StephanieZ Posted January 7, 2016 Share Posted January 7, 2016 We just saw ds16's PSAT scores and are happy, happy, happy! It's KILLED us waiting since Thanksgiving! I've been through this process with my eldest, so I was all set to get the scores right after Thanksgiving . . . and then found out about the delayed time table . . . and have been on pins and needles since then! FINALLY, today, we get to see the scores, and ds's are great! Definitely should be national merit in our state, which is AWESOME. Happy, happy, happy!! Two down, one to go, lol. 18 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 7, 2016 Share Posted January 7, 2016 Congratulations! Well done for him! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoJosMom Posted January 7, 2016 Share Posted January 7, 2016 Congrats! We're happy dancing here, but it was an early, baseline test, so not really significant. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KarenNC Posted January 7, 2016 Share Posted January 7, 2016 (edited) Very happy with my 10th grader's scores. It did tell us that she'll need to really focus on math if she wants to qualify for NM (which wasn't news), but I think she's definitely in line for commended next year at minimum. I'm going to be very interested in seeing what the cutoffs are for our state with this new test. Edited January 7, 2016 by KarenNC 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joker Posted January 7, 2016 Share Posted January 7, 2016 We're happy here. I'm wondering if the new test was a lot easier, though. I'm not sure how they are supposed to compare. Dd has taken it since 8th grade and she's done a bit better every year as she's had more math but the jump in percentiles this year were quite a bit more than I expected to see. She should be in the running next year when it counts. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pawz4me Posted January 7, 2016 Share Posted January 7, 2016 We're pretty happy. DS did absolutely zero prep and scored very well. He's probably a few points short of NM semi-finalist status, but that's not something we've ever put any emphasis on. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ktgrok Posted January 7, 2016 Share Posted January 7, 2016 Anyohe have any idea what the NM qualifying scores look like this year? I can't find that info yet. My son's a sophomore, so not worried about this year, but would be good to know how far off we are for next year, you know? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DawnM Posted January 7, 2016 Share Posted January 7, 2016 DS took the ACT and we got the scores before Christmas. He needs to improve. He isn't the best test taker. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StephanieZ Posted January 7, 2016 Author Share Posted January 7, 2016 Anyohe have any idea what the NM qualifying scores look like this year? I can't find that info yet. My son's a sophomore, so not worried about this year, but would be good to know how far off we are for next year, you know? Well, it is hard to know for sure. My guess, based on looking at the %ile information out so far, is that the cut offs should be at or below last year's cut offs, looking at the NMSC qualifying number, which is 2x the R/WR score + 1x the math (cutting off a zero). The total possible qualifying score is 12 points lower this year (out of 228 instead of 240, because the new PSAT max score for each section is now 760 instead of 800). The talk seems to be that the test is not easier this year. The actual numbers for each state will be weirder, since the really high score cut off state (like CA) might well be near perfect scores . . . as they were so high before. My kid's scores were 99% across the board, and we are in a low cut off state (WV), so he is a shoo-in. (Last year's cut off was 201 out of 240, and we've never had a cut off above 203/204, and he scored 212 composite.) So, IMHO, if your kid's score is at or above recent years' cutoffs for your state, then I'd GUESS they're pretty assured to make it. If their score is just a few points (6-12) below recent years' cutoffs, then you're in that painful wait-to-September to know. If the score is more than 12 points below recent cutoffs, then probably it's a no. In April, they *should* announce Commended Scholars (top 2% or so nationwide, so around the 98%cut off, which you can see if you made that based on the score report. If your state is a typical low cut off state, like mine, then nearly all (or all?) the Commended Scholars make NMSF. If you're in a high score state, only the top 1% of YOUR STATE make NMSF . . . So, it's easier for those of us in low score states to have some confidence now. If you don't already use College Confidential, that is the place to learn all the agonizing details. It's WELL WORTH your time to spend some time there if your kid is a potential NMSF. Lots of info on schools that give great scholarships, etc. My college girl is on a FABULOUS 5yr scholarship to U Alabama, which I learned about there. She's super happy. It's a great school. And, we're so happy to get the MASSIVE $$ help. For anyone looking for info on NM scholarships, the process, etc, here are my Go To links: http://nmfscholarships.yolasite.com http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/national-merit-scholarships And, this year, for whatever reason, lots of the PSAT talk is on this page at CC: http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/sat-act-tests-test-preparation/1816872-psat-discussion-thread-2015.html#latest Happy surfing! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caroline Posted January 7, 2016 Share Posted January 7, 2016 My freshman did great. We are really happy with his scores. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitestavern Posted January 7, 2016 Share Posted January 7, 2016 Anxiously awaiting dd's results. Got an email from her school saying release date has been delayed. Looks like we will have to wait a few more days :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
northcoast Posted January 7, 2016 Share Posted January 7, 2016 We are happy here. DS thought this test was tougher than last year's. He is right at the cut off for NM qualifying scores (208). Thanks StephanieZ for the links. We'll have the check out the process. That was not on my radar. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 7, 2016 Share Posted January 7, 2016 Not really dancing here, no...just glad nothing came in in the red. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ali in OR Posted January 7, 2016 Share Posted January 7, 2016 (edited) Thanks for posting. Didn't know this was all available online (first time testing). Not in the NM range as a sophomore, but very happy with dd's scores. Especially happy that the non-math-lover did just fine in math and she hasn't had the advanced stuff yet. And she did this test with no prep. Edited January 7, 2016 by Ali in OR 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LisaKinVA Posted January 7, 2016 Share Posted January 7, 2016 (edited) I read at testmasters, that the formula was adding all three scores together, then multiplying by 2. They predicted the NMQST cut offs would be a bit lower as well. DS has to maintain two scores, and improve one to make the cutoff next year. Dd will also take it next year, but her scores are usually a mirror image of her brother's. Edited January 8, 2016 by LisaK in VA is in IT 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luckymama Posted January 8, 2016 Share Posted January 8, 2016 Dd is on the bubble, as they say on CC. Her selection index is right at the level our state's cutoff fluctuates around. She is a sophomore but she will most likely be graduating early. We will change her information witn College Board next week so that she is eligible to participate this year after all (provision for kids graduating early). She was so excited by her score. She will not be as excited when she learns she has to take the SAT after all. Our plans were to take the ACT instead of dealing with the changes. Oy. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Junie Posted January 8, 2016 Share Posted January 8, 2016 Not really dancing here, no...just glad nothing came in in the red. Us, too. He did OK and I have to keep telling myself that OK is fine. We weren't expecting NM or any super-high scores. Most kids are just average, after all. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livetoread Posted January 8, 2016 Share Posted January 8, 2016 (edited) No, ds's weren't surprising, but they weren't good. I have started the process of getting accommodations for his SAT or ACT. We'll see. He has a high GPA from both me, outside classes, and dual enrollment, but the poor kid can't test to reflect it. He is dyslexic with very slow processing speed; it's his excellent work ethic that gives him his grades. Congrats to those who did score well! Edited January 8, 2016 by livetoread 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ktgrok Posted January 8, 2016 Share Posted January 8, 2016 Does this seem accurate at all? http://blog.prepscholar.com/does-your-psat-score-qualify-for-national-merit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luckymama Posted January 8, 2016 Share Posted January 8, 2016 Does this seem accurate at all? http://blog.prepscholar.com/does-your-psat-score-qualify-for-national-merit Not really. It's just a guess, like so many other ideas floating around. I've been following the discussion on College Confidential today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joanne Posted January 8, 2016 Share Posted January 8, 2016 No happy dance. Definitely hit college ready benchmarks, but nothing spectacular. His anxiety has gotten progressively worse since the accident. I had him in counseling but his therapist closed her private practice. I am considering an application for accommodations for the ACT. He does well with regular grades, but tests - across the board - have been getting worse. The material "leaves his brain" and/or he can't access it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorthwestMom Posted January 8, 2016 Share Posted January 8, 2016 We logged on and DS's scores weren't there. UGH!!! I hate waiting. He took it through his PS so I am sure they aren't permanently lost. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ktgrok Posted January 8, 2016 Share Posted January 8, 2016 Finally got ahold of him, he's at his dad's. No happy dance. Meets college benchmarks, but hit 83rd percentile. Mind you, he's a sophomore and did zero prep because he "wanted a true baseline." Sigh. I'll have him do prep before he takes it as a junior. Probably a prep class locally. And may look into accommodations. He has very low working memory, ADHD, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StephanieZ Posted January 8, 2016 Author Share Posted January 8, 2016 Does this seem accurate at all? http://blog.prepscholar.com/does-your-psat-score-qualify-for-national-merit The cut-offs, NO. They just subtracted 12 from last year's. I think that's really a cheap shot. It'll be a lot more complicated than that, IMHO. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StephanieZ Posted January 8, 2016 Author Share Posted January 8, 2016 Finally got ahold of him, he's at his dad's. No happy dance. Meets college benchmarks, but hit 83rd percentile. Mind you, he's a sophomore and did zero prep because he "wanted a true baseline." Sigh. I'll have him do prep before he takes it as a junior. Probably a prep class locally. And may look into accommodations. He has very low working memory, ADHD, etc. A great way to prep for the PSAT is to take (and study for) the SAT. Seems weird and backwards, but it works pretty well. The class of 2017 was the one class that was awkward for since the Oct PSAT was the roll out of the new-format SAT/PSAT. But for any other class, it works pretty nicely. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ann.without.an.e Posted January 8, 2016 Share Posted January 8, 2016 I'm hopeful for dd (a junior). She's 99th percentile across the board. She was sick, had just had surgery, and felt terrible so her scores were a little lower than hoped for though. We are in an above average cut-off state but with the expectation that cutoffs will drop, she should be okay. At the same time, I don't believe in counting chickens. :001_cool: 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LisaKinVA Posted January 8, 2016 Share Posted January 8, 2016 I did read that the main reason for the drop in scores is because it's out of 228 instead of 240. Thus, a flat drop of 12 points is what is expected (at least). Testmasters had a range, with 215 being essentially their top cut off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.