<p>I was amazed to get almost perfect PSAT scores!</p>
<p>HOWEVER my grades for the first semester were TERRIBLE.</p>
<p>Why is it that one can do so well on the test and yet do poorly gradewise?
I always thought these twop factors went hand-in-hand…</p>
<p>Because classes normally take more work than standardized tests, and intelligence really doesn’t help much in classes past a certain point.</p>
<p>What do you mean that intelligence doesn’t help much in a class?</p>
<p>Which one shows that a student has more intelligence? Or do they do this equally?</p>
<p>It just baffles me.</p>
<p>Testing requires intelligence and memorization of a few general patterns and test-taking abilities.</p>
<p>Classwork, on the other hand, is MUCH more extensive, and makes you do more things. Plus, if you decide not to work hard and put your best into it, and just rely on your intelligence, you may fail.</p>
<p>You know that everyone doesn’t belong in college, but unless you are well beyond what is required to go to college, you basically have to work as hard. So like the quote “Hard work often outdoes both intelligence and talent.” </p>
<p>One way I’ve heard it said is this “The SAT only shows what you’ve been exposed to, nothing more.” ~Director of Admissions, NCSSM. I assume the same thing goes for the PSAT. </p>
<p>You have to take them in tandem.</p>
<p>High grades and low SAT: Typically purely a hard worker
Low Grades and High SAT: Generally lazy, but intelligent</p>
<p>High Grades and High SAT: Either intelligent, or hard worker who has prepped a lot, typically this is where recs have the most influence.</p>
<p>I see… Do colleges usually look at both grades and test scores equally?</p>
<p>Can it also be that the classes at shools vary? I have a friend from a public school in my community and she “flunked” her PSAT even though she has straight A’s. I had pretty much straight B’s and did as stated, much better.</p>
<p>Weell because I am a sophomore I guess I have some time to bump up those grades! They were actually always good…It was just last semester that was bad. I had some “family issues” and it was just a realy hard time for me to get by. It still is but I’m making adjustments…</p>
<p>I think they do, but if one is very high, or low, then it changes.</p>
<p>It can be that, but typically it’s not considered that way imo. Yeah, it can also depend on course load though.</p>
<p>I had some “family issues” last 9 weeks, and I actually got 3 B’s, but for my semester average I only had one, and that was in an AP course.</p>
<p>MMmm that is an accomplishment. I also take AP/H classes. I guess we all just need to stay on track and be hard workers. This answers many of my questions.</p>
<p>Thank you!
:)</p>
<p>Well compared to the failing grade my school thought I would get in it, because it is a subject I dislike, and I’ve never had a really hard course before. </p>
<p>You’re welcome! I try to help all I can.</p>
<p>Psh, standardized test scores say nothing about intelligence. My guidance counselor thinks I’m a prodigy because of my scores. If you knew me, you would realize how funny that is. :P</p>
<p>Have you read the book a is for admission? in her book, she says the opposite of what admissions directors tell you, that it is more important to do well on the sat than have the best grades. Apparently, you are given an academic index that factors in sat scores, gpa, and sat 2s equally. The reasoning behind this is that a high gpa/low sat person is one that has worked really hard through high school but will have to continue to work really hard at something that doesn’t necessarily come naturally to them. Also, this person, won’t add much to the “environment”. I can’t say I really agree with this, but as a low gpa/high test score person, I’m not complaining.</p>
<p>What’s a “low” sat? The averages for most schools, even the elites, are only around 1400/1600.</p>
<p>And how does the english section measure intelligence!!! I got in the 500’s the first time…reviewed grammer and then got a low 700’s. It has nothing to do with intelligence, just a decent understanding of grammer on the SAT.</p>
<p>And what if you never took geometry or algebra II? (skipped them) You’ll be rusty on those topics as I am, but pulling a 5 on the ap calc test with literally my only studying being 2 practice tests to get used to the format was cake.</p>
<p>lookingforwhat, that’s a valid point. I agree some simple grammar review can boost your score immeasurably on the writing section. I went from a 66 on the psat to an 800 on the sat in writing because I reviewed a lot of grammar in between. however, having natural intelligence and reasoning ability on the cr and math sections helps A LOT. So i think it’s fair to say the cr and math sectiosn of the sat can be a crude indicator of intelligence. I’ll bank my money on the 2250 being smarter than the 2100 every time. </p>
<p>also… concepts from geometry and alg II are definitely utilized in ap calculus. math courses are designed to be cumultive. You’d have a **** hard time in algebra II/trig without taking algebra I. I don’t think you can be THAT rusty on geometry and earlier algebra (besides some super specific points/theorems etc) if you do well in ap calc</p>
<p>“low” sat score : she had < what would be an 1800/2400</p>
<p>my predicted psat score is about 2200 (i’m going to bump it up to 2300)
i think my cumulative gpa will be about 3.5 uw.</p>
<p>Is this considered bad for schools like NU, Rhodes, Michigan, and Case Western??</p>
<p>I will def look at that book a is for admission</p>
<p>sounds interesting…lol I always thought it would be fun to be a college admissions officer for a week.</p>