when to start studying for 8th grade PSAT

[Anonymous]

For a kid who is average intelligence, gets good grades through steady work, but does poorly on standardized tests. Results affect the high school program he wants to enter.

[Anonymous]

Stop. You are going to make him crazy.

[Anonymous]

I would recommend that you listen to the book The Self-Driven Child - and learn some tips for how to remove anxiety for test taking.

If the child WANTS to do the Test Prep. Said something like - hey mom - I really want to go to _________. I know the importance of the 8th grade PSAT for the application. Can you get me a tutor to help me feel more confident when I sit for the test - reach out to some of the test prep companies and see what they recommend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For a kid who is average intelligence, gets good grades through steady work, but does poorly on standardized tests. Results affect the high school program he wants to enter.

"Never for $2000, Alex."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would recommend that you listen to the book The Self-Driven Child - and learn some tips for how to remove anxiety for test taking.

If the child WANTS to do the Test Prep. Said something like - hey mom - I really want to go to _________. I know the importance of the 8th grade PSAT for the application. Can you get me a tutor to help me feel more confident when I sit for the test - reach out to some of the test prep companies and see what they recommend.

OP here. If only we were living in your perfect world! He has anxiety, and part of that is not being willing to acknowledge the problem. Plus, he's a kid who does not really get how practicing anything is helpful. As an example, he's a decent player in his sport of choice. There's a team he really wanted to be on. When it came time to tryout, he freaked out (anxiety) and ran out crying because he became too anxious to do the tryout. This is after we'd gotten him a bunch of help for the anxiety. This is a sport, and one team over another is not a big deal. However, when it comes to the high school program he wants, though, I'm not going to leave it to an immature kid who gets anxious to understand the test prep will help him. I know he wants the program, and I also know from prior experience that he will resist believing that he could use help to get there. And, I'm not a parent who generally gets caught up in grades or programs, but I know he wants this and I want to help him achieve his goals.

[Anonymous]

He doesn't need to study for the 8th grade test. The number produced is meaningless and influences nothing. It is perfect practice for your child and all the others. So is practicing in 9th grade and again in 10th. These are all meaningless practice tests.

The first test that could have meaning is the 11th grade PSAT, where a small number of students can be named semi-final or final merit scholars. And then the actual SAT or ACT, usually taken in 11th grade.

The 11th grade PSAT (for very few) and actual 11th grade SAT or ACT are the only ones worth studying/prepping for. All the others are practice, preparing you for these. Really.

[Anonymous]

why? if's not that hard. use it as a benchmark. Cray

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He doesn't need to study for the 8th grade test. The number produced is meaningless and influences nothing. It is perfect practice for your child and all the others. So is practicing in 9th grade and again in 10th. These are all meaningless practice tests.

The first test that could have meaning is the 11th grade PSAT, where a small number of students can be named semi-final or final merit scholars. And then the actual SAT or ACT, usually taken in 11th grade.

The 11th grade PSAT (for very few) and actual 11th grade SAT or ACT are the only ones worth studying/prepping for. All the others are practice, preparing you for these. Really.

OP here. I agree with you that the number is not important, except that the score is used to get into the high school program he wants. I'm confident he can do the program if he gets in, because although he's not gifted, his grades are good without a ton of effort. Without his desire for this program, I would be indifferent to the results (he has never prepped for a standardized test before).

[Anonymous]

How can he do the program if he’s too anxious to get through the test. You are building on a foundation of sand. Work on the anxiety - that’s the problem.

[Anonymous]

How are you treating the anxiety?
I don't know when your ds is taking the PSAT so I can't say when he should start studying. My 9th grader took the PSAT in the fall - the whole 9th grade took it - and the school said not to study.

When he was taking the ISEE a few years ago we started him with prepping for it maybe 2-3 months ahead of time.

My ds just started prozac and I think it is helping the anxiety.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How are you treating the anxiety?
I don't know when your ds is taking the PSAT so I can't say when he should start studying. My 9th grader took the PSAT in the fall - the whole 9th grade took it - and the school said not to study.

When he was taking the ISEE a few years ago we started him with prepping for it maybe 2-3 months ahead of time.

My ds just started prozac and I think it is helping the anxiety.

What is the ISEE? Is it similar?
This is the first answer that points me toward a direction, rather than just criticizing the question. 2-3 months sounds about right, I think. That was the question, how far in advance of the test. It's taken in the 8th grade for those interested in this high school program.

We've tried a couple of medications, but it's not a generalized anxiety, which makes it more difficult to find the right one, I think. It's more of a performance anxiety. He's fine on a day-to-day basis. So it's hard to find something that you need once every couple of months, if that. Plus, would he get sleepy or have some other side effect from the medication during the test? It seems risky, when what he really needs is practice taking the test, so he can be thinking, oh, yeah, I recognize this type of question, or, even if I don't know this one, I might know the next one, etc. And test taking techniques, like how to pace yourself through it. It took him forever for me to convince him that if he doesn't know the answer on a test, just skip it and come back. He was convinced you were supposed to answer the questions in order, so he would sit and spend forever trying to figure out one answer, wasting all his time, instead of moving on to easier ones.

To answer pp, I think he'd be fine in the program as opposed to the test because during the test he's got all this negative self-talk (I'm going to fail, I can't do this, I suck, I'm stupid, etc) that is paralyzing, but it's not something that comes up for regular homework and tests in school. We are working on it, but I don't want everything to rest on his being to apply his techniques successfully on the day of the test.

[Anonymous]

I think you need to get a professional assessment of your son instead of talking to strangers online about strategies and medications. You have 4.5 years until he goes to college. Of less import is this program, of greater import is an emotionally healthy and capable young man when he is out on his own.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think you need to get a professional assessment of your son instead of talking to strangers online about strategies and medications. You have 4.5 years until he goes to college. Of less import is this program, of greater import is an emotionally healthy and capable young man when he is out on his own.

Seriously? The question i am asking is when is a good time to start studying for a PSAT given in 8th grade.

Everything else has been in response to the negativity that I want my kid to go through a study guide. He is being counseled for the anxiety. The therapist has told us (and we've learned over time) that the best thing for him is familiarity with the thing that causes anxiety. So, I'd like him to go through a couple of practice tests, get some tips, etc. The only reason I keep responding is because I'm still looking for advice. I didn't take this test until high school and I don't have anxiety.

It's hard not to feel frustrated when the question is so simple but I have to defend my asking it over and over without anyone giving an opinion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How can he do the program if he’s too anxious to get through the test. You are building on a foundation of sand. Work on the anxiety - that’s the problem.

This. Find a school that will be a good fit. A school like that probably has lots of high achievers and probably won’t be a good fit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think you need to get a professional assessment of your son instead of talking to strangers online about strategies and medications. You have 4.5 years until he goes to college. Of less import is this program, of greater import is an emotionally healthy and capable young man when he is out on his own.

Seriously? The question i am asking is when is a good time to start studying for a PSAT given in 8th grade.

Everything else has been in response to the negativity that I want my kid to go through a study guide. He is being counseled for the anxiety. The therapist has told us (and we've learned over time) that the best thing for him is familiarity with the thing that causes anxiety. So, I'd like him to go through a couple of practice tests, get some tips, etc. The only reason I keep responding is because I'm still looking for advice. I didn't take this test until high school and I don't have anxiety.

It's hard not to feel frustrated when the question is so simple but I have to defend my asking it over and over without anyone giving an opinion.

You said he couldn’t handle trying out for a sports team after being treated for anxiety. You asked when and people are telling you it’s not a good idea. If you insist then perhaps ask a test prep service, but more experienced parents are giving you valuable advice. Heed it or don’t, but don’t complain that you don’t like the answers.