October PSAT? Open to all?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our 11th grader will take the PSAT because she believes she can make the national merit cutoff, which must be done as a junior. She would not take it otherwise.

I saw that the MD cutoff was 221. How does that correlate to the PSAT score?

It was 222 for current MD seniors, who took test last Fall; Semi finalists and cut offs were just announced.
The cut off is re-set for each state every year, presumably based on how students in each state do, since the semi-finalist slots are allowed proportionally to each state.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know nothing about this and have a 10th grader. What do I need to know? Should he be prepping for it? He’s very strong academically all around. Does it matter?

I would NOT have your 10th grader prep for the PSAT. Use it as a raw baseline for where his SAT scores will be without preparation for the SAT.

For SAT prep, I would start with the free KhanAcademy practice tests, if he needs a little bit of improvement in scores to reach his desired targets. If he needs a lot of improvement, enroll in a good prep course.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know nothing about this and have a 10th grader. What do I need to know? Should he be prepping for it? He’s very strong academically all around. Does it matter?

I would NOT have your 10th grader prep for the PSAT. Use it as a raw baseline for where his SAT scores will be without preparation for the SAT.

For SAT prep, I would start with the free KhanAcademy practice tests, if he needs a little bit of improvement in scores to reach his desired targets. If he needs a lot of improvement, enroll in a good prep course.

I disagree. Even professional musicians practice daily and do warm up exercises before a concert.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know nothing about this and have a 10th grader. What do I need to know? Should he be prepping for it? He’s very strong academically all around. Does it matter?

I would NOT have your 10th grader prep for the PSAT. Use it as a raw baseline for where his SAT scores will be without preparation for the SAT.

For SAT prep, I would start with the free KhanAcademy practice tests, if he needs a little bit of improvement in scores to reach his desired targets. If he needs a lot of improvement, enroll in a good prep course.

But aren’t you saying that the pSAT is used for scholarships? Why not prep then?

[Anonymous]

The PSAT is not for scholarships as a 10th grader. The optional PSAT in 11th grade can be used for scholarships.

If your kid is in 10th grade there is no need for in-depth studying. If they are in 11th grade it may make sense to study. If you are in the vicinity of national merit taking it as a 11th grader your kid is almost definitely studying because the bar really is very high.

Many kids who are trying for national merit take the August SAT so they can study for the SAT and PSAT together and get a sense of whether there is any areas that require extra focus. Our junior daughter scored 1510 in the August SAT. While that score is very good, it’s still going to require a good day for her to get a national merit qualifying score.

[Anonymous]

So, for the PSAT:
- free and walk-ins for 10th
- need to register and pay for 11th
- Junior (11th) can take both the PSAT and the summer SAT
Are these high school specific or all MCPS? Tks!

[Anonymous]

May differ from school to school, but I don't know that you can just walk in on the morning of the test as a 10th grader -- really need to check with test coordinator. It is definitely open to all 10th graders, without charge, but they usually do something the week before or so, in school, where those taking it do some pre-registration thing and perhaps download the software or at least do whatever is needed to be able to start taking the test the morning of.

[Anonymous]

When will the 10th get scores back for the PSAT they took last week?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When will the 10th get scores back for the PSAT they took last week?

Nov 7th

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The PSAT is not for scholarships as a 10th grader. The optional PSAT in 11th grade can be used for scholarships.

If your kid is in 10th grade there is no need for in-depth studying. If they are in 11th grade it may make sense to study. If you are in the vicinity of national merit taking it as a 11th grader your kid is almost definitely studying because the bar really is very high.

Many kids who are trying for national merit take the August SAT so they can study for the SAT and PSAT together and get a sense of whether there is any areas that require extra focus. Our junior daughter scored 1510 in the August SAT. While that score is very good, it’s still going to require a good day for her to get a national merit qualifying score.

So if a 10th grader gets a perfect score it’s worth nothing?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The PSAT is not for scholarships as a 10th grader. The optional PSAT in 11th grade can be used for scholarships.

If your kid is in 10th grade there is no need for in-depth studying. If they are in 11th grade it may make sense to study. If you are in the vicinity of national merit taking it as a 11th grader your kid is almost definitely studying because the bar really is very high.

Many kids who are trying for national merit take the August SAT so they can study for the SAT and PSAT together and get a sense of whether there is any areas that require extra focus. Our junior daughter scored 1510 in the August SAT. While that score is very good, it’s still going to require a good day for her to get a national merit qualifying score.

So if a 10th grader gets a perfect score it’s worth nothing?

It is worth the confidence of knowing you are likely to do well on both the regular SAT and the junior year PSAT for national merit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When will the 10th get scores back for the PSAT they took last week?

Nov 7th

Where can we see the results, cannot see them on the college board app.

[Anonymous]

They are released throughout the day. All should be released by 8 PM.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When will the 10th get scores back for the PSAT they took last week?

Nov 7th

Where can we see the results, cannot see them on the college board app.

Where can we see the results?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The PSAT is not for scholarships as a 10th grader. The optional PSAT in 11th grade can be used for scholarships.

If your kid is in 10th grade there is no need for in-depth studying. If they are in 11th grade it may make sense to study. If you are in the vicinity of national merit taking it as a 11th grader your kid is almost definitely studying because the bar really is very high.

Many kids who are trying for national merit take the August SAT so they can study for the SAT and PSAT together and get a sense of whether there is any areas that require extra focus. Our junior daughter scored 1510 in the August SAT. While that score is very good, it’s still going to require a good day for her to get a national merit qualifying score.

Not all kids are studying. Some took the PSAT for the first time in October as sophomores and got perfect scores. My kid said it was really easy.