PSAT – Oct. 17, 2012

1. PSAT – Oct. 17, 2012 Testing strategies and what to expect on the test! www.collegeboard.org

2. Testing tips and strategies: • Take the practice test in the Official Student Guide to the PSAT/NMSQT. • Learn the directions for each type of math and critical reading question. • Try sample questions from past tests. • Earn as many points as you can on easy questions. • Read all the answer choices before marking your answer sheet. • Do your scratchwork in the test book. • Don't feel you have to answer every question. • Work steadily -- don't waste time on hard questions. You can always go back to them later. • Check your answer sheet regularly to make sure you're in the right place. • Write your answers to grid-ins in the boxes above the ovals. • Try educated guessing when you can eliminate at least one answer to a multiple-choice question. Be sure you understand the difference between educated and random guessing. • Take a calculator.

3. Calculators permitted: • Students are strongly encouraged to take a calculator to the PSAT/NMSQT, whether or not they plan to use it. • Take a calculator you are comfortable using. Don't buy a new one just for the test. • Don't try to use the calculator on every question. None of the questions require one. • Decide how to solve each problem before deciding whether to use a calculator. • Practice sample questions with a calculator on hand. • Students will not be allowed to share calculators with other students. • Approved calculators: four-function calculator scientific calculator graphing calculator

4. Calculators NOT permitted: • pocket organizer • hand-held or laptop computer • electronic writing pad or pen input device • calculator with a QWERTY (typewriter-like) keypad • calculator with paper tape • calculator that makes noises or "talks" • calculator that requires an outlet *If you have not done so, please let your homeroom teacher or Mrs. Putnam in guidance know if you will need a calculator for the test.

5. About Guessing Educated guessing means guessing an answer whenever you are able to eliminate one or more of the choices as definitely wrong. Educated guessing may help you. Random guessing probably won't help you because of the way the test is scored. Random guessing means that you have no idea which answer choice is correct. Don't waste time on that kind of question. Move on to the next one.

6. Reminder You can earn an above-average score by getting only half the questions right and omitting the rest. On the Tuesday test in 1999, for example, students who answered 26 of the 52 critical reading questions correctly and omitted the others earned a score of 51. On the Saturday test, students who answered 26 critical reading questions correctly and omitted the others earned a score of 52. Students who answered 20 of the 40 math questions correctly on the Tuesday test (and omitted the rest) earned a score of 50; on the Saturday test, they earned a score of 51. Students who answered 19 of the 39 writing skills questions correctly on the Tuesday or the Saturday test (and omitted the rest) earned a score of 54. Because you lose a fraction of a point for questions you get wrong, if you answered some questions incorrectly you would need a slightly higher number of correct answers than the numbers above to earn a score of 50.

7. What to expect: The PSAT/NMSQT includes the same types of multiple choice questions as the SAT. The questions are based on: Critical reading Math Writing skills

8. Critical Reading - Two Parts: Sentence Completion: questions measure your knowledge of the meanings of words and ability to understand how the different parts of a sentence logically fit together. Passage-Based Reading: questions measure your ability to read and think carefully about a single reading passage or a pair of related passages

9. Hints for answering Sentence Completion questions: • Read the entire sentence to yourself. • Watch for introductory or connecting words and phrases like "but," "not," "because," etc. • In sentences with two blanks, make sure the words for both blanks make sense in the sentence. • Start by working with one blank at a time. • Stay within the meaning of the sentence. • Before you mark your answer, read the complete sentence with your choice filled in.

10. Hints for answering Passage-Based Reading questions: • Don't skip introductions to passages. • Read each passage and any accompanying information carefully. Follow the author's reasoning and be aware of features such as assumptions, attitudes, and tone. • You may find it helpful to mark the passages as you are reading, but don't spend too much time making notes. • Read each question and all the answer choices carefully. • When a question asks you to compare an aspect of a pair of passages, don't be misled by choices that are correct for only one of the two passages. • Select the choice that best answers the question asked. Don't select a choice just because it is a true statement. • You may find it helpful to read the questions first to get an idea of what to look for. Or, you may prefer to read the passage and try to answer the questions.

11. Math – What to Expect: 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.

12. Types of Math questions: • Multiple Choice questions ask you to decide which is the best of the five choices given. • Grid-ins, or student-produced response questions, require you to solve a problem and enter your answer.

13. Hints for answering Regular Multiple Choice questions: • Look at the answer choices before you begin to work on each question. • Read each question carefully, even if it looks like a question you don't think you can answer. Don't let the form of the question keep you from trying to answer it. • If your answer isn't among the choices, try writing it in a different form. You may have the same answer in a different mathematical format.

14. Hints for answering Student-Produced Response questions, also called Grid-Ins Since answer choices aren't given, a calculator may be helpful in avoiding careless mistakes on these questions. It's suggested that you write your answer in the boxes above the grid to avoid errors in gridding. The grid can hold only four places and can accommodate only positive numbers and zero. Do not worry about which column to begin gridding the answer. As long as the answer is gridded completely, you will receive credit. Unless a problem indicates otherwise, an answer can be entered on the grid either as a decimal or as a fraction. You don't have to reduce fractions like 3/24 to their lowest terms. Convert all mixed numbers to improper fractions before gridding the answer. If the answer is a repeating decimal, you must grid the most accurate value the grid will accommodate. Some questions may have more than one right answer. You don't lose any points for a wrong answer. Know the gridding rules before taking the test.

15. Writing Skills The multiple-choice questions on writing skills measure your ability to express ideas effectively in standard-written English, to recognize faults in usage and structure, and to use language with sensitivity to meaning.

16. Identifying Sentence Errors These questions test your knowledge of grammar, usage, word choice, and idiom. You are required to find errors in sentences or indicate that there is no error.

17. Hints for Identifying Sentence Errors • Read the entire sentence carefully but quickly. • Look at choices (A) through (D) to see whether anything needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. • Don't waste time searching for errors. Mark (E) No error, on your answer sheet if you believe the sentence is correct as written. • Move quickly through questions about Identifying Sentence Errors. The other kinds of questions (Improving Sentences and Improving Paragraphs) will probably take more time. • Mark questions that seem hard for you and return to them later.

18. Improving Sentences These questions ask you to choose the best, most effective form of an underlined portion of a given sentence.

19. Hints for Improving Sentences Read the entire sentence carefully but quickly. Note the underlined portion because that is the portion that may have to be revised. Remember that the portion with no underline stays the same. Mark choice (A) if the underlined portion seems correct. Check the other choices quickly to make sure that (A) is really the best choice. Think of how you would revise the underlined portion if it seems wrong. Look for your revision among the choices given. Replace the underlined portion of the sentence with choices (B) through (E) if you don't find your revision. Concentrate on the choices that seem clear and exact when you read them.

20. Improving Paragraphs • These questions require you to make choices about improving the logic, coherence, or organization in a flawed passage.

21. Hints for Improving Paragraphs: • Read the entire essay quickly to determine its overall meaning. The essay is meant to be a draft, so don't be surprised if you notice errors. Don't linger over those errors. • Make sure that your answer about a particular sentence or sentences makes sense in the context of the passage as a whole. • Choose the best answer from among the choices given, even if you can imagine another correct response.

22. 2012 PSAT/NMSQT Practice Test Explanations Taking the complete Practice Test before test day gives you the best preparation for the PSAT/NMSQT. It will help you become familiar with the test format and instructions for each type of test question. After you score your Practice Test, use the answer explanations here to help you improve your skills and do your best on test day. If you do not have a copy of the 2012 Practice Test, please ask your counselor for a copy of the 2012 Official Student Guide to the PSAT/NMSQT. Select a test section title below to download the answer explanations for the questions that appear in that Practice Test section: The following web site will give you more information about the practice test questions. http://www.collegeboard.com/psatpractice/index.html

23. Sources All information contained on these slides is from the CollegeBoard web site. Additional content and practice questions are available at www.collegeboard.org