p>
<p>Yesterday I casually asked her if she is still against smaller schools with less than 5,000 kids and her response was " I have no idea." So there you have it: she has not really narrowed down the size and does not yet know city/ no city. Of course it is very possible that she just said that to me because she was working and did not want to engage in a conversation- who knows.</p>
<p>My kid is determined to do reasonably well on the AP Spanish listening sections, which are the hardest parts. I was talking to somebody yesterday who told me one year the listening was made up of a man talking on his cell phone on a train ( background noise) and his cell phone kept losing service. The kids had to " fill in the blanks." Can you imagine? It’s hard enough having a conversation in English on a cell phone that keeps dropping, let alone a foreign language. My kid now gets up every morning and watches the news in Spanish. Perhaps I should periodically turn off the volume!</p>
<p>Tonight will be most pleasant: she has a game from 4:00-5:20. We run out and get to the tutor from 5:40 to 6:40 and then I get her to a 7:00 football game which should end around 9 ish. I will try and get her some sushi to get in the fish requirement! I am hoping she reviews some vocabulary tonight but if not, it’s fine. </p>
<p>Enjoy the day!!</p>
<p>My D is under the impression that the new APUSH test next year will be easier than the current test. She said the new one will have 4 multiple choice answers as opposed to the 5 they will have this year. She also said the new essays will be more straight-forward and will be more similar to the AP World essays that they’re used to. This info must be coming from her teacher.</p>
<p>Taking my daughter to get her learner’s permit this morning. Hopefully she studied for the test(?!)-so many tests, so little time.</p>
<p>This was a pretty useless week at school. Monday was a half day, Wednesday was the PSAT and there’s no school today. So almost no teaching or learning in half D’s classes (A-B block schedule so classes meet every other day)</p>
<p>I have done so much reading/discussing about schools with D, my husband, online, at work etc that my brain is full of stupid information. The thing that stands out for me right now about yesterdays schools is that one of them has laundry machines that text the student when their laundry is done and ready to be picked up! Pretty cool but I certainly learned more than that yesterday.</p>
<p>So before i head out for today’s tour, a quick summary:</p>
<p>Winona State in MN- this one is off the list ( was not really on the list, but since we were driving almost through the town on our way to another)…D did not like the look/feel of the town or campus and felt she would not feel at home there.</p>
<p>U of Wisconsin Lacrosse- this would be one of two financial and academic safeties. Overall this school would work for my D. She liked it except for it is in Wisconsion so to close to home. Schoool of 10k in town of 50k. Really liked the look and feel of campus, and feel like my D would find some students here that she would relate to. AM impressed at what they have to offer for the money. Their tuition includes books, a bus pass, student rec center access…With reciprocity, this is a few thousand cheaper than our in state schools in MN. They have 20% doing study abroad, and 87% of freshman return for sophmore year. This is a lot higher than average and says a lot to me about the student experience. Computer Science and Biology would be a possible double major for her here and could still study abroad and graduate in 4 years, mostly due to AP classes and a couple classes she is taking at my college and will transfer. Dorms plus full meal plan are some of the least expensive I have seen. Freshman dorms are old school, basic dorms but so are most of those that we have seen that cost a lot more.</p>
<p>Very happy to have a safety that D says she could see herself attending. Today is Cornell College- they will keep us for five hours, very small school in a tiny town in Iowa so I am sure tonights report will be very different. Main reason we are looking here is the Block schedule- one course at a time!</p>
<p>DD takes the PSAT tomorrow, the PLAN next month & ACT (round 1) in December. As she is being tutored for the ACT, there’s only a little focus on the PSAT as she won’t score anywhere near the NMS cut-off. What does matter to DD is that there is a minimum PSAT score which permits her access into Academic Recruiting Camps for her sports - tis goal is readily attainable.</p>
<p>So after DD completes the PSAT on Saturday, there’s time for a quick lunch and changing into her field hockey uniform for a 2:30 away game against one of her schools cross-town rivals. Bus leaves at 1:20.</p>
<p>As I’m driving DD to school yesterday she casually mentions to me “Dad, I’m trying out for the Varsity Math Team after school today.” I almost crash the car with the shock to my system and with “The Big One” Red Foxx always threatened. This can’t be my kid; a space alien must have invaded her body after she went to sleep the night before.</p>
<p>I make a joke about “what do you have to do multiply & divide in your head without using paper/pencil or a calculator to make the team?”…eye roll.</p>
<p>She reports to me this morning she did ok at the tryout & its ongoing over the next few weeks. Team members receive a “XYZ Varsity Math Team” shirt to wear at events/competitions.</p>
<p>Both my twin brother & I were “Varsity Mathletes” in HS, though he may have been captain; I can’t remember that far back…anyway I was a benchwarmer but a letterwinner on the Mathletes team.</p>
<p>D is signed up to take the ACT next weekend, but just asked if she can take it a different time. She says she doesn’t feel ready, but I think she is mostly feeling test fatigue and is tired of having her Saturdays consumed this way. I guess I don’t blame her, but I would have liked for her to have that one under her belt so that she can decide if she needs/wants to take the SAT or the ACT for the second time in the spring. Oh well.</p>
<p>suzy - can you get your money back? I would tell her just to relax and take it - sometimes they do better if they don’t feel a lot of stress.</p>
<p>Best wishes to tomorrow’s PSAT takers!!</p>
<p>suzy - there won’t be any “good” time to take the test this year. If you end up kicking the can down the road, I’d suggest coming up with a specific study plan. Otherwise, you may end up at the same point down the road. It’s painful for kids but it’s either pay now or pay more later situation, IMHO. Good luck.</p>
<p>I doubt it on the money, but I can live with that. She asked via text, so I haven’t talked to her about it but I will shortly. I agree with the relax and take it strategy. I think she will do well and I really don’t think she needs to prep any more for it. I think she just wants her Saturdays back, but I’m just guessing.</p>
<p>suzy, If you wait 2 days she may change her mind. By Friday everyone is exhausted. Maybe she is just venting. Or MAYBE it’s low blood sugar. My kids say no matter what the problem, I attribute to low blood sugar. It’s a family joke.</p>
<p>suzy100 – One of our family aphorisms is “the morning is wiser than the evening.”</p>
<p>It sounds like your D doesn’t need to decide <em>today</em> whether to take that ACT. Tell her to sleep on it, and you’ll talk about it tomorrow. If she’s just low-blood-sugar or fatigued, maybe tomorrow she will regain her can-do attitude. If not, you can look into refund or rescheduling.</p>