PSAT scores will arrive for anxious high school students
this week. These scores mark the time when sophomores and juniors can begin to
target colleges that are in range. Realistically, there are only 5
months left for juniors to visit colleges before campuses
empty out in the first week of May. In the fall, early action dates begin a few
weeks after school opens, and many colleges are filling 30-70% of their seats
in that round. So, starting your visits in junior year is critical. If your
school is slow about handing out scores, you may want to go online and get
them. Then, how do you interpret your PSAT scores and use them to launch your
college search?Estimating SAT scores
If you add a zero to end of each PSAT score, that would be
your SAT score. Your percentiles indicate how well you did vs. other students
in your grade taking the PSAT. You are not measured against 11th graders, if
you are in 10th grade. If you scored in the 85th percentile, you did better
than 84 out of 100 students in your grade nationally. Because of additional
math coursework, you will most likely see your math score increase from your
sophomore to junior PSAT. If you elect to do test prep, you will probably see a
bigger increase. Most students who prep will go up 60-180 total points (across
all 3 sections) from the junior PSAT to the SAT. Many families believe their
child will jump 300 points or more with test prep. That kind of an increase is
rare, and choosing colleges according to that hope will get you into trouble.
Low scores should NOT be ignored
For students who are getting A's or B's in school, PSAT
scores below 40 can often be an indicator of an undiagnosed learning disability
(LD) or anxiety during testing. Talk to a neuro-psychologist or college
counselor about options for educational testing. If you are diagnosed with dyslexia, ADD, ADHD
or other learning differences, you may qualify for extended time on test day.
It is best to do evaluations by 10th grade since the standards for extended SAT
time have been getting more stringent. Those with scores in the 40s-50s who are
aiming for a competitive college should begin test prep early and be very
diligent about studying each week on their own. Students should also consider
taking the ACT. It can often be a better test for students who are high
achievers in school or who don't do well with vocabulary.
What colleges care about
Colleges DO NOT see your PSAT scores. PSAT scores are
intended as practice for the SAT and allow you to determine areas where you may
need help. The only situation in which they may affect your admission is if you
are a National Merit Semi-Finalist or Winner. Only juniors are considered for
this award, and the cutoff varies, but you usually have to have a total score
of 210 or better. If you are a finalist, it is viewed as a very prestigious
honor by colleges and there may be scholarship money to follow.
Test Prep is a MUST
Most students should begin SAT prep in the fall or winter of
their junior year, and spend 10-12 weeks studying before they take the test.
However, some students with lower scores or those aiming for highly competitive
colleges, may want to begin prep as early as sophomore year. The type of study
program you select depends on your budget and needs. Some high school based programs
are free, but many are relatively weak. It depends on the curriculum and
instructor. The major test prep companies like Kaplan and Princeton Review do a
very good job of screening teachers and training them, but the group courses
will not usually help you with content review (geometry, algebra, grammar).
They typically focus on test taking strategy. A well-trained and qualified
private SAT tutor will teach strategy and address individual needs to learn the
relevant math, vocabulary and writing skills-but the cost is a bit higher. For
families who cannot afford courses or tutors, there are terrific SAT prep books
on the market, and some highly motivated students can achieve top scores with
disciplined self-study.
SAT Alternatives
If you have tried the SAT and ACT, done test prep, and still
can't achieve competitive scores-then it is time to consider "Test
Optional" colleges. Today, there are more than 800 in the U.S., and they
include prestigious liberal arts colleges like Middlebury, Bowdoin and Bates.
Catholic colleges are also jumping on the bandwagon, including Providence
College, St. Michael's and De Paul. What you won't find on the list are the
primary campuses of state universities or the Ivy League.
Written by Cristiana Quinn
Posted by Lindy Kahn, M.A., CEP for Kahn Educational Group, LLC
