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College Prep for Juniors
December:
Putting Your PSAT Scores to Work
BY DAVE PETERSON
© Copyright
2004 by Parents' Press
Originally published in the December 2004 print edition of Parents'
Press
Illustration © 2001, Artville, LLC
December finds high school juniors facing two reality checks fall term grades and PSAT results. At the same time, the holiday spirit may raise the question, "What am I doing to be useful to others?" These concerns and others show up in the questions I hear most often from college-bound juniors at this time of year.
Q. For various
reasons, I'm falling behind, and my grades are down or incomplete.
Help!
A. You must use the upcoming holiday recess as major catch-up
time. See each of your teachers now for a clear view of what
is needed to start the new year fully up to par. Then work out
a careful schedule for academics during winter vacation. And
stick to your plan! This year must be your best.
Q. Why did the
PSAT seem so hard for everybody?
A. A prediction test is a screening device. In order to work,
it has to spread scores widely, so that all colleges from
the Ivy League to open admissions campuses can benefit
from the results. This is very different from the classroom mastery
tests you are used to, where the goal is for everyone to get
high grades reflecting maximum learning. On the PSAT and SAT,
the most common score must be the average one, a 50 (or on the
SAT, 500) for each of the sections.
Also, the groups tested are very different. In class, everyone
is measured; for the PSAT, only those applying to selective colleges
are included. Competition!
Q. I carefully
studied the practice booklet and test, but only got an average
of 50s. Help!
A. These are truly average scores, not disasters! Comparable
SAT scores will justify admission at most of the nation's colleges.
With some added preparation, your SAT scores should be better.
Q. What exactly
should I do to improve future SAT scores?
A. Follow these few logical steps:
1. Focus on the righthand side of the PSAT score report. There
you will find an analysis of every question, showing the right
answer, your answer, the difficulty level, the question type,
and the subject area. Compare your answer for every item with
the test question which you have also received. Diagnose your
test behavior on each item, good or bad.
2. Focus on your wrong answers! Draw up a list of your test behaviors
that need changing. These might include examining all the answer
choices, calculating, guessing, pacing yourself, not focusing
enough on questions marked "easy" or focusing too much
on those marked "hard," and so on. What must you change?
3. Practice those changed behaviors as you take timed practice
tests in other publications from ETS. This tells you if your
diagnosis and changes are working, or if you need further study.
4. Read closely all of the free 80-page booklet from guidance
called Taking the SAT. Memorize the test-taking tips and strategies
that appear in the first 40 pages. Then take, time, and score
the full practice test.
5. Take the Spring SAT. You will probably be happy with your
improvement, but your scores will still reflect your reasoning
skill levels. Only serious reading and long-term study in challenging
academic courses will actually improve those skills and make
major score gains.
Q. Are there
other ways to practice besides using printed materials?
A. Yes, the College Board produces a software program called
One on One with the SATs where you can use your computer to answer
real questions and get instant feedback on your testing skills.
But the best prep for a paper-and-pencil exercise is using paper
and pencil!
Q. When is the
best time to take my first SAT?
A. Spring (March or April) gives you time to really get prepared,
and still gives you results before school ends, so you can choose
colleges and get guidance help before summer. Don't wait until
May or June; focus then on the SAT II exams when your year-end
learning is best.
Q. Should I take
a prep course?
A. If you follow the steps outlined above, this is not necessary.
Save your money! If your spring SATs scores do not improve or
you don't feel they show your real reasoning skill level, then
consider other help.
Q. Can I start
choosing colleges based on these PSAT results?
A. Certainly at least the first steps. Using your predicted
SAT scores from the PSAT report, check out colleges whose students
show similar scores. You'll find them in the College Handbook,
or use College Explorer software in your school's guidance office
in the same way.
Q. I have a high
Selection Score. What does this mean?
A. This is a total of the verbal, math, and writing scores and
is used by the National Merit Corporation to determine eligibility
for Semifinalist standing in their competition. Your state cut-offs
for these scores change by state and by year, so check with guidance
to learn your possible chances this year. Semifinalist status
is not revealed until late spring.
Q. My writing
score is lower than the others. What should I do?
A. This score means that you need to improve your writing skills
in order to do well on the spring SAT and the SAT II Writing
test next June. Your English teacher should be able to help you
here.
Q. I checked
"yes" to participate in the Student Search program.
Now I am getting lots of mail from colleges. What's the meaning
of these come-ons?
A. All colleges aggressively seek students who will add to their
campus. In general, those who contact you through this service
are likely to consider you favorably. These may include places
where you might not be sufficiently challenged, so look critically
at all campuses you apply to.
Q. I really enjoy
helping others, and I have no major plans for the holiday recess.
Ideas?
A. Great plan, perfect time. Ask around at school and check your
church, local civic groups, the library, and the county volunteer
bureau anywhere that seems to coordinate this kind of volunteer
effort. But do so only if you really love to do something for
nothing, to be useful rather than to be rewarded or to "look
good on the record." Hypocrites are easily identified.
ADD DAVE PETERSON BIO
Dave Peterson
has been an admissions officer, high school teacher, counselor,
guidance director, and consultant to the College Board. This
article first appeared in longer form in the December 2004 issue
of Parent.TEE
|
CLICK HERE for more College Prep articles by Dave Peterson. COLLEGE
PREP Dave Peterson is a college counselor, a former college admissions officer and a consultant to the College Board. He used to run the "old" America Online/College Board college admissions message boards under the screen name of CBD Dave. |