Average PSAT Scores

5 Tips to Score More than Average PSAT Scores

Many high school students all over the United States take the PSAT test. There is immense competition faced in it because the students come from different backgrounds with different levels of preparation. In this scenario, you need to prepare well so that you achieve more than the average scores.

The five strategies to score high in this test are listed below.

  1. Take a Diagnostic Test

    This is the first step to achieve high score. Taking a diagnostic test enables you to identify how well you are prepared to appear for the test. It also helps you to understand your weak areas and strong areas. Based on this you can plan your schedule and focus on these areas to increase your scores higher than the average.

  2. Set a Timetable for Yourself

    Setting a timetable is the next important step. Setting a schedule helps you to plan things and focus on different tasks so that you are not doing too many things at a time, which eventually leads to exhaustion and boredom. You must schedule your tasks as realistically or practically as possible so that you focus on all tasks equally. For example, you will have homework to complete, regular chapters to study as part of the school task, extracurricular activities, preparation for PSAT and so on. Thus, it becomes imperative to schedule yourself so that no task is left out.

    It is important to include breaks within your schedule. Plan for breaks so that the schedule does not become monotonous and you enjoy some free time. Make sure that you have time to meet friends as well. Take time out to enjoy time with friends so that you return refreshed and can concentrate better on preparing for the test.

  3. Pace Yourself

    It is essential to pace yourself when you prepare for any exam, school tests or standardized tests. Cramming should not be considered as an option because it leads to exhaustion and the results are anything but good. You will hardly remember anything through cramming. Scoring high requires systematic preparation so that you cover all the concepts taught in school and yet have time for practicing questions, using strategies to help you solve problems quickly and so on.

    The importance of self-study should not be underestimated. In fact, self-study reinforces the knowledge you have acquired, be it through school, attending tutorials, etc. Self-study also allows you to practice your personal strategies to solve questions. For example, practicing questions will allow you to identify the types of questions you can answer quickly and the number of questions you can answer quickly.

  4. Practice as much as You Can

    This is the most important step. It is important that you practice as much as you can in order to gain confidence and familiarize yourself with the pattern of the test. Try to take the test under test conditions. Track the time you spend in each question or section and adhere to the time limit.

    Use strategies such as attempting the easy questions first and then attempting the difficult questions. Practice how to make an intelligent guess. Such strategies are useful especially when you have less time or cannot work out the answer to a question. Calculate your score based on the answers provided and use the scores to estimate your actual score. You might even want to multiply your score by 10 to estimate how well you will do in the SAT test.

  5. Think Positive

    Maintain a positive attitude toward yourself and your goals. The inner confidence will help you immensely in preparing for any test. You will attain confidence if you have worked diligently toward your goal. Your confidence will help you during the test in situations such as when contemplating to change answers.

Preparing for any standardized test requires effort that is an amalgamation of all of the points mentioned above. Most of all, it is your individual effort that will help you to gain high scores in the test. Because these marks are an indicator of your SAT test scores, it is important that you prepare diligently in order to score high.