MAKE QUALITY EDUCATION

"If you don't know where you are going, you might wind up Someplace else"-Yogi Berra

Every December, High School juniors receive a Score Report Plus from the company which administers the PSAT/NMSQT in October. The Score Report Plus is very valuable for several reasons. First, the student receives the original test booklet along with an itemization of each correct and incorrect answer. Second, the student receives personalized feedback on all facets of the test. Suggestions are given to improve skills based upon performance on the math, critical reading and writing skills sections.

The Score Report Plus helps the student map out a game plan aimed at maximizing the best possible SAT score. For example, if a student consistently answers the same type of question incorrectly, certain skill builders will be suggested. Studying for the SAT is much more efficient once the student focuses on his or her weaknesses. You need not study all areas of math if geometry is your only weakness. You need not practice endless passage based reading questions if your vocabulary is so poor that you cannot answer sentence completions.

Another valuable component of the PSAT/NMSQT results is it provides the student with a yardstick from which to set goals. Each section on the PSAT/NMSQT is scored on a scale of 20 to 80, which equals 200 to 800 on the SAT scoring scale. My students are given a goal sheet, which is a personal signed written contract. Before signing this contract, I ask the student to fill in certain blank spaces which represent the score that the student realistically expects to achieve on each part of the SAT.

Here is a list of scoring goals that a diligent student should set based upon PSAT/NMSQT results:

If your PSAT Score is:

20 to 30 (200 to 300) set your goal for a 150 point gain

31 to 40 (310 to 400) set your goal for a 125 point gain

41 to 50 (410 to 500) set your goal for a 75 to 100 point gain

51 to 60 (510 to 600) set your goal for a 50 to 75 point gain

61 to 70 (610 to 700) set your goal for a 25 to 50 point gain

Above 70 (700) strive to maintain the same standard of excellence

The above table is only suggestive and is based upon my personal interaction with students over the years. It is not based upon any scientific data or empirical studies. Students may set even bolder goals than those set forth above. Writing down goals is only one step towards achieving those goals. Once a goal is set, the student must put in the actual time and effort necessary to turn those prewritten goals into real SAT scores.

Steven N. Weisman is an author and private SAT Tutor. Many valuable test strategies and information can be found on his blog and website http://www.testniques.com

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