PSAT scores/National Merit

[Anonymous]

We're in DC so it seems like DS would have to have a near-perfect PSAT score to be a semi-finalist or finalist. But maybe his mid 1400s will get him commended?

[Anonymous]

My kid's page says "you meet the requirements for the National Merit Scholarship Program..."

Does that mean anything?

212

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid's page says "you meet the requirements for the National Merit Scholarship Program..."

Does that mean anything?

212

No, it means you are in 11th grade, took the right test, and otherwise meet the criteria. Now you have to wait to see what the cut score will be for your state. But, congrats, that score is a good bet for at least commended, which has been 207-209 in past years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We're in DC so it seems like DS would have to have a near-perfect PSAT score to be a semi-finalist or finalist. But maybe his mid 1400s will get him commended?

Likely.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you get a perfect PSAT are you pretty much guaranteed NMSF?

Yes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"How is the Selection Index calculated?
The Selection Index is double the sum of your Reading and Writing (RW) score, and Math score divided by 10. Alternatively, you can simply drop the last zero on your section scores, double the RW and add the Math. For example, a student with scores of 690 RW and 720 M would have a Selection Index of 69 x 2 + 72 = 210. You cannot directly calculate a Selection Index from a Total Score (320 – 1520). For students entering the competition with an SAT score through Alternate Entry, note that — when calculating a Selection Index — each SAT section is capped at 760. If, for example, you have a 700 RW and 800 Math, your Selection Index would be 70 x2 + 76 = 216."
https://www.compassprep.com/psat-national-merit-faq/

So it's gender biased. They count the RW double to give the girls an advantage.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"How is the Selection Index calculated?
The Selection Index is double the sum of your Reading and Writing (RW) score, and Math score divided by 10. Alternatively, you can simply drop the last zero on your section scores, double the RW and add the Math. For example, a student with scores of 690 RW and 720 M would have a Selection Index of 69 x 2 + 72 = 210. You cannot directly calculate a Selection Index from a Total Score (320 – 1520). For students entering the competition with an SAT score through Alternate Entry, note that — when calculating a Selection Index — each SAT section is capped at 760. If, for example, you have a 700 RW and 800 Math, your Selection Index would be 70 x2 + 76 = 216."
https://www.compassprep.com/psat-national-merit-faq/

So it's gender biased. They count the RW double to give the girls an advantage.

Why would they need to do that? I thought girls are doing much better than boys at school? Shouldn't the boys get a leg-up instead?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"How is the Selection Index calculated?
The Selection Index is double the sum of your Reading and Writing (RW) score, and Math score divided by 10. Alternatively, you can simply drop the last zero on your section scores, double the RW and add the Math. For example, a student with scores of 690 RW and 720 M would have a Selection Index of 69 x 2 + 72 = 210. You cannot directly calculate a Selection Index from a Total Score (320 – 1520). For students entering the competition with an SAT score through Alternate Entry, note that — when calculating a Selection Index — each SAT section is capped at 760. If, for example, you have a 700 RW and 800 Math, your Selection Index would be 70 x2 + 76 = 216."
https://www.compassprep.com/psat-national-merit-faq/

So it's gender biased. They count the RW double to give the girls an advantage.

IIRC they were already sued over that and this was the compromise. The R/W section also includes subject matter quesitons like science, so it is actually more than just one thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"How is the Selection Index calculated?
The Selection Index is double the sum of your Reading and Writing (RW) score, and Math score divided by 10. Alternatively, you can simply drop the last zero on your section scores, double the RW and add the Math. For example, a student with scores of 690 RW and 720 M would have a Selection Index of 69 x 2 + 72 = 210. You cannot directly calculate a Selection Index from a Total Score (320 – 1520). For students entering the competition with an SAT score through Alternate Entry, note that — when calculating a Selection Index — each SAT section is capped at 760. If, for example, you have a 700 RW and 800 Math, your Selection Index would be 70 x2 + 76 = 216."
https://www.compassprep.com/psat-national-merit-faq/

So it's gender biased. They count the RW double to give the girls an advantage.

Please don't start with this

[Anonymous]

Are the scores out yet? DD checked her College Board account this morning and said she didn't see anything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are the scores out yet? DD checked her College Board account this morning and said she didn't see anything.

Some are, others on the 16th.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"How is the Selection Index calculated?
The Selection Index is double the sum of your Reading and Writing (RW) score, and Math score divided by 10. Alternatively, you can simply drop the last zero on your section scores, double the RW and add the Math. For example, a student with scores of 690 RW and 720 M would have a Selection Index of 69 x 2 + 72 = 210. You cannot directly calculate a Selection Index from a Total Score (320 – 1520). For students entering the competition with an SAT score through Alternate Entry, note that — when calculating a Selection Index — each SAT section is capped at 760. If, for example, you have a 700 RW and 800 Math, your Selection Index would be 70 x2 + 76 = 216."
https://www.compassprep.com/psat-national-merit-faq/

So it's gender biased. They count the RW double to give the girls an advantage.

Why would they need to do that? I thought girls are doing much better than boys at school? Shouldn't the boys get a leg-up instead?

My observation is that girls are doing better at subjective things and boys are doing better at objective things.
So when something is awarded or determined by a test with clear cut right/wrong answers, boys do better.
When something is awarded or determined when an individual or committee that decides what is the the best, girls do better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"How is the Selection Index calculated?
The Selection Index is double the sum of your Reading and Writing (RW) score, and Math score divided by 10. Alternatively, you can simply drop the last zero on your section scores, double the RW and add the Math. For example, a student with scores of 690 RW and 720 M would have a Selection Index of 69 x 2 + 72 = 210. You cannot directly calculate a Selection Index from a Total Score (320 – 1520). For students entering the competition with an SAT score through Alternate Entry, note that — when calculating a Selection Index — each SAT section is capped at 760. If, for example, you have a 700 RW and 800 Math, your Selection Index would be 70 x2 + 76 = 216."
https://www.compassprep.com/psat-national-merit-faq/

So it's gender biased. They count the RW double to give the girls an advantage.

Please don't start with this

+1 College isn't half math, so it doesn't make sense to overweight the math section in a college readiness test. In any case, when it counts, colleges can look at the math and R/W separately for the SAT.

[Anonymous]

I think it is harder to get a high score on the Verbal section, so maybe by double scoring it, it's capturing more of the top-end of the bell curve.

[Anonymous]

My child did poorly in the reading section, she received a 610, while a 740 on math section. Any suggestions on how to improve?