Of all the issues parents face during the college process, seemingly none are as confusing or as misrepresented as the PSAT.  The goal of this post is to leave you completely lucid on the issue.  Fortunately, the PSAT is simple to handle and negotiate.  The four questions I'm always asked re: the PSAT are:

1. What's the point of the PSAT?
2. What's the difference between the PSAT and the SAT?3. How should my child prep for the PSAT?
4. When should my child start prepping for the PSAT?


Below, you'll find my answers to all four.

Q: What's the point of the PSAT?
A: To give you a kick in the pants (and, sometimes, to give you brownie points).

The PSAT doesn't play a factor in college admissions unless your child does well.  Students who get great scores on the PSAT can be selected as National Merit Finalists - these students are coveted by colleges and can obtain scholarships and bonuses points that other students don't get.  The number of NMFs at any college is a bragging point, and so colleges want as many as they can get.  Please be aware that lack of NMF status does NOT stop your child from gaining admission, and real SAT scores are far more important.  Becoming an NMF is just icing on the cake.  

If you want your child to become an NMF, read on.

More important than the National Merit Scholarship, however, is the basic idea that the PSAT lets students know how they're going to do on the actual SAT.  If you get a horrid score, it's time to prepare for the real deal.  Colleges don't see bad PSAT scores, so you don't have to worry about bad scores hurting your child's chances.  Bad scores on the PSAT do, however, indicate imminent bad scores on the SAT (as you'll learn in the next question).  So while bad PSAT scores aren't damaging in and of themselves, they do indicate that you need to get your act together regarding the SAT.

Why are they so indicative?  The next question should help:

Q: What's the difference between the SAT and the PSAT?

A: Practically nothing.  The PSAT asks the exact same types of questions as the SAT, in the exact same format.  There are only two actual differences:

1. The PSAT is about half as long as the SAT
2. The PSAT doesn't have an essay

Other than that, the two tests are exactly the same.  While some claim that the questions on the PSAT are slightly easier than those on the SAT, that's a bit subjective.  Overall, the difficulty level, material, etc. on both exams are practically identical.  If you get a great PSAT score, you'll probably get a great SAT score - and vice versa.

However, even if the PSAT is a bit easier than the SAT, it makes no practical difference re: preparation techniques.  Read on to find out why.

Q: How should my child prep for the PSAT?
A: The exact same way he or she should prep for the SAT.

Minus the essay, both tests are the same.  If you want your child to get a great PSAT score, he/she should just prep for the SAT.

There are very few PSAT-prep resources, and to me, they've never made any sense.  Why would you prep for something that's intentionally geared to be easier than what you're actually preparing to do?  It's like training to run a 3K race when you're going to run a 5K a few months later.  What the heck is the point?  Just prep for the 5K to start - it's the same sport.  

Every resource and technique that you'd use for the SAT is equally an viable (if not better) method for the PSAT.  Just prep for the SAT.

With that in mind, the big final question:

Q: When should my child start prepping for the PSAT?
A: That depends - but probably as soon as possible.

I'm a big proponent of prepping for the SAT as soon as you possibly can.  The longer-term your prep, the more prepared you'll be, plain and simple.  Even a few vocab and math drills started during your child's freshman year can make a HUGE difference down the road.

If you're hellbent on getting your child NMF status, then I'd recommend prepping at least three months before the PSAT, just as I recommend starting prep at least three months before the SAT.

Again - if your child doesn't get great PSAT scores, it's not the end of the world.  But if he/she gets great PSAT scores, then he/she is ready to sit down, take the SAT, and get it over with.  So why not rip off the bandaid and get this whole process out of the way?

If you're looking for long-term prep strategies, you can always get in touch using my contact form - I'm always happy to help.

If you'd like to book me for your child's PSAT prep, please read my booking policies and, when you're ready, set up a booking appointment.  Please keep in mind that my schedule is extremely tight, so the earlier you reserve my time, the better.

If you're looking for a good self-study program for the PSAT that you can complete on your own time (and that allows you to study on your own schedule and at your own pace and start early), you can always use my online SAT program to get started. Using my program is also an excellent foundation for working with me 1-on-1 later on, and I discount the purchase price from my own fees.

I hope this was helpful!  Don't hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions using my contact form, and leave any comments below.

-Anthony

The big day is tomorrow.  For all of you who've been studying your hearts out, congratulations!  In 24 hours, you'll be free from the tyranny of the test.

However, no matter how excellent your math, grammar, and reading skills happen to be, you still need to prepare your body and mind properly for the test. If you're sleepy, undernourished, or stressed, you're not going to get the scores that you deserve.  With that in mind, I've decided to publish a little arsenal of my best test-day tips and tricks to help you get the best scores possible on your SAT. 

I've been working on the routine below for years, with over 350 one-on-one students.  Some of it might seem a little "off topic" or ridiculous, but trust me: it's all extremely important.  Just follow the prescription below and you'll knock this thing out of the park:

1. Go to bed early tonight.  Make sure you and your parents set multiple alarms so you don't sub-consciously fear that you won't wake up on time.  If you're having trouble falling asleep, try taking a chilly shower/bath, which will cause you to tire out.  Make sure your room is dark, quiet, and cool.

2. Wake up at least 2 hours before the test starts.  It takes more than 90 minutes for your brain to fully "boot up" after you wake up.  Make sure you're not sleepy when you go into the test by waking up early.

3. Eat a big breakfast immediately upon waking up, and drink a huge glass of water while you eat it.  You'll need lots of energy to do well on the SAT, but you don't want to be digesting while you test.  Make sure to get healthy fats, proteins, and complex carbs - eggs, whole grain toast with peanut butter, a glass of milk, and a cup of yogurt would be ideal.  And make sure to drink the water - you want to be hydrated, but you don't want to have to pee during the exam.

4. When you're done with breakfast, take a 15-20 minute walk - listen to classical music if possible.  You're gonna be sitting for 4-5 hours - you need to get your blood flowing. This will help to reduce your stress and wake you up.  Here's a great playlist to listen to while you walk:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2LM3ZlcDnk

5. Shower.  Doesn't matter if you're not a "morning shower" person.  Do it - it'll help to wake you up and relax you.

6. Wear layered clothing.  Testing centers can be too hot or too cold - prepare accordingly.  And make sure you're comfortable.

7. Follow your normal caffeine routine.  If you usually drink coffee, don't skip it.  If you don't, don't.

8. Triple check that you have everything you need.  Photo ID, testing ticket, pencils, calculator, batteries, and snacks (bring a bottle of water, a banana, and a few almonds or cashews - you can keep your blood sugar up during breaks and stay hydrated, which is clutch).

9. Get to the testing center early.  Cutting it close stresses you out, and stress is horrible for brain performance.

10. Don't talk to your friends when you get there.  Listen to classical music instead.  Your friends will just stress you out - you need to be in the zone.

11. Review 2 pages of already-completed math, writing, and reading work from your practice sections.  This is THE big one.  Your brain currently isn't in "SAT mode" - you're still not geared in.  Before I discovered this trick, my students used to get their worst scores on their first few sections - their brains were "shocked" by switching from sugarplums to equations and vocab, and they suffered.  Don't do new material - just go over old material you've already conquered and go through the motions.  This will gear you in.  Make sure to conspicuously throw this stuff away before you walk into the testing room!

Listen to classical music while you do this.

12. Pee before you go into the testing room.  Har har har - but seriously, do it.  You don't want to be distracted during the test.

Knock this thing out of the park!

You've worked hard to get to where you are - now just go in there and do your best!

Good luck to everyone taking the SAT tomorrow - I'll be rooting for you!

When it comes to SAT and ACT reading, I'm often asked the same question:

"Sure, you have tips and tricks for the tests themselves - but how do I improve my child's overall reading skills in preparation for your tutoring?"

In other words, parents recognize the value of proper testing strategy, but they also understand that students who are "good readers" will always do better on these tests than students who aren't.

While the SAT and ACT aren't intelligence tests, it would be ridiculous to say that they don't reward students with better mathematical and verbal processing abilities.  Think of these tests like basketball: anyone can be good, but it still helps to be tall.

So how do you make your child "taller?"  How do you improve his/her reading comprehension abilities before he/she ever steps into the testing center?  While the best answer would be, "a lifetime devotion to developing your child's reading ability and love of learning," there are four things parents can start doing immediately that'll have a large impact:

1. Your child needs to read challenging material every single day.  I had a conversation yesterday that went something like this:

If you want high SAT and ACT scores, you need to prepare.  While the material within might be familiar, the styles and formats of these exams are different from anything you're used to - this is where the myth of the "bad tester" comes into play: students who do very well in algebra class bomb the SAT, and think it's because they're simply "not good at testing."

In fact, nothing could be further from the truth.  The reality is simple: these tests present material in their own "language" - if you want to get high scores, you need to learn how to speak it.  Most students and parents assume that, because they have high grades in math and English, these grades will translate into high test scores.  They're shocked when this isn't the case, but they shouldn't be - the SAT is far from a simple math test.  It combines esoteric wording, material from multiple mathematical disciplines, logical reasoning, and time pressure to create an entirely new testing experience.

If you want to get good SAT and ACT scores, you need to prepare for the SAT and ACT - NOT for the isolated material that's tested by these exams.

In other words: it doesn't matter how good your math, vocabulary, reading, and grammar skills are if you've never applied them to the SAT / ACT.

A good analogy: a man spends years and years studying Russian vocabulary words in school.  Every day, he learns a few more, and every week he's tested on their meaning.  He's a straight A+ Russian student.  Then, one day, he's flown to Russia and asked to speak to a bunch of Russians in their native tongue...and what happens?  He'll have no idea how to do it.  Sure, he might have all the vocab words down, but he doesn't have the grammar, the ear for the language, the rapidity of comprehension, the idioms...the list goes on.  And so, even though this student has the material mastered, he still can't speak Russian.

Does this mean the student is "bad at Russian?"  No.  Does this mean the student "just can't do Russian?"  No.  It means that he has never spoken Russian before, so OF COURSE he isn't good at speaking it AT THAT MOMENT!

If you want high SAT / ACT scores, you can't just know the material - you need to be good at taking these tests.  And these tests are unlike anything that you're probably used to.  While tutoring and self-study programs are both good options, classroom courses are the absolute worst way to prepare for the SAT, the ACT, and any other standardized test.  

Why?

Classroom SAT and ACT courses replicate the EXACT errors in instruction that prevent students from getting good test scores in the first place!