PSATs Options

[MiSSxMELON]

So, I'm a junior and I recently got back my PSAT. (I swear my school was the last to pass out scores ><). I'm curious as to whether or not I have a chance to qualify for national merit. I'm not sure if my score is good enough.

I've asked around, and I haven't really gotten a straight answer from anyone since juniors won't find out until their senior year. One senior got a 206 when she was a junior, but was only commended. And another scored a 208 and just made it; she was a semi-finalist. My other friend made a 207, and missed it by just one point, but he's also commended.

I'm very interested in everyone's opinions, and I assume there has to be someone in cB that knows what they're talking about!

So to cut to the chase, I scored in the 98 percentile; I made a 209.

Do I have a good/bad chance?

[MiSSxMELON]

Yeah, I've taken practice SATs before, so I know what to expect. I'm taking classes with KAPLAN, and they have a bunch of SAT prep books, so I'm good there, too.

It's actually a fact that there is higher level math on the SAT.

SAT Mathematics Review
The mathematics content level of the SAT includes advanced topics. The following math concepts are covered on the test.

Number and Operations
Arithmetic word problems (including percent, ratio, and proportion)
Properties of integers (even, odd, prime numbers, divisibility, etc.)
Rational numbers
Logical reasoning
Sets (union, intersection, elements)
Counting techniques
Sequences and series (including exponential growth)
Elementary number theory
Review Number and Operations

Algebra and Functions
Substitution and simplifying algebraic expressions
Properties of exponents
Algebraic word problems
Solutions of linear equations and inequalities
Systems of equations and inequalities
Quadratic equations
Rational and radical equations
Equations of lines
Absolute value
Direct and inverse variation
Concepts of algebraic functions
Newly defined symbols based on commonly used operations
Review Algebra and Functions

Geometry and Measurement
Area and perimeter of a polygon
Area and circumference of a circle
Volume of a box, cube, and cylinder
Pythagorean Theorem and special properties of isosceles, equilateral, and right triangles
Properties of parallel and perpendicular lines
Coordinate geometry
Geometric visualization
Slope
Similarity
Transformations
Review Geometry and Measurement

Data Analysis, Statistics, and Probability
Data interpretation
Statistics (mean, median, and mode)
Probability

VS.

PSAT

Math
The math section of the PSAT/NMSQT requires a basic knowledge of number and operation; algebra and functions (though not content covered in third-year math classes--content that will appear on the new SAT); geometry and measurement; and data analysis, statistics, and probability. You can use a calculator to answer math questions, but no question on the test requires a calculator.