What to Do Now That You Have Received Your Student’s PSAT Score
By Huntington Learning Center
PSAT scores are in…now what? While the PSAT is technically a practice test, it’s important to review the score carefully and take advantage of the insights it offers into your student’s knowledge level, strengths and weaknesses.
Here are a few tips on what to take note of and what to do now that you have the scores in hand:
Look at both total score and percentile. Your student’s total score is the sum of the two test sections: evidence-based reading and writing and math. Below that you will see a percentile, which represents the percentage of students whose score is equal to or lower than your student’s score. This is a good gauge of where your student is as compared to their peers.
Look over the grade-level benchmarks. These are important because they measure whether your student is on track for college and beyond. Any areas where your student is not on track for college success, you should make note of to address later (in the form of individualized tutoring with Huntington).
Review the cross test and sub scores. While these do not affect a student’s total score, they’re valuable to look over because they identify students’ strengths and weaknesses in writing, language and math.
For sophomores, plan ahead to do test prep next summer. Because spring is busy for many juniors taking Advanced Placement classes, fall of junior year is a great time to take the SAT for the first time. Now that your sophomore has gotten a little practice under their belt with the PSAT, you can make plans to enroll them in a prep program over summer.
For juniors who still want to test again, start prepping now. Juniors who just received their PSAT/NMSQT scores back and have not yet taken the SAT (or ACT) should start thinking about doing so in early 2023 (March 11, May 6 or June 3 for the SAT, or February 11, April 15 or June 10 for the ACT). Even if your student has taken the SAT or ACT once this year but wants to try to earn a better score, it’s a great time to lay out a study plan now that they have their PSAT/NMSQT scores in hand.
Now that your junior or senior has some SAT practice, let Huntington help them achieve their best score. Our test prep programs get results for a reason:
- We start every program with a comprehensive evaluation in the form of a full practice SAT or ACT exam.
- We then pinpoint each student’s strengths and weaknesses so we can design a prep program that is tailored to their abilities and goals.
- From there, we work with students on test-taking strategies and building subject-matter knowledge so that they can achieve their target scores and get into their top-choice schools.
Whether your student’s PSAT score was excellent or not what they or you hoped it would be, we can meet your student where they are and help them do their best on the test that really matters: the SAT (or ACT). Call us today at 1-800 CAN LEARN to hear more about our success with students taking the SAT and ACT for over 43 years.
