How do Jewish kids do in general on the PSATs and the SATs (If they take them)? I'm very curious in comparison with the general American population. Please specify which grade you took it in and, if possible, what score you got on each section. Also, specify the old or new SATs.
Funny stories and extenuating circumstances welcome!
YWN Coffee Room » Yeshiva / School / College / Education Issues
PSATs and SATs
(35 posts)-
Posted 1 year ago #
-
in HS we had to take PSAT's in 10th grade-was given in school. i think i got somewhere in the 80th percentile. not 100% sure though
took new SAT's
SAT's-most end up taking it if they want touro israel option. i took it twice-first time got 1850 (600 reading, 610 math, 640 writing). second time around got 1940 (640 reading, 670 math, 630 writing).
Posted 1 year ago # -
It's the SAT. Not the SATs, not the SAT's.
(Sorry. I'm not usually Miss Grammarian, but this is a pet peeve of mine.)
Posted 1 year ago # -
I prepared seriously, and did extremely well. There were other boys who took it with me, and without any special preparation - and they were smart but not very - got around 1200, def. quite above average for ny, but not ultra impressive. This was the Jan. after 12th grade.
And don't believe what they say - you can def. prepare for and crack the SAT
Posted 1 year ago # -
my school recently took PSAT's
i got in the 95th percentile.
didnt take the SAT.Posted 1 year ago # -
98th percentile verbal. 88th math. The SATs only had 2 sections then.
Posted 1 year ago # -
OneOfMany - Who's sorry? "Sorry." isn't a sentence. Don't get hyper-technical. It's annoying.
Posted 1 year ago # -
OneOfMany: I know, I know. What can I do? Environment influences me. Everyone talks about the SATs and the PSATs. So I write it.
And I did well on grammar, by the way.Posted 1 year ago # -
Frei Jews tend to do well since they go to schools that "teach for the test". It's hard to estimate for frum Jews since many don't take the test. The test measures how well the student has learned the math and language skills as taught in the secular schools, so obviously kids who speak a dialect at home (Yeshivish mixed with Brooklynese) tend to be at a disadvantage.
Posted 1 year ago # -
I know. That's why I'm bugging you guys about it. Certain errors in grammar and diction have become so widespread that even people who know better slip up - they just think that it's standard. But this is no good.
(Okay, I'm turning off the grammarian for real now.)
Posted 1 year ago # -
I took the PSATslast year and got in like the 80 something percentile for both and then did not study a word for the SATs and took it in december... i got a 1400. (or 2000 if youre including writing). not that bad.
Posted 1 year ago # -
I never took the SAT, because I didn't wanna. But I took the PSAT.
dachtzuch mir I got somewhere in the 1100's. Not outstanding.So, if you take it and get better than 1100's, you are clearly my intellectual superior, and I will dedicate one troll thread to you, if you request. (Limited to 2 requests total.)
Posted 1 year ago # -
Highest PSAT score is 240, dude. But I scored higher than you anyway. May I please have a troll thread about people who are obsessed with their standardized test scores? Or one about llamas. Thanks.
Posted 1 year ago # -
PBA- I don't think you're talking about the PSAT-- there are only 3-digit scores (like a 176, for instance).
Posted 1 year ago # -
I took the SAT twice. I got a 2040 the first time and a 2160 the second. I don't remember what I got on each part but that's the total. I don't remember what I got on my PSAT. I think I took it in my junior year of high school.
Posted 1 year ago # -
If I recall correctly, "SAT" is no longer an acronym, it now officially is just a word, because they are no longer able to sustain their claim that it really measures "scholastic aptitude"
Posted 1 year ago # -
It is only scored in 3 digits? Well, I definitely took the PSAT. And I definitely did not take the SAT. And I have that number stuck in my head. I think it is 1130, but I can't be sure.
So if it really is 3 digits, then does it make sense I got 113? Is it out of 160? Must be that is what it is.
One of many, I didn't say you could choose the topic; only that it would be dedicated to you. I'll try to think of something good, maybe about those topics.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Well, it used to be out of 1600 like the old SAT. They switched it to 240 when they introduced the Writing section to the PSAT. So it's possible that you remembered correctly.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Well, I didn't take a writing section, I don't think. So that makes sense then.
And since you didn't get higher than 1130 if the high score is 240, I'm not so sure I owe you a troll thread.
Posted 1 year ago # -
I never took the PSAT. My regular SAT scores are higher - you can compare those if you just take off the Writing score.
Posted 1 year ago # -
hmmm. Does that count?
Can we have a vote here on whether that counts for my deal?
Posted 1 year ago # -
Well, I don't think anyone in this thread took the PSAT when it was out of 1600, so you're going to have to adjust for it somehow.
Posted 1 year ago # -
C'mon, you're long overdue for a troll thread anyhow... :)
Posted 1 year ago # -
I am.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Hey, if you're doing it by who got over 1100 on the SAT without the reading part, I get a troll thread too.
Thanks in advance.
Posted 1 year ago # -
NIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIMSQUIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIT!!!
Posted 1 year ago # -
My father calls it the NMSQT. <-- *helium voice* :D
Posted 1 year ago # -
It's hard to estimate for frum Jews since many don't take the test.
Obviously your definition of "frum" doesn't include the MO, since thousands of them take the test. The Sunday tests are filled with them.
Posted 1 year ago # -
I took the SAT the last year before they changed it. Got 800 verbal and 750 math. My husband is a year older, so also took the old test, and he got the same score but reversed (his perfect score was in math). I don't know about Jewish kids in general, but I suppose they curve out about the same as the general population. There's an old urban legend that the frum kids get a harder test (the SAT is always on a Shabbos, so frum Jews and Seventh Day Adventists have to sign up for the alternate test on Sunday) but I don't think that's true.
I also don't think any schools teach to the test. It's just that more affluent kids (as non-frum Jews tend to be) go to better schools in general and their parents can afford pricey test prep services.
I actually worked for Kaplan Test Prep for a while- they invite anyone with high SAT scores to "audition" for a teaching job. I don't work there anymore, but thanks to the training I got, I am known in my neighborhood for SAT tutoring- unlike other tutors, these are not a dime a dozen, so I always have work, and it makes for a nice bit of extra cash.Posted 1 year ago # -
Hi writersoul.
To answer your question, Jews who received a standardized education, traditionally do well. This is the case from those who go to public school or yeshivos that follow state requirements.
While public schools do teach classes for the PSAT and SAT, they are not any real advantage nor are they are short cut to what is required to do well on the PSAT or SAT.
The PSAT and SAT are not IQ tests, nor should they been seen as indicative of IQ tests or a reflection on if someone is a smart person or not.
The PSAT and SAT are based on real material that the student should have covered in their classroom experience over the years.
The questions are based on what should have been taught from teacher lesson plans from accredited schools who follow the guidelines of their state requirements.
Just a note: Where there is a will, there is a way. I know MANY highly intelligent yeshiva students who simply have not had the proper exposure to Math, Science, History, and English.
According to US News and World Report, over 60% of ALL those entering college, from all over the country, need to take remedial math, and/or English in order to develop their skills to succeed in their curriculum choice.
PSAT and SAT are just one component used to help a school determine if a student has the necessary background to succeed in their course of study.
If a yeshiva student is willing to work hard and catch up, like 60% of the other students in America, they will succeed!
Hatzlacha to the person taking their PSAT/SAT.
Posted 1 year ago # -
My Totty is taller than yours...
I did very well on the PSAT, SAT and almost perfect on the GRE. I practiced a lot before hand. There is no substitute for working hard! Anyone can learn these tests.
Posted 1 year ago # -
I agree. To everyone going on about schools preparing you for the SAT - I don't think that has any bearing. It's testing the most basic scholastic skills. Nobody's taking to the test and going, "OMG! I never learned any of this!" What makes it tricky (IMHO) is that
a) it's very long and the time constraints are tighter than usual, and
b) the test writers have a knack for taking a very simple principle and constructing a very confusing problem out of it.The only way you can prepare for such a thing is with practice. Hone your speed, and get familiar with how they're going to try to trick you. It's not even that hard to get a very high score. You don't have to smart - and smart people won't necessarily do extremely well. What you need to do is practice, practice, practice.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Hey, pops, where are our troll threads?
Posted 1 year ago # -
OneOfMany touched on a good point.
There are definitely test taking strategies based on the way they grade the test, which may have not changed.
No one is expected to answer all questions. You are graded on a percentage of correct answers from the ones you choose to answer. Basically, if a question is really hanging you up and you have no clue on how to even eliminate answer choices, then move on to the next one. You would have been preserving your score to that point.
Another thing to consider is some of the answers are obviously not the ones to select. However, your final two answer choices may be very similar and carefully constructed to be similar.
From what I remember in high school, sometimes they recommend skimming the answers first and then reading the text (for the Reading portion), and save time when you realize you have found what they are looking for.
You can also prepare ahead of time for the Essay portion of the test. On test day, it does not have to be your first/rought draft. You can think about what you may want to write about and then rewrite it to ensure you did not make careless mistakes.
There are also sample PSAT/SAT's you can find online or purchase in stores.
Again, Hatzlacha!
Posted 1 year ago # -
For the essay, it is VITAL to prepare several catch-all topics. Memorize some profound quotes from Einstein or somebody. Otherwise, you'll freeze up on the real thing - it's hard to construct a well-planned essay entirely within 20 minutes.
Posted 1 year ago #
Reply
You must log in to post.
RSS