How did your child get their SAT scores up?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have the exact opposite question. And I am genuinely not trolling. At what point can you not worry another getting your DC’s scores up?

My sophomore had a 1440 (out of 1520) completely unprepared PSAT sophomore year— 700/760 V and 740/760 M. That’s consistent with PSAT 9 and SSAT sore ranges, so probably not a fluke. At that point, mid year junior PSAT scores could be well above 1500 without much effort. So, my thought was to get DC a PSAT and an SAT prep book this summer, and hav them work so practice tests, especially in heading. Then get the PSAT done in Oct and the SAT in Nov. If the SAT score is at or above 1520-1540, then just stop. And not worry about SAT vs ACT it trying to get the score 40 points higher. 2 SAT subject tests done today, Math 2 and history, and it would be great to let DC focus on junior year grades, AP tests and college applications, with SATs out of the way.

Is 1500 plus SAT realistic based in the sophomore year PSAT? Is there a point where the SAT score is just fine and the kid can stop? If so, what is that number? Or should DC fight for every point? Is a 1540 vs a 1560 vs a 1580 going to matter?

Way too dense to read. Too many tests that are besides the point.

There is no excuse for going into a test cold, so review the tests in the test books. I wouldn't do more than that, but make sure the kid takes the test with enough time to retest after more serious prep should it be necessary. A score like you are looking for is possible, but so is something much worse.

I also think you need to step back. You have a long year in front of you and you need to avoid contributing to the stress. Your post stressed me out.

If you had read, you would know:

1. Kid went into PSAT cold in 9th and 10th. I see no point in practicing for the PSAT before junior year.

2. Kid will prep with books this summer for 11th PSAT and SAT. He will not take the SAT/PSAT cold

3. I would love him to get them both done October of junior year with no classes, precisely to put the testing behind us and stress less this year.

Now the question: since I have a naturally good tester, if they do some summer review out of a book and test in the low-mid 1500s early junior year, is it realistic to stop testing? Or is it important to take a class, etc to get the extra 20-40 points in the spring.

My vote is stop testing/ stress less. But IDK much about SAT scores in 2018.

[Anonymous]

PP with a kid who scored in 1200s and ended up at UVA, what year did your child get accepted? If it’s recent, I must say I’m shocked after all the hand-wringing in this board.

[Anonymous]

Breakthrough test prep

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have the exact opposite question. And I am genuinely not trolling. At what point can you not worry another getting your DC’s scores up?

My sophomore had a 1440 (out of 1520) completely unprepared PSAT sophomore year— 700/760 V and 740/760 M. That’s consistent with PSAT 9 and SSAT sore ranges, so probably not a fluke. At that point, mid year junior PSAT scores could be well above 1500 without much effort. So, my thought was to get DC a PSAT and an SAT prep book this summer, and hav them work so practice tests, especially in heading. Then get the PSAT done in Oct and the SAT in Nov. If the SAT score is at or above 1520-1540, then just stop. And not worry about SAT vs ACT it trying to get the score 40 points higher. 2 SAT subject tests done today, Math 2 and history, and it would be great to let DC focus on junior year grades, AP tests and college applications, with SATs out of the way.

Is 1500 plus SAT realistic based in the sophomore year PSAT? Is there a point where the SAT score is just fine and the kid can stop? If so, what is that number? Or should DC fight for every point? Is a 1540 vs a 1560 vs a 1580 going to matter?

I know another poster has accused you of a "humble brag" but I am not going to because my dc has similar stats and I also wondered whether it was worth the expense and time of a prep course. We don't have $600 to throw around and so like you I wanted to make as fully informed a decision as possible What I decided was to buy a SAT prep book for $15. I will have him work on it in August and have him take the test in November or December.
For the top colleges you definitely want to aim for a SAT score above 1500 but I don't think a 1570 is necessarily better than a 1550 in their eyes.
Good luck

How many kids have you actually had complete the college admissions process? I have a hunch it's zero.

None. If I got something wrong please correct me. I am basing this on CDS mid range SAT scores and what his school asst principal told me. I do not have the benefit of experience. Would appreciate your insight

I did earlier. I'm the humble brag parent. I know from having five kids go through the process that once you hit a certain point top collegs stop caring about the SAT. You don't need a 1500, and colleges certainly don't think a 1570 is "necessarily better than a 1550." They simply don't differentiate between SAT scores that precisely.

I've had kids get in the 1200s, the 1300s, the 1400s, and the 1500s. All but one got accepted into what DCUM parents would consider to be top colleges. The one who didn't was the one with the 1500s, and the one who did the very best (top 5 SLAC) was in the 1300s. The one who got in the 1200s ended up at UVA.

Grades and courses are much, much more important. I know this.

NP. Just finished the college cycle this year. All of this is 100% true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP with a kid who scored in 1200s and ended up at UVA, what year did your child get accepted? If it’s recent, I must say I’m shocked after all the hand-wringing in this board.

2011. From an Arlington public high school. Super scored a 1260 after two takes. And admissions now are not materially different for NOVA kids, then they were then, regardless of what DCUM thinks. Look it up on SCHEV.

I had another get in a couple years earlier with a 1300.

[Anonymous]

"I have the exact opposite question. And I am genuinely not trolling. At what point can you not worry another getting your DC’s scores up?

My sophomore had a 1440 (out of 1520) completely unprepared PSAT sophomore year— 700/760 V and 740/760 M. That’s consistent with PSAT 9 and SSAT sore ranges, so probably not a fluke."

Has your DC ever gotten a high "for a 1440 scorer" V score or have they always gotten better M scores?

No high score is ever "a fluke" but I would really worry with your DC that if he goes in lightly prepared for V that he will have a bad day and end up with something like a 660V and a 790 M for a 1450.

If he has several 700/760 scores a 660/800 is unlikely but possible and a 700/800 (which statistically might happen 1/3 times) even with a 790/800 math still doesn't hit 1500.

AND yes, a 1500 is light years from a 1580. Back in the 80s and early 90s 1500 and 1580 were "closer". Each time they redesign the test the middle scores go up and the top end group gets bigger.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"I have the exact opposite question. And I am genuinely not trolling. At what point can you not worry another getting your DC’s scores up?

My sophomore had a 1440 (out of 1520) completely unprepared PSAT sophomore year— 700/760 V and 740/760 M. That’s consistent with PSAT 9 and SSAT sore ranges, so probably not a fluke."

Has your DC ever gotten a high "for a 1440 scorer" V score or have they always gotten better M scores?

No high score is ever "a fluke" but I would really worry with your DC that if he goes in lightly prepared for V that he will have a bad day and end up with something like a 660V and a 790 M for a 1450.

If he has several 700/760 scores a 660/800 is unlikely but possible and a 700/800 (which statistically might happen 1/3 times) even with a 790/800 math still doesn't hit 1500.

AND yes, a 1500 is light years from a 1580. Back in the 80s and early 90s 1500 and 1580 were "closer". Each time they redesign the test the middle scores go up and the top end group gets bigger.

Chill. Seriously. Take the SAT twice, at the end of junior year and beginning of senior year. Almost all colleges with supersize the scores, meaning only your "good day" test score in both M and V will count. The lower scores will be thrown out. And a 1500 is FINE, fantastic in fact, no matter how they redesign the test.

You are placing WAY too much emphasis on the SAT.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DS's scores were around 1200 for PSAT sophomore year. To have a chance at the colleges he's looking at he needs to up his score drastically. What do you recommend?

DS should get the print version of the Washington Times or the Washington Post and read the paper every day. SAT words are mostly newspaper words.

If DS is weak on general knowledge, he should get an old children's encyclopedia and skim through that, and through a children's history of the world.

For problems with math, he should go to Mathnasium.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DS's scores were around 1200 for PSAT sophomore year. To have a chance at the colleges he's looking at he needs to up his score drastically. What do you recommend?

DS should get the print version of the Washington Times or the Washington Post and read the paper every day. SAT words are mostly newspaper words.

If DS is weak on general knowledge, he should get an old children's encyclopedia and skim through that, and through a children's history of the world.

For problems with math, he should go to Mathnasium.

SAT words? You mean for the reading comprehension sections? There are no longer analogies on the SAT. Just have your kid READ books.

[Anonymous]

OP try Princeton Review. Ours got into Princeton after having crappy PSAT scores. Raised her score 350 points with Princeton Review

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP with a kid who scored in 1200s and ended up at UVA, what year did your child get accepted? If it’s recent, I must say I’m shocked after all the hand-wringing in this board.

2011. From an Arlington public high school. Super scored a 1260 after two takes. And admissions now are not materially different for NOVA kids, then they were then, regardless of what DCUM thinks. Look it up on SCHEV.

I had another get in a couple years earlier with a 1300.

This is BS. The SAT in 2011 was out of 2400, not 1600.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have the exact opposite question. And I am genuinely not trolling. At what point can you not worry another getting your DC’s scores up?

My sophomore had a 1440 (out of 1520) completely unprepared PSAT sophomore year— 700/760 V and 740/760 M. That’s consistent with PSAT 9 and SSAT sore ranges, so probably not a fluke. At that point, mid year junior PSAT scores could be well above 1500 without much effort. So, my thought was to get DC a PSAT and an SAT prep book this summer, and hav them work so practice tests, especially in heading. Then get the PSAT done in Oct and the SAT in Nov. If the SAT score is at or above 1520-1540, then just stop. And not worry about SAT vs ACT it trying to get the score 40 points higher. 2 SAT subject tests done today, Math 2 and history, and it would be great to let DC focus on junior year grades, AP tests and college applications, with SATs out of the way.

Is 1500 plus SAT realistic based in the sophomore year PSAT? Is there a point where the SAT score is just fine and the kid can stop? If so, what is that number? Or should DC fight for every point? Is a 1540 vs a 1560 vs a 1580 going to matter?

Way too dense to read. Too many tests that are besides the point.

There is no excuse for going into a test cold, so review the tests in the test books. I wouldn't do more than that, but make sure the kid takes the test with enough time to retest after more serious prep should it be necessary. A score like you are looking for is possible, but so is something much worse.

I also think you need to step back. You have a long year in front of you and you need to avoid contributing to the stress. Your post stressed me out.

If you had read, you would know:

1. Kid went into PSAT cold in 9th and 10th. I see no point in practicing for the PSAT before junior year.

2. Kid will prep with books this summer for 11th PSAT and SAT. He will not take the SAT/PSAT cold

3. I would love him to get them both done October of junior year with no classes, precisely to put the testing behind us and stress less this year.

Now the question: since I have a naturally good tester, if they do some summer review out of a book and test in the low-mid 1500s early junior year, is it realistic to stop testing? Or is it important to take a class, etc to get the extra 20-40 points in the spring.

My vote is stop testing/ stress less. But IDK much about SAT scores in 2018.

I had a kid like this. He did a few (5-6) sessions with a private SAT tutor between sophomore and junior year. Scored high enough on PSAT to make NMSF. Took SAT in late fall junior year and got low 700's on each section and was very disappointed. Went back for a session or 2 with tutor and took SAT again a couple of months later and got a 1590.