All in SAT/ACT
Of the 1.6 million juniors who sat for the PSAT in October 2023, only about 15,000 will go on to be named national merit scholars. How does the PSAT help me become a National Merit Scholar Finalist or Semi-Finalist? What scores are required to become a state finalist or a national scholar?
What’s a good PSAT Score? What are the PSAT Score Ranges? Does the PSAT predict how well I will do on the SAT? Is the scoring scale the same between the PSAT and SAT exams? How does the PSAT help me become a National Merit Scholar (NMS) Finalist or Semi-Finalist? The PSAT is offered to juniors as part of the National Merit Scholar (NMS) search process.
I gained some new insights this year that I want to share with all of you. Let’s start with a high GPA is more important than AP courses for most students. My number one mistake with my oldest was holding him to a high level of academic rigor in subjects that weren’t his strength. It took me too long to realize that, and his grades early in high school suffered as a result. While Yale, Cal Tech, and Haverford will want to see the highest rigor in courses across the board (along with As), not every school will, and getting Cs and Ds instead of As and Bs will make life much harder for the college applicant.
Sophomores, you have completed the first half of high school and are headed for big things in the coming months and years, including preparing for college applications. This is your moment to plan the next two years. Here is what I advise you to keep top of mind as you plan your spring and summer:
First Dartmouth, now Yale? What does “test flexible” mean? This post will help you decide whether or not to test prep in 2024. Remember to check the score ranges as well as what % of applicants submit scores using each school’s Common Data Set. another factor is which major you’re selecting: some majors in each school require test scores for automatic (or direct) admission including popular programs like the Kelley business school at Indiana University.
Updated March 2024: You have done your homework, studied, learned your pacing, and practiced your strategies. True confidence comes from preparation, and you have earned that. Second, take care of your body as well as your mind. In the week before the test…
Learn what to focus on your junior year in order of importance.
The SAT is going digital for the school year 2023-2024, and our CTK test prep tutors have been trying out the new software and planning for how to help students adapt to the digital format. Read on for answers to all your questions about the new digital PSAT and SAT; how to still take the SAT on paper; and whether you should take the SAT, ACT, or just go test optional.
