PSAT results came out

[Anonymous]

Your 9th grade son must have taken the 8/9 which is out of 1440
The others are out of 1520

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Feeling glum about sophomore DD scores-1160. GPA 3.89 UW at competitive private. I’d much rather the high GPA but still can’t help being disappointed. Just not a good test taker.

No. That’s the 89th percentile. Its top score is 1520, not 1600. The child is not a bad test taker.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your 9th grade son must have taken the 8/9 which is out of 1440
The others are out of 1520

I don't know, he said he took the 10 one, because all the 9th and 10th graders took the same thing at their school (school-sponsored and administered it during a school day as a testing center). I have no idea if that is good?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your 9th grade son must have taken the 8/9 which is out of 1440
The others are out of 1520

I don't know, he said he took the 10 one, because all the 9th and 10th graders took the same thing at their school (school-sponsored and administered it during a school day as a testing center). I have no idea if that is good?

So maybe I misremember the scores - maybe it is 1180 our of 1440 then.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My MCPS junior can't get on.

My MCPS junior can't get his scores either and it doesn't have to do with the Amazon outage -- at least I don't think so. He tried earlier today and had the same issue. His birthday is also wrong (off a day) similar to some other posters. Has anyone figured out what they need to do to get their scores?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DS had got one question wrong is writing, so 38 37 38, what is his chance of NMSF in MD

(38+37+38) * 2 = 226

This year the MD NMSF cutoff was 224 which was very high. Normally it is in 221 or 224 range, so your kid is pretty much guaranteed a spot. Now prep for the SAT because you have to also submit a great SAT score for proof.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Feeling glum about sophomore DD scores-1160. GPA 3.89 UW at competitive private. I’d much rather the high GPA but still can’t help being disappointed. Just not a good test taker.

Feeling glum? Why? Her scores can only get better. Link the collegeboard account to Khan Academy. It is just a button on collegeboard account that you have to click. Khan Academy will evaluate her PSAT scores and performance instantly and create a study plan based on which areas she is weak in.

I am an old, old hand in all kinds of supplementation and enrichment for my kids - self-teaching, books, academic camps, tutors, prep companies, online packages etc - there is nothing that I have not used and auditioned. I am an extremely savvy consumer as far as education is concerned.

I can assure you that the best and most useful resource for your kid's SAT prep is Khan Academy. The real shame is that not many use it. 1160 for a sophomore means that you need to give her the right support. Please don't waste your money on the expensive prep companies. Go to Khan Academy and make her work on her personalized and interactive plan.

NP. Thank you PP for this advice.
My DS is a sophomore and was hoping to take the SAT this August after summer study. Scored 1390 and I think he was worried because his older friends say 1500+ is needed for UVA. I’ll tell him to link his scores to Khan academy as suggested.

Yes.

Also, for parents of younger kids...start taking PSAT from as early as you can. Do not miss any opportunity for your kid to take PSAT. PSAT is just that - PRACTICE PSAT. Do not practice for SAT by taking real SAT because some colleges want to see ALL the SATs you have ever taken. PSAT does not get seen by colleges. Poor PSAT performance does not impact anything come admission time. Also, PSAT are genuine Collegeboard created tests.

In early years (9, 10), its A-OK to go without any prep just so you know where you stand without any prep. Then USE the Khan Academy feature to prepare for only the content area your kid is weak in. It is like a personalized expensive Private Prep Company tutor.

Every single opportunity to take PSAT. There is a version for 8th-9th and another for 10th grade too. Remember, only your school can offer it. Only NMSQT (National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test) in Fall of Junior Year is the one that gets used for NMS. The more tests you have taken previously, the more data Khan Academy has for your kid and the more your kid can practice.

SAT Prep - Please also use Khan Academy for practice for SAT. They also use the 8 official SAT tests and they will also give you a personalize SAT practice based on your areas of weakness. They can teach content that you don't understand based on your performance. So it is a coach and a tutor - all rolled into one.

SAT/PSAT/NMS - these are exams that you can crack with the right support and nothing supports you better than Khan Academy. It is just a question of how much time you are willing to devote in using this tool.

This is exactly what is wrong with this system and why some are pushing ton get rid of these tests. It's not testing readiness for college or intelligence. It's testing whether you know how to game the test. What a huge waste of our kids' time and a bunch of false pressure. This will not get them anywhere in life because life is not a series of standardized tests.

LOL! How is this gaming the system? Khan Academy has made this tool available for all - rich or poor - national or international- for free. It is customized to the student's needs. No need to pay test companies. Any kid who wants to study on his own can do well. What the kid does not know in terms of content knowledge he is taught. Any knowledge gap due to poor schooling is also filled If a kid cannot do well even with equitable resources and adequate support (for free), then the kid either does not have the brain power or the inclination to study. In that case, the kid can try to get into trade, army, private business, entertainment industry or sports...why should every single kid go to college? A good plumber is as needed in society as a good cardiologist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Feeling glum about sophomore DD scores-1160. GPA 3.89 UW at competitive private. I’d much rather the high GPA but still can’t help being disappointed. Just not a good test taker.

No. That’s the 89th percentile. Its top score is 1520, not 1600. The child is not a bad test taker.

My child was in the same percentile for a 10th grader: 1170, 89th percentile. I don't think that is a good score. It's not horrible, but it certainly doesn't mean the kid is a good test taker.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Many families start prepping for the TJ admissions test in early elementary school so I wouldn't be surprised at all to learn those same kids prepped early for the PSAT.

Many schools will give free PSAT to students in 8th, 9th, 10th - so that rich and poor alike get equal exposure to SAT. There is no "prepping" for PSAT and it is a ridiculous notion. I will be very surprised to learn that any kids prep early for PSAT or waste their time doing that.

If you are well prepared in lower grades in English and Math then you can do very well on SAT as well as PSAT. Furthermore, the English and Math in SAT is very basic. SAT Math covers only Algebra (no calc) and some questions of Geometry (no trigonometry), and most students are done with the Math part by 8th or 9th grade. Of course, if you are a poor student of Math in lower grades and have not done anything to remedy that knowledge gap, you will continue to fare poorly in SAT.

Similarly, SAT English is a very basic type of English and they have made it even more simplified. No more obscure words and analogies of yesteryear. Now the meaning of the word is inferred from the passage. Again, if you are a good student, you will do well. If you have knowledge gaps and you don't try and remedy it, then you will flounder.

Be an excellent student in Math and English and get a bit familiar with the format and you are gold. You cannot crack PSAT or SAT if you don't know Math or English. Does not matter how many tests you take. You have to take the tests, pinpoint what you don't know or understand, and go and learn that concept and content so that you can master it. SAT measures your mastery for basic concepts in Math and English that is needed for you to do well in college and understand more complex concepts. If you don't have the basic down, how will you do well when more advanced stuff comes?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Feeling glum about sophomore DD scores-1160. GPA 3.89 UW at competitive private. I’d much rather the high GPA but still can’t help being disappointed. Just not a good test taker.

Feeling glum? Why? Her scores can only get better. Link the collegeboard account to Khan Academy. It is just a button on collegeboard account that you have to click. Khan Academy will evaluate her PSAT scores and performance instantly and create a study plan based on which areas she is weak in.

I am an old, old hand in all kinds of supplementation and enrichment for my kids - self-teaching, books, academic camps, tutors, prep companies, online packages etc - there is nothing that I have not used and auditioned. I am an extremely savvy consumer as far as education is concerned.

I can assure you that the best and most useful resource for your kid's SAT prep is Khan Academy. The real shame is that not many use it. 1160 for a sophomore means that you need to give her the right support. Please don't waste your money on the expensive prep companies. Go to Khan Academy and make her work on her personalized and interactive plan.

NP. Thank you PP for this advice.
My DS is a sophomore and was hoping to take the SAT this August after summer study. Scored 1390 and I think he was worried because his older friends say 1500+ is needed for UVA. I’ll tell him to link his scores to Khan academy as suggested.

Yes.

Also, for parents of younger kids...start taking PSAT from as early as you can. Do not miss any opportunity for your kid to take PSAT. PSAT is just that - PRACTICE PSAT. Do not practice for SAT by taking real SAT because some colleges want to see ALL the SATs you have ever taken. PSAT does not get seen by colleges. Poor PSAT performance does not impact anything come admission time. Also, PSAT are genuine Collegeboard created tests.

In early years (9, 10), its A-OK to go without any prep just so you know where you stand without any prep. Then USE the Khan Academy feature to prepare for only the content area your kid is weak in. It is like a personalized expensive Private Prep Company tutor.

Every single opportunity to take PSAT. There is a version for 8th-9th and another for 10th grade too. Remember, only your school can offer it. Only NMSQT (National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test) in Fall of Junior Year is the one that gets used for NMS. The more tests you have taken previously, the more data Khan Academy has for your kid and the more your kid can practice.

SAT Prep - Please also use Khan Academy for practice for SAT. They also use the 8 official SAT tests and they will also give you a personalize SAT practice based on your areas of weakness. They can teach content that you don't understand based on your performance. So it is a coach and a tutor - all rolled into one.

SAT/PSAT/NMS - these are exams that you can crack with the right support and nothing supports you better than Khan Academy. It is just a question of how much time you are willing to devote in using this tool.

This is exactly what is wrong with this system and why some are pushing ton get rid of these tests. It's not testing readiness for college or intelligence. It's testing whether you know how to game the test. What a huge waste of our kids' time and a bunch of false pressure. This will not get them anywhere in life because life is not a series of standardized tests.

LOL! How is this gaming the system? Khan Academy has made this tool available for all - rich or poor - national or international- for free. It is customized to the student's needs. No need to pay test companies. Any kid who wants to study on his own can do well. What the kid does not know in terms of content knowledge he is taught. Any knowledge gap due to poor schooling is also filled If a kid cannot do well even with equitable resources and adequate support (for free), then the kid either does not have the brain power or the inclination to study. In that case, the kid can try to get into trade, army, private business, entertainment industry or sports...why should every single kid go to college? A good plumber is as needed in society as a good cardiologist.

You did not address my contention that it is a time waster and only tests ability to take a test, which is useless in life. It is learning the game for the test. No more.

It’’s not equitable. You just explained how to do it. If it was equitable, kids that don’t have parents with time to linger on DCUM would know how, too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My MCPS junior can't get on.

My MCPS junior can't get his scores either and it doesn't have to do with the Amazon outage -- at least I don't think so. He tried earlier today and had the same issue. His birthday is also wrong (off a day) similar to some other posters. Has anyone figured out what they need to do to get their scores?

I called the College Board and was told they were looking into it. I got the same response from my LCPS school. I don't know whose mistake it is, but they need to fix it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is the PSAT 10 the same thing?

No. Read page 5

https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/pdf/psat-10-understanding-scores.pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Many families start prepping for the TJ admissions test in early elementary school so I wouldn't be surprised at all to learn those same kids prepped early for the PSAT.

Many schools will give free PSAT to students in 8th, 9th, 10th - so that rich and poor alike get equal exposure to SAT. There is no "prepping" for PSAT and it is a ridiculous notion. I will be very surprised to learn that any kids prep early for PSAT or waste their time doing that.

If you are well prepared in lower grades in English and Math then you can do very well on SAT as well as PSAT. Furthermore, the English and Math in SAT is very basic. SAT Math covers only Algebra (no calc) and some questions of Geometry (no trigonometry), and most students are done with the Math part by 8th or 9th grade. Of course, if you are a poor student of Math in lower grades and have not done anything to remedy that knowledge gap, you will continue to fare poorly in SAT.

Similarly, SAT English is a very basic type of English and they have made it even more simplified. No more obscure words and analogies of yesteryear. Now the meaning of the word is inferred from the passage. Again, if you are a good student, you will do well. If you have knowledge gaps and you don't try and remedy it, then you will flounder.

Be an excellent student in Math and English and get a bit familiar with the format and you are gold. You cannot crack PSAT or SAT if you don't know Math or English. Does not matter how many tests you take. You have to take the tests, pinpoint what you don't know or understand, and go and learn that concept and content so that you can master it. SAT measures your mastery for basic concepts in Math and English that is needed for you to do well in college and understand more complex concepts. If you don't have the basic down, how will you do well when more advanced stuff comes?

I disagree that SAT English is "very basic." First, it covers reading, which is tricky on the SAT, especially with old fashioned texts and vocabulary words, which a student knows or doesn't. Second, the grammar part is definitely not basic. Some concepts are easy, others are not. Throwing a "no error" in to most question and giving sentences that sound correct, makes it much harder.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My MCPS junior can't get on.

My MCPS junior can't get his scores either and it doesn't have to do with the Amazon outage -- at least I don't think so. He tried earlier today and had the same issue. His birthday is also wrong (off a day) similar to some other posters. Has anyone figured out what they need to do to get their scores?

I called the College Board and was told they were looking into it. I got the same response from my LCPS school. I don't know whose mistake it is, but they need to fix it.

The email from College Board saying scores available had some kind of access number to use with instructions, if they weren’t able to access their score through the link. Did your kid try that way? Good luck, hope it gets straightened out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My MCPS junior can't get on.

My MCPS junior can't get his scores either and it doesn't have to do with the Amazon outage -- at least I don't think so. He tried earlier today and had the same issue. His birthday is also wrong (off a day) similar to some other posters. Has anyone figured out what they need to do to get their scores?

I called the College Board and was told they were looking into it. I got the same response from my LCPS school. I don't know whose mistake it is, but they need to fix it.

The email from College Board saying scores available had some kind of access number to use with instructions, if they weren’t able to access their score through the link. Did your kid try that way? Good luck, hope it gets straightened out.

Did you actually get an email? My son has not gotten anything yet? Site has been down all day from what I hear.