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wifemommy
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| Posted: Oct 25 2010 at 2:58pm | IP Logged
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I know there is a writing part to SATs now but other then that how different are the tests?? Thanks Annie
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stacykay
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| Posted: Oct 25 2010 at 4:04pm | IP Logged
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General info:
The PSAT is given during fall of 10th grade. The results of this test are used in determining national merit scholars. Go here for more info.
The SAT is taken during 11th grade, and it is one of the tests colleges may require for their application process. The other college entrance test, the ACT, was all that our local schools required for my two oldest dss. Here is the College Board site. There are neat areas within their site that give you a question a day (or rather give your student a question a day,) plus a wealth of info on preparation and college info.
Speaking to your question, I think the tests are similar, from what other friends have said. And they found the PSAT a good indicator of how their students would fare on the SAT. Many ended up using the PSAT as a tool for beefing up weak areas, and saw the needed improvement.
Hope this helps.
In Christ,
Stacy in MI
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ALmom
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| Posted: Oct 25 2010 at 6:20pm | IP Logged
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Basically the PSAT is a practice SAT and that is how it will be viewed in 10th. If you are taking it for scholarship possibilities, you must take it in 11th and be doing 4 years of high school. If you score high enough then you can compete for National Merit scholarships and you generally get some very good scholarships if you are a finalist.
The SAT is one of the tests colleges request for admissions. The other one is the ACT. (The practice for the ACT is the PLAN but no scholarships ride on it and the scores aren't really sent anywhere except to you. It is also the cheapest of the 3. It is a good one to take to kind of compare to the PSAT to see which you'd prefer to focus on for college entrance purposes if the colleges you are looking at accept either. Often children will do much better on one or the other just because of how they break out the sections. I forget which one has you switching focuses more. The ACT does not have a writing section but you can request to take it - you get 5 more minutes on the ACT version. Honestly, no one seems to look at the writing score.
Some schools only take the SAT, some take either and some prefer the ACT. The ACT has a lot more science reading in it. A lot depends on what, if any colleges you are looking at.
Also be aware that different tests have different reading and it is kind of hit or miss. One of my daughters lowest scores on the SAT came from a test that had a ton of reading on goofy stuff like clairvoyants, etc. Next test had stuff we were more familiar with (and I certainly had no desire, nor was I going to worry about the goofy stuff we didn't know about - sign that we had done a good job up to then in filling our minds and hearts with the good, beautiful and holy).
Don't stress over these things. Don't waste a lot of time on it.
Janet
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Maggie
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| Posted: Oct 25 2010 at 6:53pm | IP Logged
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It's not been all that long since I have been out of college  , and I vividly remember that I wish I had known the importance of the PSAT.
I truly took it as a practice and had no idea it was for scholarship purposes. 
I took a few "practice" tests for the SATs and ACTs...and did ok...but I could have done better if I had been more prepared, I think.
It completely depends on the goals of your child. If your child is aiming for Ivy League, it's a big deal...if not, then the pressure isn't there as much, imo. I just wish I had known the importance of it...and I think I was a bit...ummm...too confident going into it.  So...Yale didn't want me...but who needs Yale?
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Maggie
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| Posted: Oct 25 2010 at 6:55pm | IP Logged
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Oh--I do think there is a difference in the tests.
Some schools will NOT accept the ACT, though, most accept the SAT.
Some require SAT IIs, depending on school requirements...
Though the tests are "similar", there really is a different style to them...imo.
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Wife to dh (12 years) Mama to dd (10) ds (8), dd (1), ds (nb) and to Philip Mary (5/26/09), Lucy Joy (12/6/09), and Margaret Mary (3/6/10) who entered Heaven before we had a chance to hold them.
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guitarnan
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| Posted: Oct 25 2010 at 7:00pm | IP Logged
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It does help to do some (not tons - colleges never use SAT or ACT scores alone to determine admissions!) practice work for whichever test (SAT or ACT) you decide to take.
My dd just took the EXPLORE test (pre-ACT for 7th-9th graders) and she was taken aback by the terminology in some of the practice booklet's math questions because it didn't match the wording her math books have always used. We went over the differences in wording (for just a few minutes) and she was able to figure out what was really being asked.
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Nancy in MD. Mom of ds (24) & dd (18); 31-year Navy wife, move coordinator and keeper of home fires. Writer and dance mom.
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hylabrook1
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| Posted: Oct 25 2010 at 7:48pm | IP Logged
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Back in the day (when I was in high school) the SAT was accepted by many more colleges than the ACT. Now, though, from what I'm seeing with my high schoolers/college kids, the ACT is coming to be accepted by more and more places. A fair number of colleges will accept either/both. I agree with Nancy, though, that prepping for the test you're planning to take is essential, as they may use different terminology from one another or from the books your child is using (this is especially true in math).
I have had children take both, as well as both PSAT and EXPLORE/PLAN (both are types of early practice tests from the ACT folks), and the percentile results were comparable.
Peace,
Nancy
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Barb.b
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| Posted: Oct 26 2010 at 5:45pm | IP Logged
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You can take the psat in 10th grade, but fall of 11th psat only count for merit scholarships. Don't know how easy it is to get national merit scholarsips - I though I read you needed scores in top 99th or something like that - maybe I remember wrong. Ds got academic/achievement scholarship based on his ACT score (a score of 29 got him 14,000 over 4 years at OU!). Also, SAT has score choice - which means you can send whatever score date you want to colleges (used to be all or nothing). Great to lower the stress of first time taking it. My ds took it spring 10th - great to be able to take the real thing as practice (actually - that was the test date of his highest math score).
Some kids seem to do well on one over the other. My ds did much better on the ACT. All colleges he looked at took either. I advise at some time spring of 10th through spring of 11th plan to take both.
Barb
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Angie Mc
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| Posted: Oct 26 2010 at 7:59pm | IP Logged
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confession...we missed the fall PSAT. Yes, dd took it in 10th...yes we knew about possible merit scholarships...yes we goofed. Thought I would share just in case anyone else goofs .
Love,
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Angie Mc
Maimeo to Henry! Dave's wife, mom to Mrs. Devin+Michael Pope, Aiden 20,Ian 17,John Paul 11,Catherine (heaven 6/07)
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stacykay
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| Posted: Oct 26 2010 at 8:30pm | IP Logged
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Ack, yes, I have been zoned in my thinking (awaiting root canal tomorrow am!), as ds just took the psat in the last week? or two (he's in 10th grade,) but it was as practice; he will retake in 11th.
In Christ,
Stacy in MI
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crusermom
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You can start taking the PSAT for practice in the 9th grade - maybe even earlier. I am not sure if it is all that helpful, but for a child that needs more practice taking standardized tests, it might be helpful.
I have heard different theories on how some do better on the SAT vs. the ACT - some left brain/right brain explanation. Might be a good idea to take both and see which you do better on.
Yes, check to see if your college of choice requires the SAT II - that one kind of snuck up on us - never really knew about it and my son's college of choice required it. He took it in Sept - but I think it might be best to take in the spring of the junior year. The SAT II are subject tests and the material might be fresher then than after a summer break. Also, if you wait until Sept - you might not have the opportunity to retake the SAT if needed before early deadlines.
The essay portion of the SAT is new - some schools don't even look at it. Find out if the schools you are looking at will count it - otherwise, you can relax and not stress about that part of the test. And maybe do better! If your college does look at that - I have heard there are some good pointers out there on how to improve and what the graders are looking for - might be worth a small investment in time. I think my friend said her son read a booklet on how to raise your score on the essay section and really it did make a difference.
As far as the ivy leagues are concerned - don't even stress - perfect scores might not even get you in. It was an eye opening experience for us. But good scores did really help with scholarship offers at some of the Catholic schools - UD, Christendom, etc. - including some full ride offers.
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Mary
Army wife and Crusermom to 8 wonderful children!
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hylabrook1
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| Posted: Oct 27 2010 at 3:24pm | IP Logged
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One bit of advice about the writing portion of the SAT.The first time my son took the SAT, he was in the middle of writing a very nice essay, but time was called before he finished it. So what was turned in was an incomplete essay. When his scores came back he had an 8 out of perfect score of 12. A friend was teaching SAT prep courses at the time and we learned from her that an uncompleted essay is docked pretty seriously. Armed with that bit of knowledge, he retook the SAT and made sure to conclude his essay, even though he kept it much simpler (and for that reason might have thought he would do less well). Actually his score improved, because he had "followed the rules" of the grading rubrics. So, a word to the wise....
Peace,
Nancy
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Barbara C.
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| Posted: Oct 28 2010 at 3:33pm | IP Logged
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I wanted to add that a lot of colleges look at SAT/ACT scores in determining automatic scholarships. After talking to lots of other people living in honors housing at my state university, almost all of them were on scholarship. The level of scholarship seemed to really tie in with ACT score...
33-36 four-year tuition + four years of room + $400 for books each year + free meal plan
30-33 four-year tuition + four years of room + $400 for books each year
27-30 four-year tuition
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Barbara
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Barb.b
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| Posted: Oct 30 2010 at 8:17am | IP Logged
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Agreed with Barbara C. Don't stress about the PSAT - most academic scholarships I've seen do come with a required SAT or ACT score. I think scholarship available through psat are very few. The SAT and ACT are more the scores that determine scholarship mone. At university of Oklahoma my ds got $14,000 over 4 years for ACT of 29. They also have leadership/community service scholarship worth more money, that he stands a good chance of recieving due to all his civil air patrol achievements/awards and activities.
Barb
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4Real Forums : High School Years and Beyond
Topic: PSAT vs SAT
