college 101
life skills
tips & advice
life skills
trends
raising PSAT scores
resources
scholarships
PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT:
RAISING YOUR TEEN’S PSAT SCORE
parent to parent
A well-kept secret when it comes to raising your teen’s PSAT score is that there
is a wrong way and a right way to practice for the PSAT/NMSQT and SAT.
Surprised? It’s true. Because the test is based on critical thinking, the best way
to raise the score is to follow the guidelines below. By Jean Burk
START EARLY
By making the PSAT/NMSQT and SAT a priority in the early high school
years, students can avoid cramming at the last minute on a test that has
very little to do with content. Learning the logical approach to test-taking
as soon as possible is the key to doing well. An early start to test preparation will lessen text anxiety and put time back on the side of the student.
SEARCH & DESTROY
Students should start by learning to find the recurring
patterns on the test, and then continue by practicing using
only materials from the test-makers themselves (The College
Board). Then, as they practice, it is imperative that they go back
over the questions they miss and identify their weaknesses and
common mistakes so they can avoid these bad habits in the future.
KEEP AT IT
Imagine you’re part of a soccer or basketball team. Your coach will
tell you that concentrated energy and numerous hours of practice
are the only ways to improve. This same approach applies to the
PSAT. Incorporating quality study patterns on a daily basis can give
students the skills they need to succeed.
Learn more about
increasing your teen’s
PSAT score (and why
you should) and find a
wealth of helpful test
prep info for the SAT at
collegeprepgenius.com.
HOW
OUR
STATE
MEASURES
55.6%
of Alabama juniors taking
the PSAT meet or exceed the “college
ready” benchmark, as do 55.5% of
Alabama sophomores. This is higher
than the national average of 49% for
juniors and 41.3 % for sophomores.
In 2012, 1,585,611 sophomores in the
United States took the PSAT/NMSQT.
See how Alabama sophomores stack up
against mean national scores.
CRITICAL READING:
National Average: 43.1
Alabama: 46.3
MATH:
National Average: 43.6
Alabama: 45.6
Jean Burk is the author of College Prep Genius and has written numerous articles
about the SAT and PSAT/NMSQT. She currently travels and speaks about the
importance of college preparation, how to get free college and teaches her
“Master the SAT” Prep Class all over Texas as well as other states to college-bound
students. She has been featured as an SAT expert on three major television networks.
8
www.potentialmagazine.com
WRITING SKILLS:
National Average: 41.8
Alabama: 45.6
SOURCE: collegeboard.org