Disappointing SAT score

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid just took the August SAT, and he got a disappointing score. He’s a junior; he did pretty well on the PSAT last year without doing any prep. For the SAT he took a prep class but his score on the SAT was lower than the PSAT when converted (was 92nd percentile in the PSAT and fell to 87th percentile for the actual SAT).

I realize this is not the end of the world, and DS was disappointed but not super upset. But I think he’s capable of doing better. He’ll take the PSAT again in October, so we’ll get another data point then.

Any suggestions on how to proceed? I’m inclined to wait and see how the PSAT goes before making any decisions. Should we look at the ACT? Try private tutoring for the SAT? Not worry and just go test optional? (his grades are great so far) I’d appreciate any tips from those who have BTDT.

No much information. What is the breakdown between verbal and math? How much prep is the prep class he took? Did he take AP lang or lit?
PSAT and SAT typically correlate but not always. Many kids did not prep for PSAT but did so for SAT.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I feel your kid. Most kids take it in August so it is very competitive. my son will take in December.

This is what our kid’s tutor said as well. Better to take it in Sept. because a lot of seniors who’ve taken it before are taking in August.

[Anonymous]

I’d consider a class like Kaplan. Our kid agreed to study on his own with Khan after a disappointing first SAT. His on the second SAT went down. So, we made him do a Kaplan class. Score went up 340 points.

[Anonymous]

I know so many people whose kids took the SAT early junior year (or summer before) and ended up improving 200+ points by senior year (sometimes taking the test a total of 4 or 5 times). Seriously, most of the kids I'm familiar with who have 1500+ scores fall into this category. It's definitely doable with the right prep (what works varies from kid to kid), and you have some time to figure it out.

That said, there are many, many colleges, some of them fairly selective, for which the SAT is not that important. Your kid could also try the ACT.

[Anonymous]

My kid was also disappointed by their August score. (A very common time to take it, btw. I can't imagine studying from scratch between now and the December administration with so much schoolwork, sports, etc..)

My kid signed up for Edge Ed's online class in early summer, and we signed up for the package that allows them to sit in on unlimited classes for 12 months. I figured there was no way they would be one and done. So my kid plans to sit in on those online classes (for a second time) between now and December. And also do Khan Academy practice.

Another option (we're not there yet, personally) is to get a tutor. My older kid had a tutor between the first and second test and actually only needed a few tutoring sessions because the work was so tailored to their weaknesses. I don't like the idea of a tutor from the start because so much of what kids need to learn at the beginning is quite generic so a private tutor is overkill. But after they've gotten the basic prep done, know how to work the calculator. Are reminded of the geometry they've long forgotten, etc, then a more targeted approach with a tutor might be more economical and will certainly be less frustrating for the kid. Because the tutor won't waste time on the material they know but rather focus on their problem areas. (Targeted practice through Khan Academy can achieve a similar result if the kid is self motivated.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why is he taking to PSAT after the SAT? Are you saying he took the SAT before junior year even started? That's too young. You're pushing him too hard.

DP. That is the timing that is recommended for everyone at our private high school who takes precalculus in 10th grade, ie one third of the high school. The magnet public promotes the same.

[Anonymous]

87th percentile is 1310-1340 which is decent for a first attempt by an 11th grader.

My DD got 1310 on first attempt, start of 11th grade (she was 15). Refused point blank to ever take it again.

She also got into all her top choice colleges and starts this Fall.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I feel your kid. Most kids take it in August so it is very competitive. my son will take in December.

This is what our kid’s tutor said as well. Better to take it in Sept. because a lot of seniors who’ve taken it before are taking in August.

Really? I guess there's no way for the SAT to compensate for stronger kids taking the test in certain months, but that seems unfair.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why is he taking to PSAT after the SAT? Are you saying he took the SAT before junior year even started? That's too young. You're pushing him too hard.

DP. Dozens of rising juniors (including mine) at DC’s school took the August SAT. It’s a great time to take it - before the workload and craziness of junior year kicks in. If you score high enough, you’re done. If not, there’s lots of time to make a plan on how to proceed and prep for the next one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I feel your kid. Most kids take it in August so it is very competitive. my son will take in December.

This is what our kid’s tutor said as well. Better to take it in Sept. because a lot of seniors who’ve taken it before are taking in August.

Really? I guess there's no way for the SAT to compensate for stronger kids taking the test in certain months, but that seems unfair.

That is nonsense. Your score is relative to correct and incorrect answers. THere's no comparison with other test takers, there is no curve.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid just took the August SAT, and he got a disappointing score. He’s a junior; he did pretty well on the PSAT last year without doing any prep. For the SAT he took a prep class but his score on the SAT was lower than the PSAT when converted (was 92nd percentile in the PSAT and fell to 87th percentile for the actual SAT).

I realize this is not the end of the world, and DS was disappointed but not super upset. But I think he’s capable of doing better. He’ll take the PSAT again in October, so we’ll get another data point then.

Any suggestions on how to proceed? I’m inclined to wait and see how the PSAT goes before making any decisions. Should we look at the ACT? Try private tutoring for the SAT? Not worry and just go test optional? (his grades are great so far) I’d appreciate any tips from those who have BTDT.

Did you miss the 20+ threads about SAT on the FIRST page of this forum recently?

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1288755.page

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid just took the August SAT, and he got a disappointing score. He’s a junior; he did pretty well on the PSAT last year without doing any prep. For the SAT he took a prep class but his score on the SAT was lower than the PSAT when converted (was 92nd percentile in the PSAT and fell to 87th percentile for the actual SAT).

I realize this is not the end of the world, and DS was disappointed but not super upset. But I think he’s capable of doing better. He’ll take the PSAT again in October, so we’ll get another data point then.

Any suggestions on how to proceed? I’m inclined to wait and see how the PSAT goes before making any decisions. Should we look at the ACT? Try private tutoring for the SAT? Not worry and just go test optional? (his grades are great so far) I’d appreciate any tips from those who have BTDT.

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1279182.page

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Why is he taking to PSAT after the SAT? Are you saying he took the SAT before junior year even started? That's too young. You're pushing him too hard.

I am not OP, but I disagree. I had my son take the SAT in August (Junior year had just started) and it was super useful in getting information on which subtopics he needed to focus on to prepare to the next time he takes it. For example, he now knows that he needs to review geometry, but not other math areas.

Just to be clear, you can find this out on the blue book practice tests. My son - same age - took it in August too but he already had taken many practice tests and knew what he was weak on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I feel your kid. Most kids take it in August so it is very competitive. my son will take in December.

This is what our kid’s tutor said as well. Better to take it in Sept. because a lot of seniors who’ve taken it before are taking in August.

There is a myth that the SAT is weighted against other test takers. Not true. It doesn’t matter how other people do or how many other people take the test on the day your kid takes it. The scoring is set before the test is administered.

[Anonymous]

This is what our kid’s tutor said as well. Better to take it in Sept. because a lot of seniors who’ve taken it before are taking in August.


There is a myth that the SAT is weighted against other test takers. Not true. It doesn’t matter how other people do or how many other people take the test on the day your kid takes it. The scoring is set before the test is administered.

I don't believe that it true, fully. You are correct that they do not curve it against other test takers, but they do try to adjust for the difficulty level between different tests (e.g. Sept vs Dec).