PSAT at 14yo/9th worth if just getting to pre-algebra?

[Kathie in VA]

Since dd is just getting to pre-algebra should I have her take the PSATs this fall or wait? How heavy is the math there? I'm pretty sure her LAs are fine.

 

Thanks,

 

Kathie in VA

[Musicmom]

I would wait until she's had at least some geometry. The PSAT is definitely heavy on math and has a lot of geometry and also algebra on it, so it would only be frustrating to take it now.

 

In order to qualify for National Merit, your dd will need to take the PSAT in 11th grade, and you'll want to plan her math over the next 2 years so that she has a solid background in algebra and geometry. If you think she's close to being ready next year, you could have her take the PSAT in 10th grade for practice (or get a prep book and work through it, using the practice tests to get a feel for the test.) Then in 11th grade, start a couple months early and work carefully through a good prep book (McGraw-Hill is excellent) and then just take the test for real in October of that year.

[Jean in Wisc]

Since dd is just getting to pre-algebra should I have her take the PSATs this fall or wait? How heavy is the math there? I'm pretty sure her LAs are fine.

 

Thanks,

 

Kathie in VA

 

I told my children that taking the PSAT early gave them a chance to practice taking the test and that they would not do well on some of the parts since they did not have all the classes they needed yet (no big deal). The pre-test was just a chance to go into a classroom with a group of students and take a timed test. The PSAT is cheap compared to some, so it was a good one to practice on. Also, after my kids took the ACT, I could look at their PSAT grades and see which one had better scores. Since the SAT and PSAT are similar, I did not make them take the SAT if they did better on the ACT (which both of my college kids did).

 

FWIW,

Jean

[Deidre in GA]

for reasons similar to Jean in Wisc, i had ds 15 take the SAT in June. i wanted to demystify the test taking experience. i didn't tell him about it until a week before the test so that he wouldn't stress out about it,and only gave him a minimal heads up about what was expected in the essay portion. ds is in his second year of conventional public school and i realized his peers had considerably more standardized test taking experience than he. i wanted to equalize the playing field a bit. i just saw on his school schedule that sophomores are taking the PSAT next month.

 

i don't think it hurts to practice. i was very clear with my son that he wasn't going to know everything as this was a test meant for 3 grades above him. he did well with the experience; i was pleased with his doesn't-count-for-anything-except-perhaps-mom's-reality-check scores.

[Janice H]

I have taken a look at the math and verbal problems in the McGraw Hill review book which Music Mom recommends. I have done an assortment of the math problems; there are very few problems that can be solved without basic algebra reasoning. I recommend you take a good look at the sample tests yourself before potentially overwhelming your student.

 

Although more expensive, perhaps the SAT would make a better testing experience. I have read that the SAT is a little less quirky. Perhaps this is why the John Hopkins Talented Youth program has students in grades seventh and up take the SAT as opposed to the PSAT.

 

Just one person's opinion here of course. I think today's test is trickier than during the dark ages when I was a National Merit Scholarship recipient.