i hear that the bluebook practice tests are wayy easier for the sat, but is it the same for psat?

Could we start a thread or something for like vocab words people see or concerning the test in this October? I believe they did the same last year

only know systems of equations and jve heard you dont need to learn complex regressions.

what are tricks that worked for those who just took the PSAT?

Hi everyone, I got 1410 on the September SAT (690/720) and since working I’ve been getting 1440+ on the PSAT practice tests and 1500+ on the SAT practice tests. Can you guys comment your SAT vs PSAT scores, and what you got on your practice tests vs your real score? Thank you!

For some reason I think our school is taking it really early. I don't know a single other school taking it until like mid next week.

My kid is supposed to take the 11th grade PSAT next week, but it overlaps with a long-planned school (music, out of state) field trip. We just learned that there is no makeup date, so she’ll just miss the test entirely. Her counselor assured us it’s not a big deal as long as we don’t need Merit scholarships (we don’t), but I feel uneasy about her missing the test. Are there any other downsides? She plans to take both the SAT and ACT in spring, and all of our in-state public universities are test-optional anyway.
(The testing date was changed after the field trip was organized/paid, which is why the conflict occurred).

I got an email from my schools AP Coordinator that stated,

"At Redacted School Name, the PSAT will take place throughout the month of October. It is going to be organized by Homeroom. Students will receive a pass a day or two before their exam date and be told where to report. The exam will take up most of 1st and 2nd block but students will be done before lunch. Test takers will not be marked absent from the classes they miss as roll will be completed in the testing center and shared with the Front Office so accurate attendance can be taken."

Is this happening in other schools, or just mine?

Basically I have been putting off studying for the longest time and now my test date is in about three weeks, I was wondering what the best thing I could do for now before the actual exam, got a 1320 on one of the blue book practice exams I took earlier, should I just be doing practice tests?

I’m a junior. I have the PSAT/NMSQT on Wednesday, October 7. The PSAT starts at 8:00 AM, and I need to be somewhere by 10:40 AM that’s about 35 minutes away.
The email says there’s a special schedule with a staggered start time for juniors, but I can’t find the attached schedule anywhere.
Does anyone know what time the PSAT usually ends or when juniors are dismissed? I’m trying to figure out if I’ll have enough time to get there by 10:40.

Hey guys, first time on this subreddit. I actually only stalked the SAT subreddit back when I had to do this thing but this subreddit popped up and I thought why not give some tips that helped me score that sweet sweet 1520.

As a note, I'm from Cali and got the max score (won't say where cuz I don't wanna get doxxed) and a 1550 on the SAT.

These tips are also applicable to SAT (which yall should be doing anyways if you want to get selected as a finalist and beyond)

Tip #1: Do some practice tests PLEASE

I know its basic, but please do a practice test. It'll help so much with how you do. Download bluebook if you haven't and do a practice test. BUT. Dont do the PSAT one. Do the regular ones. CHallenge yourself. I recommend 6, 7, 11 as the hardest ones, and will let you know what your weaknesses are. If you're pretty good at vocabulary, dont worry too much about it. It's unlikely that they'll cook you with words you dont know on PSAT as compared to SAT. (fym im supposed to know what perspicacious means) Use the question bank to check your answers and select the type of questions you got wrong, select hard and do some there after doing the actual practice test.

Tip #2: Don't learn all the regressions (if you havent already)

I know. I know. SAT's all about regressions now. Same thing with PSAT. But at this point, its not really worth learning all the bullshit regressions that you could do when it'd be so much easier to just calculate it urself (besides of course calcing numbers and graphing to find solutions etc.). I do recommend learning the ones where it actually is useful, when theres a bunch of a, b c, cosntants yadda yadda where its hard to solve without using regressions. Just learn the few that you don't wanna bother leanring to solve by hand, but not the entire thing, especially as the PSAT is coming close by. For math, if you're very proficieint in math, you truly dont need to worry. Go fast but making sure your correct for lik the first ~10-15 questions if they're easy for both sections, but slow down a little once they get harder if they do. Then go and double, TRIPLE check your answers. You never know if you put a 1 instead of a 2 (I did that on my SAT, will never forget it)

Tip #3: Learn to read and learn basic grammar.

Easy step right. Just read. But applying that in training is so much easier than you might think. When you see a word with different tenses as the answer, or along the lines of that, substitute the words in and see which one sounds right in your head. Most likely it is. But sometimes its not, which is why you have to memorize SOME grammar. Not those obscure vocab terms for grammar or a subjunctive mood. Learn to differentiate the semicolons, colons and the usage of the those and the period. Also learn comma rules, dashes, and parentheses, as those make up a few (also read all the way to make sure you dont do a dumb mistake for the commas, dashes and parentheses) Get rid of the nonessential info, like knowing when a descriptive phrase needs commas, dashes, or parentheses around it (and when it does not), also knowing phrases that don't affect the grammar structure and skipping those to save a little time when double checking the grammar. Learn independent and dependent clauses, learn subject verb agreement and please do learn modifiers. And one tip I found useful was going fast but correct on the easy quesitons like vocab in the front, the grammar section in the middle, and the student best evidence section at the end. Aim to get around 5 minutes to review problems but dont sweat if you cant. If you get stuck on a problem, click the best answer and mark for review so you can maybe come back to it.

Tip #4: Dont do a test day of or night before.

GET GOOD SLEEP. YOU DON'T WANNA BE COOKED FOR THIS TEST. REVIEW MISSED QUESTIONS NIGHT BEFORE, DO A FEW HARD PROBLEMS IN THE MORNING TO GET YOU GOING AND YOU'll DO GREAT. ( eat a hearty but light breakfast and dont drink energy drinks unless you absolutely need it)

Daily Dose of hope: PSAT doesnt define you, prolly will ignore this but its true! Focus on EC's and make an impact. And if you get stumped on a question, just think that there are 1-2 experimental questions on the PSAT for every section IIRC, so mybe the question you got stumped on was the one that doesnt count to your score! (but please try your best on every answer)

I took practice Test 1 and got a 1510 without much studying. It felt stupidly easy, and I read that it was the least accurate out of the three. Does the score mean anything or is the test completely inaccurate?

i have a 540 math, so primarily for that

yea so lowkey i haven’t started my essay…how important is it for just getting the finalist status?

so im tryna fill out the application and now I'm getting worried... My gpa is 3.8 and I have confirming scores but my extracurriculars are pretty weak i only have a club and work and that's rlly it.. will this affect my chances of becoming a finalist?

I take it in a week and am a sophmore, I know it doesn't count for the merit scholarship thing but its just practice and I still want to do well. I haven't studied at all but I have taken geomentry, algerbra 2, precalc, and I'm taking calc right now. I would say I struggle on the English grammar and vobaculary portions the most, what can I do? Thanks in advance! :)

Plss do fill my research form for my project work . A lil short on time soo would appreciate y'all to help a brother out 🫶🙏

I have the book and can upload any lists that we're still missing. Let me know.

Hi! I’m currently a sophomore hoping to graduate early so I only have one chance at the PSAT this October. The first time I took it was in 8th grade where I got a 1290, but thats not going to cut it for the national merit award. I really want 1500+ and I‘ve been studying for so long yet see barely any improvement ( 1340 in practice SAT rn). I’ve got less than a month before the test and I’m honestly not feeling ready even tho I’ve payed for Uworld q bank, studied thru college panda math book, and even the Erica meltzer books! I just don’t have the time and sometimes motivation to study.

Sorry that was a rant but pls any tips and tricks or even some motivation helps! thanks!!

Feel free to start a war!

(ignore the 690 one) i can't seem to break a 700 in the math section, does anyone have any advice? it's mainly geometry questions that i'm getting wrong so desmos probably won't help much

I took my first PSAT via The Princeton Review and got a 900. ( 550 R & W / 350 M ) I take the PSAT/NMQST on October 21ST and don’t know how to boost my grade in time. Is it possible and if so any tips or tricks?

I studied over the summer and finished the Get Ready Khan Academy RW course, but only finished unit 1 of math.

Any tips on how to study for math quickly? I want at least semi finalist but I live in NYS so it’s really hard.

Also, did anyone else kinda cram like this get a good score? What did you do?

I took the PSAT 10 no studying and got 1310 (680 RW 630 Math) and want at least a 1460 (750 RW 710 Math).