PSAT OverviewExtraordinary EducationOctober 15, 2014

What is the PSAT?PreliminaryScholasticAptitudeTest

Who takes the PSAT?Approximately 3 million studentsHigh school Juniors & SophomoresYounger students for practice

What does the PSAT measure?Critical Reading

◦ Making Inferences, Synthesize Information◦ Main Idea vs. Supporting Details◦ Vocabulary in Context

Math Problem Solving◦ Numbers & Operations◦ Algebra & Functions◦ Geometry & Measurement◦ Data, Analysis, Statistics & Probability

Writing Skills◦ Identify Appropriate Expressions◦ Detect Faults in Usage & Structure◦ Choose Effective Revisions to Sentences &

Paragraphs

How is the PSAT Scored?Raw Score

◦+1 Point for each correct answer◦- ¼ Point for each incorrect answer◦0 Points deducted for unanswered

questions & incorrect answers to free response questions

Example:Writing Skills Section = 39 Total Questions 25 correct – 12 incorrect – 2 unanswered (25 x 1) – (12 x ¼) – (2 x 0) 25 – 3 – 0 = 22 Raw Score

Raw Score vs. Actual ScoreRaw Scores are converted to

“Selection Index”Conversion Chart ranges from 20-80Highest Possible Score is 240 (80 + 80

+ 80)ExampleCritical Reading: 56Writing Skills: 59Math: 62TOTAL: 177 Selection Index

Will the PSAT help me with the SAT?

Similar types of questionsNationally normed, timed test

◦PSAT – 2 hrs. 10 min.◦SAT – 3 hrs. 45 min.

PSAT is realistic practicePSAT Selection Index roughly

equates to SAT Composite (add ‘0’ to Index score)Example: ◦PSAT Index = 177 ◦Estimated SAT Composite = 1770

What do I need to know?Math:

◦ Basic Math Skills & Computation◦ Algebra 1 ◦ Geometry

Critical Reading◦ Vocabulary◦ Inferences◦ Main Idea

Writing◦ Grammar◦ Style◦ Word Choice

Test Day DetailsColquitt County High SchoolTest will START at 8:15Bring No. 2 pencils & erasers. Bring

extras!Bring an approved calculator

◦NO - keyboards, tape printout, noises, plugs

◦NO CELL PHONE CALCULATORS!

Getting Started - Personal Information

Fill in your personal information correctly!

LAST Name, FIRST Name, Address (format)

Only ONE circle per column!Machine-scored

◦ You only receive credit for circles on the answer form. Answers and notes written in test booklet will not be scored.

◦ Fill in circles completely and darkly◦ Erase completely.◦ Be sure no other marks get on the answer

sheet. (transfer from notes in test booklet, etc.)

How the PSAT LooksTypes of Sections & Time Allowed:

◦Critical Reading 25 minutes◦Math (multi-choice) 25 minutes◦Critical Reading 25 minutes◦Math (multi-choice + grid-in) 25 minutes◦Writing Skills + 30 minutesTOTAL TIME 2 hrs. 10 min.

General StrategiesPOE - Process of Elimination

◦Identify WRONG answers!◦GUESS aggressively!◦Correct +1, Blank ±0, Incorrect –¼

Use your BOOK◦Write all over your book. It’s YOURS!

Ball-parking◦Logically estimate the answer.◦Eliminate obvious wrong answers.◦Read the question carefully. Don’t do

too much calculating!

Pacing TipsSlow down! Work fewer problems with

accuracy.Bring a watch to pace yourself. Proctor

will also call out time or write it on board.Not every problem has the same level of

difficulty, but every problem is worth ONE POINT. ◦ Be sure to work all of the easy & medium

difficulty questions.◦ Hard questions – You need to answer these if

you want to score in the higher range. Use strategies to help you!

Don’t waste time on one tricky problem. Go back later if you have time.

Test Traps & TipsAnswer every test question

◦ If you can rule out at least one answer.Choose an answer that seems right

◦ Depending on the difficulty level. Easy = Mostly right Medium = Sometimes right Hard = All wrong!

Solve every problem in most straightforward way◦ Depending on difficulty level (see above)

Look at the answer choices◦ After you come up with your own answer.

Read test directions◦ On the practice test. So you don’t waste time on

the real test.

Critical ReadingTwo types of questions

◦Sentence Completion – 13 questions◦Passage-based Reading – 35 questions

Skills◦ Determine meaning from word components◦ Determine meaning from context◦ Punctuation (colon, semi-colon)◦ Introductory and transitional words & phrases◦ Understand primary purpose/main idea◦ Understand tone & attitude conveyed◦ Understand use of rhetorical strategies◦ Recognize implications, Make evaluations

Sentence Completion QuestionsChoose the word or words that

best fits the meaning of the sentence as a whole

Method◦Cover the answer choices with your

hand◦Speak for yourself – Write your own

answer in the blank◦Only after you think of your own

answer should you uncover the answer choices

◦Select the answer choice that comes closest to the answer you came up with

Critical Reading

2 sections – 25 minutes eachNo order of difficulty – decide

which questions are easiest for you and do them first

Long passages: 40-100 lines◦6-12 questions per passage

Short passages: about one paragraph◦1-2 questions per passage

Critical Reading TipsPace yourself! Not enough time to read

thoroughlyCR Method

◦Skim the passage. Read intro in italics if given.

◦Read the questions quickly.◦Pick the easiest for you. (Mark them)◦Paraphrase the question. What is

being asked?◦Go back and find the answer in the

passage. ◦Rephrase the answer in your own

words.◦Select the “best answer” from the

choices◦Use process of elimination if needed

Types of Reading Questions

“Go Fetch” Literal comprehension questions - easiest (do these first)

Reasoning questions – require interpretation and understanding of author’s motives (save for later)

Complex questions/Weird questions – usually trickiest (save for last or skip depending on time)

“Go Fetch” QuestionsRetrieve a particular detail or

piece of information from the passage◦Go back to passage and locate

information“Vocabulary in Context”

questions◦Treat like Sentence Completion

questions◦Difficult words – You will need to

figure out the meaning from context◦Secondary definitions of simple

words – You may be tempted pick a meaning you are familiar with

Reasoning QuestionsSimilar to Go Fetch questions –

find information in the passageAlso must answer a question

about what role that information serves in the passage.

Usually include the words:◦serves to◦in order to◦to show

Inference QuestionsInfer means to draw a conclusionUsually include the words:

◦infer, imply, suggest, concludeCan be tricky or misleading -

typically have “obvious” answersCorrect answers are often

“unattractive”Answers tend to be phrased very

differently from the passage so they “sound wrong”

Complex QuestionsHardest questions to answerRequires you to understand the

author’s motives AND apply that understanding to a new situation

You don’t get more points for these questions than for easier questions

Save these for the end of skip them altogether if you don’t have time

Answer TipsEvaluate every answer choiceAvoid answers that contain these

words:◦must, always, impossible, never, cannot, all, only, each, every, totally, completely, solely

Avoid extremesFocus on the passage

Mathematics2 Sections – 25 minutes eachSection 2

◦20 multiple-choice questionsSection 4

◦8 multiple-choice PLUS 10 grid-in questions

Calculators are permitted - BUT◦You must think and set up problem

first!◦NO problems require the use of a

calculator

MathematicsKnow the basic content

◦Basic Arithmetic◦Basic Algebra◦Basic Geometry

Be familiar with PSAT-style math problems◦Take the practice test!

Know how to complete grid-in questions

Have a plan ◦Know the Order of Difficulty◦Pace yourself to get max points in time limit

Numbers & Operations (20-25%)

Basic ArithmeticWord Problems!Math VocabularyEven, odd, prime numbers, digits,

integersPercent, ratio, proportion, fractions,

divisibilityGreatest common factor, least

common multipleRational numbers, sequences, seriesSets – union, intersection, elements

Algebra & Functions (35-40%)Simplify algebraic expressionsProperties of exponents, absolute

valueAlgebraic word problemsLinear equations & inequalitiesSystems of equations & inequalitiesQuadratic equationsRational & radical equationsEquations of linesNewly defined symbols based on

commonly used operations

Geometry (25-30%)Be familiar with FORMULAS on pg. 22Geometry terms - line, angle, point,

congruent, complementary, supplementary, corresponding, etc.

Parallel & perpendicular linesSimilarity, transformationsArea & perimeter of a polygonArea & circumference of a circleVolume of a box, cube, cylinderTriangles – Pythagorean Theorem,

properties of isosceles, equilateral & right triangles

Coordinate geometry, Slope

Data Analysis, Probability (10-15%)

Data interpretation◦Tables◦Graphs

Statistics◦Average◦Mean, median, mode

Probability

Section 4 – Math Grid-insMark only ONE circle per columnWrite answers in boxes at top of

columns to help you fill in circles accurately.

Machine-scored◦You only receive credit for answers

in grid circles. Answers in boxes will not be scored.

◦Fill in circles completely and darkly◦Erase completely.◦Be sure no other marks get on the

answer sheet. (transfer from notes in test booklet, etc.)

Writing SkillsOne section – 30 minutesImproving Sentences – 20

questionsIdentifying Errors – 14 questionsImproving Paragraphs – 5

questions◦Being Consistent◦Expressing Ideas Logically◦Being Clear & Precise◦Following Conventions

Relax! Just Do Your Best