Did you take the PSAT?

[johnjohn320]

My mom's on my case, because I'm not taking the Pre-SAT (doesn't count for anything, just supposed to be practice) for a second time. I took it last year, and did fine, so I don't see any reason for me to do it again my junior year before taking the actual test.

Anyway, I'm curious, so go at the poll.

 

[fooshkee]

i took it last year (soph year) and this year.... its not biggie... just annoying. I'm gonna laugh when i did worse this year than i did last year...

 

[FatAlbo]

Took it twice and it didn't help me any. However, if you do well enough, you can get a National Merits Scholarship.

 

[shiner]

I would never take that....I don't like VW's.

 

[wfbberzerker]

just took it in school this previous tuesday.

 

[gwlam12]

Originally posted by: johnjohn320
My mom's on my case, because I'm not taking the Pre-SAT (doesn't count for anything, just supposed to be practice) for a second time. I took it last year, and did fine, so I don't see any reason for me to do it again my junior year before taking the actual test.

Anyway, I'm curious, so go at the poll.

i thought if you scored in a certain percentage, you'd be a national merit scholar, which helps you in college admission.

 

[Supermercado]

I took it. Just once, though, I think.

 

[Bkas]

The junior exam is not just as a "PSAT", but the score counts towards placement in the National Merit Scholarship, giving you money and prestige! w00t.

So, yeah. Don't bitch and do well. Good luck!

 

[cchen]

doesn't count for anything, just supposed to be practice)

WRONG.... if you don't take it... you don't get any consideration for the National Merit Scholarships

 

[Meggie]

Originally posted by: johnjohn320
My mom's on my case, because I'm not taking the Pre-SAT (doesn't count for anything, just supposed to be practice) for a second time. I took it last year, and did fine, so I don't see any reason for me to do it again my junior year before taking the actual test.

Anyway, I'm curious, so go at the poll.

I dont know how good of a student you are but if you get national merit scholar, you get around $3000/yr scholarship at most places. Also it will be easier for you to get into college...just something to think about.

 

[amdskip]

yeah and it's pointless

 

[Ryan]

Nope, it's a waste of money

 

[Chaotic42]

Just take it. It's good practice and helps you with the NMS.

 

[PsychoAndy]

Save your 11 bucks and use it towards your SAT fund. Unless you have a 1300+ (PSAT score converted to SAT score scale) on it, don't even bother.

 

[Dragnov]

I think I took it twice. One in sophmore year and once in junior year. I don't remember for sure.

But I would take it at least twice. It's a godo way to get the feel for the system. Doing practice tests at home isn't quite the same no matter what. I think I took the PSAT twice as I said, and the SAT three times. I barely studied (honestly) and I considered it no big deal after all the practice and real tests. Each time I took it, I improved. I think I started w/ like a 1090 on PSAT, and increased liek 100 points on each real SAT ending w/ a 1380.

 

[WinkOsmosis]

I took the PSAT and got a 1550 so I would say it was worth it.

 

[music]

Took it 3 times. It's just 10 bucks. Do well and make thousands in scholarship money.

 

[tigerbait]

Originally posted by: Bkas
The junior exam is not just as a "PSAT", but the score counts towards placement in the National Merit Scholarship, giving you money and prestige! w00t.

So, yeah. Don't bitch and do well. Good luck!

My high school required all sophomores and juniors to take the PSAT. I missed the National Merit cutoff by 1 point.

 

[Sachmho]

how do you know if you made the national merit thing? i took it as a junior, is there a record of scores per. year which get teh nms?

 

[gwlam12]

Originally posted by: Sachmho
how do you know if you made the national merit thing? i took it as a junior, is there a record of scores per. year which get teh nms?

you'd have to be the top 2% i think. someone at school should probably tell you if you became a national merit scholar. i think two years ago the score was 217 or something.


and for those who are converting your PSAT scores into SAT scores, don't forget that there are 3 parts to it (math verbal writing) so two good scores for math and verbal doesn't necessarily mean you qualify to become a scholar.

and how come some of you don't know that the PSAT can be so handy? i forget where i learned about it...

 

[flavio]

It was mandatory for me back in high school and free. I got the second highest score in my school and was in the 99.7 percentile. I was a disorganized mess at the time and my parents were no help so I never did anything with the National Merit scholarship stuff.

I just remember being pissed off because the guy that beat my score was someone I really couldn't stand.

 

[CJZ]

If you do well you can qualify for a National Merit Scholarship. I know you're probably thinking that you won't qualify so why bother. I thought the same thing until I got my score back from the second test. Plus if the test hasn't changed since I took it (8+ years ago), it'll be good practice for the SAT.

 

[dfi]

If you do poorly on the PSAT, then you might just get sad. And if you do well, then you'll get cocky. And then you'll play minesweeper (hp calculator owners know what I'm talking about) during every section of the actual SAT, not bother to double check your answers, and score lower than you did on the PSAT. Then you'll be sad. It's a lose/lose situation if you take the PSAT. But just take it anyways cuz it'll get your mom off your back.

I'm a national merit scholar finalist. What does that get me? Absolutely nothing. Well, no wait, I got a stuffed school mascot at a school rally once. Wow!

dfi

 

[josphII]

the PSAT is pointless. if you want to practice for the SAT then get a book and study. just about every college only looks at your highest SAT scores, so instead of taking the PSAT, take the SAT instead. I took the SAT 4x starting when I was a sophomore, and I didnt take the PSAT once.

 

[DaiShan]

I took it twice, once in sophmore year, once junior year, what you are forgetting is it is the PSAT/NMSQT national merit scholarship qualifying test, you get in on that and colleges will find you money to go there, and if you are a minority the score to qualify is way lower so you have a better shot. My school pays cash to people that qualify, which is sweet.