Soph: 190
Junior: 206
+16
Just asking for some clarification, if my score, 211, is above the cut-off for Iowa, i am automatically a semi-finalist and after I fill out some papres I become a finalist and get the scholarship, correct?
@kyrieIrving2 If that score is above the cutoff, then you are automatically a NMSF. However, you must complete and application and take the SAT to become a NMF (15,000 of the 16,000 that become NMSF become NMF). After that, about 1/2 of those 15,000 receive monetary scholarships. Even if you don’t get a scholarship, being an NMF is still a big deal.
@kyrieIrving2 In all honesty, though, 211 might be right on the line. Nailbiting 8 months ahead.
@tigerrocks13
Fortunately, I live in one of the least competitive states in the country, Iowa. Had this been Cali or NJ I’d have no shot with a 211
@kyrieIrving2
You’re still borderline though, these sites are estimating Iowa at 212 cutoff.
http://collegeadmissions.testmasters.com/update-psat-scores-cut-national-merit-2016/
http://publicuniversityhonors.com/2013/12/11/psat-national-merit-scholar-qualifying-scores-and-sat-equivalencies-by-state/
Perhaps the data should focus on people who did minimal studying (typical of the average student; 3-6 hrs or so) to represent the typical student best.
209 soph year and 224 junior year
202, 220 +18
nn
@foosondaughter DS didn’t take PSAT as a sophomore but his freshman (2013) score was 185, junior score (2015) is 218. Don’t know if that helps any though.
DS had 205 as a sophomore; 220 as a junior. Sophomore was the first time he ever took this type of test. But by October of the Junior year, he took the old SAT twice and studied, so his increase is not just from getting a year older.
At his school, the boy who got 2340 on Dec. SAT got 224 on the 10/14 PSAT. Another one who got 2200 on Dec. SAT got 209 on the 10/14 PSAT. So it’s not clear from these two data points if the new PSAT is harder or easier than the old one.
@foosondaughter, from old reports you do an exceptional and fabulous analysis for this CC section about predicting cut off PSAT 2017. I like your conclusions. Are you parents?
My son 196,222+26 his friend 218, 222+4 Now let me give you the story about my son as a sophomore he took the test without any test prep. he is naturally gifted in math but writing and reading he was ok 95%. Last year he missed one in math 10 in reading and 8 in writing plus he left one blank in reading. So this year we had heard that studying can improve scores and the tutor said that with his scores in math he could bring up the writing and the reading comprehension and I am so glad I did pay for a tutor. He went for 14 sessions and worked on khan academy and the new sample psat test and also the new 4 new sat tests. His score also agreed with his practice test, He got a more evenly distributed score though on the practice 4 writing and 4 reading instead of 7 reading with the actual test His friend went to a private school and never studied
@fun1234 - very helpful to get the info around performance and prep - my son went up 12 points - 206 to 218 - aced math but did less well on reading. He only went to 1 review session and did not do much PSAT targeted prep but had been doing ACT prep. Some of the PSAT reading tripped him up but he only missed 1 in math & 2 on writing on the October 2015 PSAT.
DS, 191 as a sophomore , 216 (1460) as a junior. During this time he took the SAT three times, ACT twice with best sittings of 2160 and 33. Maxed the math on the SAT every time and on the PSAT as well and 35s on the ACT math so he is one of those strong STEM kids that is hurt by the PSAT scoring.
PSAT reading was different from old SAT reading, had questions similar to ACT science section, probably helpful to STEM kids. Mine had -2 in reading where usually 0
@foosondaughter - I’m wondering how many students prepped for Sophomore and/or Junior year. My DS didn’t prep for either. Sophomore score was terrible so I figured he would be an ACT test taker and thought the new designed PSAT/SAT would be too unpredictable. I was pleasantly surprised by his 1410/212 Junior year. So, how many are in my boat? Or how many prepped for one or both? How many prepped for neither?
D3 only took junior PSAT. She prepped using Kahn and the PSAT/SAT practice tests. However, she had just finished some extensive prep for the ACT during her sophomore year and that undoubtedly helped her as well.