Are these PSAT scores good? (please be honest)

[Mill]

Originally posted by: reitz
Those scores are fine, unless you're planning to attend a top-tier state school, or a hugely competetive private school. Most colleges understand that SAT and ACT scores are poor predicters for college performance; your high school GPA is much more important.

My girlfriend scored an 890 (recentered) on the SAT, even lower on the PSAT. She graduated at the top of her class (out of 100 or so students in the department) for undergrad, and just completed her MA in Industrial and Labor Relations in May with a 4.0. This July, she'll be starting on her doctorate. Standardized test scores, especially the PSAT, don't really mean all that much.

Again I disagree that the PSAT doesn't mean much. If you have the ability to do well on the PSAT it is a great benefit to you. Also some colleges do continue to weigh standardized tests more than GPA. I know that I received a full scholarship out of state with an average GPA(3.0) and a high standardized test score. It really depends upon region, whether the institution is public or private, and other factors.

As far as predicting success the SAT, ACT, PSAT are horrible indicators. Now for getting scholarships, school acceptance, and awards they do matter. Was your girlfriend on scholarship? How did she pay for college? Did she get credit for core classes based on standardized testing?

Edit- BTW goodluck to the girlfriend. She proves that hardwork is the biggest help to being successful.

 

[reitz]

Originally posted by: Millennium

Again I disagree that the PSAT doesn't mean much. If you have the ability to do well on the PSAT it is a great benefit to you.

The only real benefit I can see to a high PSAT score is the National Merit Scholarship. I scored a 1220 (before the scales were recentered) on the PSAT and did not qualify. Since only the very best of the best do, they're of little use-other than as practice for the SAT-for the average college-bound students.

Also some colleges do continue to weigh standardized tests more than GPA. I know that I received a full scholarship out of state with an average GPA(3.0) and a high standardized test score. It really depends upon region, whether the institution is public or private, and other factors.

Some colleges do still weigh test scores too heavily, but there are literally thousands of others to choose from. No matter what region you live in, you can find schools that are willing to overlook even very low test scores if the applicant has a decent GPA.

Standardized test scores are most useful for people like my old roommate. He graduated in the bottom 25% of our high school class, but scored 1300 on his SAT. Without such a high score, it's unlikely he would have been accepted at any school without attending a community college first.

As far as predicting success the SAT, ACT, PSAT are horrible indicators. Now for getting scholarships, school acceptance, and awards they do matter. Was your girlfriend on scholarship? How did she pay for college? Did she get credit for core classes based on standardized testing?

Her parents paid for half of her undergrad, and she financed the other half with loans. Even with really bad GMAT scores (or is it GRE? I never remember which is which), she won a full assistanceship (full tuition and fees paid, plus a stipend to help cover other expenses) for her master's.

I scored 1360 (recentered) on the SAT, and had an unweighted high school GPA of somewhere between 3.3 and 3.5. The only scholarships I qualified for were from a handful of crappy little liberal arts schools that had nothing to offer me. For everything else, I was either the wrong religion, the wrong sex, the wrong color, or my GPA was two-tenths of a point too low. My credentials put me into the top 5% of college-bound seniors, and still I did not qualify for any useful scholarships. If you are the very best of the best, then yes, high scores on standardized tests can help out a great deal. For the other 98% of us, though, they really don't mean much. It's just a number that no employer will ever ask you for, and most people will have forgotten long before college graduation.

Edit- BTW goodluck to the girlfriend. She proves that hardwork is the biggest help to being successful.

Thanks.

 

[LordMorpheus]

I made semi with a 215. Some fool in my class got a 238. He got his paket back, and opened it with the words :"Which one did I miss?"

grrr.

 

[EndGame]

Not really related, but generally so. I've wanted to ask this question to someone whom would know for quite some time, I took all the above mentioned tests also, but a long time ago. Now for the question: Do they score these tests the same now as they did in say '82? Reason I ask, I scored 27 on my ACT and 1670 on my SAT and it just seems that a lot of the scores I see these days are somewhat lower. Did they revamp the scoring methods used? I never considered myself as really smart and while I maintained about a 3.5 through school, that was probably because other than math, I took easy courses! What's up with these scores these days?

 

[reitz]

Originally posted by: EndGame
Not really related, but generally so. I've wanted to ask this question to someone whom would know for quite some time, I took all the above mentioned tests also, but a long time ago. Now for the question: Do they score these tests the same now as they did in say '82? Reason I ask, I scored 27 on my ACT and 1670 on my SAT and it just seems that a lot of the scores I see these days are somewhat lower. Did they revamp the scoring methods used? I never considered myself as really smart and while I maintained about a 3.5 through school, that was probably because other than math, I took easy courses! What's up with these scores these days?

I'm not sure about the ACT, since I never took it, but I know the scoring for the SATs has changed a few times. The most recent was in 1995 (I think) when the scores were "recentered". Basically, since the average score on each section had dropped below 500, everyone's score was adjusted a little bit to bring the average on each section back up to 500.

 

[TheWart]

Just get some study books on the SAT and you shouldbe ok if you USE them (unlike some people i know lol).

 

[Mill]

Originally posted by: EndGame
Not really related, but generally so. I've wanted to ask this question to someone whom would know for quite some time, I took all the above mentioned tests also, but a long time ago. Now for the question: Do they score these tests the same now as they did in say '82? Reason I ask, I scored 27 on my ACT and 1670 on my SAT and it just seems that a lot of the scores I see these days are somewhat lower. Did they revamp the scoring methods used? I never considered myself as really smart and while I maintained about a 3.5 through school, that was probably because other than math, I took easy courses! What's up with these scores these days?

There must be a typo in your post because it is impossible now or in the past to make higher than a 1600 on the SAT.

 

[Kelvrick]

Originally posted by: Millennium

Originally posted by: EndGame
Not really related, but generally so. I've wanted to ask this question to someone whom would know for quite some time, I took all the above mentioned tests also, but a long time ago. Now for the question: Do they score these tests the same now as they did in say '82? Reason I ask, I scored 27 on my ACT and 1670 on my SAT and it just seems that a lot of the scores I see these days are somewhat lower. Did they revamp the scoring methods used? I never considered myself as really smart and while I maintained about a 3.5 through school, that was probably because other than math, I took easy courses! What's up with these scores these days?

There must be a typo in your post because it is impossible now or in the past to make higher than a 1600 on the SAT.

Using the number pad, he could have hit the 6 instead of the 3 right under it. I got a 1300, and I still felt pretty bad. Damn these UC's and their competitiveness. I scored a 1460 on my PSAT which was supposed to be the previous year's SAT, so I thought I had it down. Got 1220 first time through and 1300 next time through, with a 1950 on my SAT 2's. Depending on the school you go to, that could be an OK score or a bad score


<== monkey dance

 

[KokomoGST]

Originally posted by: Millennium

Originally posted by: rbloedow
I'll give you honest - the PSAT doesn't mean squat.

Umm... it is the qualifier for National Merit Scholarships... so yes it does mean squat.

And just to reinforce that it means squat... my real SAT score OBLITERATED my projected score from the PSATs by over 300 pts. I didn't bother to study or prepare for the PSATs since I knew they were so meaningless. I don't see the point of people getting their jollies off of entering the National Merit Scholarship... then again, I'm not as fiercely competitive as others at the top of my class. This was all quite a while ago in the 90s though when they still had antonyms in the verbal section!

 

[Mill]

Originally posted by: KokomoGST

Originally posted by: Millennium

Originally posted by: rbloedow
I'll give you honest - the PSAT doesn't mean squat.

Umm... it is the qualifier for National Merit Scholarships... so yes it does mean squat.

And just to reinforce that it means squat... my real SAT score OBLITERATED my projected score from the PSATs by over 300 pts. I didn't bother to study or prepare for the PSATs since I knew they were so meaningless. I don't see the point of people getting their jollies off of entering the National Merit Scholarship... then again, I'm not as fiercely competitive as others at the top of my class. This was all quite a while ago in the 90s though when they still had antonyms in the verbal section!

I am not competitive concerning grades or test scores. I care more about actually learning than getting a good grade or a good score. I will, however, not call a test that allows you get awards that help you in getting into a better college or money for college(not mooching but getting money for achieving something) jack squat. They are not meaningless. I didn't study or prepare either. Truthfully I didn't care. I wish I would have so I could have gotten a NMS to a private school out of state instead of an out of state public school. Simply put I wanted something unique.

Really I can't argue with anyone who says it is meaningless. You know good and well that it is not.

 

[EndGame]

Originally posted by: Millennium

Originally posted by: EndGame
Not really related, but generally so. I've wanted to ask this question to someone whom would know for quite some time, I took all the above mentioned tests also, but a long time ago. Now for the question: Do they score these tests the same now as they did in say '82? Reason I ask, I scored 27 on my ACT and 1670 on my SAT and it just seems that a lot of the scores I see these days are somewhat lower. Did they revamp the scoring methods used? I never considered myself as really smart and while I maintained about a 3.5 through school, that was probably because other than math, I took easy courses! What's up with these scores these days?

There must be a typo in your post because it is impossible now or in the past to make higher than a 1600 on the SAT.

Wow, now you have me thinking! I don't have the results sitting in front of me (apparently since this was over 20 years ago) but I always remember that number. I know the 27 was correct because it was third highest in my class, but, are you serious that 1670 was never possible? if that's true, you know at this point I'm going to have to try to sift through 20 years of crap and try to find what they were. 1370 doesn't sound right but I do know my SAT's were not as high (on average out of my class) as my ACT was. Back then I know the ACT was the most important factor as regarding college entry, is that still so today?

 

[Mill]

Originally posted by: EndGame

Originally posted by: Millennium

Originally posted by: EndGame
Not really related, but generally so. I've wanted to ask this question to someone whom would know for quite some time, I took all the above mentioned tests also, but a long time ago. Now for the question: Do they score these tests the same now as they did in say '82? Reason I ask, I scored 27 on my ACT and 1670 on my SAT and it just seems that a lot of the scores I see these days are somewhat lower. Did they revamp the scoring methods used? I never considered myself as really smart and while I maintained about a 3.5 through school, that was probably because other than math, I took easy courses! What's up with these scores these days?

There must be a typo in your post because it is impossible now or in the past to make higher than a 1600 on the SAT.

Wow, now you have me thinking! I don't have the results sitting in front of me (apparently since this was over 20 years ago) but I always remember that number. I know the 27 was correct because it was third highest in my class, but, are you serious that 1670 was never possible? if that's true, you know at this point I'm going to have to try to sift through 20 years of crap and try to find what they were. 1370 doesn't sound right but I do know my SAT's were not as high (on average out of my class) as my ACT was. Back then I know the ACT was the most important factor as regarding college entry, is that still so today?

It depends on the region you are located in and the region you want to attend college in.

 

[KokomoGST]

Originally posted by: Millennium

Originally posted by: KokomoGST

Originally posted by: Millennium

Originally posted by: rbloedow
I'll give you honest - the PSAT doesn't mean squat.

Umm... it is the qualifier for National Merit Scholarships... so yes it does mean squat.

And just to reinforce that it means squat... my real SAT score OBLITERATED my projected score from the PSATs by over 300 pts. I didn't bother to study or prepare for the PSATs since I knew they were so meaningless. I don't see the point of people getting their jollies off of entering the National Merit Scholarship... then again, I'm not as fiercely competitive as others at the top of my class. This was all quite a while ago in the 90s though when they still had antonyms in the verbal section!

I am not competitive concerning grades or test scores. I care more about actually learning than getting a good grade or a good score. I will, however, not call a test that allows you get awards that help you in getting into a better college or money for college(not mooching but getting money for achieving something) jack squat. They are not meaningless. I didn't study or prepare either. Truthfully I didn't care. I wish I would have so I could have gotten a NMS to a private school out of state instead of an out of state public school. Simply put I wanted something unique.

Really I can't argue with anyone who says it is meaningless. You know good and well that it is not.

[geezervoice]back in da day, colleges usually gave grants and scholarships based on your academic performance in HS & your SATs. And there are other scholarships besides the NMS. I got money thanks mostly to my SAT score... so unless you do insanely well in the PSATs and you fight tooth & nail through the NMS run... I think meaningless in comparison with the real SAT or even APs (which can end up being like scholarship by reducing your debt load).

 

[SUBxWRX]

If you don't score between 200-215 for national merit commended scholar or 216+ for national merit semi-finalist on the PSAT, I really see no other benefit in taking the PSAT other than for practice.

 

[thirtythree]

Originally posted by: hans007
if you score 210 or above generally you'll be in national merit scholar stuff, (210 being the 3 scores added up). you probably need at least 220 to be a finalist.

:frown: I got a 210 on the PSAT so I'm guessing I won't be getting any scholarship. Oh well .. I hope my ACT scores get here soon.

 

[yowolabi]

I got something that was good on the PSAT. I don't remember what it was, but I was a national merit scholar semi-finalist. I didn't make finalist because i wasn't going to classes in high school and my g.p.a. sucked. However, even with a sucky g.p.a., colleges all over the country were hassling me about accepting full scholarships to their schools based on my PSAT. My SAT was a 1420 next year. I don't remember my ACT, but it was also 97+ percentile.

I'm a prime example that test scores don't translate to success in school. I've always hated classes and preferred to do research and studying on my own. SAT does show your ability if you're willing to put in the work in class. People with horrible test scores graduate from college magna cum laude all the time. I would reccomend that you do some practice and try to bring your verbal scores up. I did some SAT tutoring in the past, and there are some good things to learn that can improve your score, like not randomly guessing.

 

[LS20]

my sister's PSAT projected her SAT scores perfectly, while i did alot better on my SATs than i did on my PSAT... so go figure

 

[jarsoffart]

If you're going to guess, at least guess C. C is supposed to be the answer more times than all the others.

 

[LongCoolMother]

its alright i think.

i got my PSATs back last week and my results were:

(56%) 47 verbal
(97%) 67 math
(85%) 62 writing

my percentile think for junior class is 78%

so if it was my real SAT, i would have scored 1140.

but then again, im a freshman, and this is the first time ive taken it. i agree, the verbal section was difficult. what grade are you in?

oh and btw, i guess all the colleges are different. here, UC schools base a lot on SATs, but not those private schools. my cousin got 1520 (which is good imo) on his final SATs and still got rejected from both stanford and MIT.