I took a practice test a few months ago hosted by Kaplan and scored in the 94th percentile among those sophomores in my school that chose to take it (around n=50). These are sophomores who I feel I am above academically, but are, nevertheless, smart kids that are in the IB program. From that result, I feel that I would place a lot better when everyone in the nation tests, perhaps even in the 99th percentile. Although the test was not an official one from CB and a result is not guaranteed, do you all think I should prepare a lot? If it matters, I got a 205 on the PSAT as a sophomore and I learned a lot of grammar concepts from studying for that test.
I don’t know what state you are from, but if you don’t already know, look up the qualifying score for national merit finalist for your state. This score should be your target when studying for the PSAT. If you are far away from it, then yes, study a lot and take practice tests until you are near or even better, at or above, that score. If your 205 is close to your state’s NMF qualifying score, then you won’t have to study as much, but it is always useful and good to study as much as you can. Again, study until you can reach that score. Good luck!
DD got around the same 10th grade score as you without studying. Since that score is below NMF for our state and it will be an entirely different test, she is studying this summer using Khan Academy. I’m not sure how closely the old version can predict your score on the new version.
@katcollege @nw2this Yes, perhaps I should clarify that I got in the 94th percentile on a NEW model PSAT from Kaplan. National Merit is for kids that score in the top 1% or at the 99th percentile, which is why I said that I felt I could score in that range with little prep given that I could do quite well without studying only in the midst of my intelligent IB friends. I am sorry that I forgot to be clear. and I, too, will be prepping using KA.
Was the practice test one of the “official” ones released from the CB or something Kaplan made up?
CB hasn’t even released how to convert the scores on these practice tests there is so much unknown at this point, if you were my kid I’d tell you to prep as much as possible. Use Khan as @nw2this suggested, it’s free!