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PSAT Prep: Tips and Strategies

PSAT Prep: Tips and Strategies. Seneca Ridge Middle School September 26, 2011. Presented by: Cheryl Hutchinson Diane Scott . What is the PSAT/NMSQT?.

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PSAT Prep: Tips and Strategies

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  1. PSAT Prep: Tips and Strategies Seneca Ridge Middle School September 26, 2011 Presented by: Cheryl Hutchinson Diane Scott

  2. What is the PSAT/NMSQT? It's a standardized test that provides firsthand practice for the SAT, gives you a chance to enter NMSC scholarship programs and the application test when applying to AOS.

  3. Know the Test • The PSAT/NMSQT includes five sections • Two 25-minute critical reading sections • (sections 1 & 3) • Two 25-minute math sections (sections 2 & 4) • One 30-minute writing skills section (section 5) • AOS adds a 30 minute timed writing prompt

  4. General Tips • Take practice timed tests • Know the topics/sections of the test • Learn the directions ahead of time • Keep track of the time • Can’t flip between sections • Can flip back and forth within a section • Skip hard ones and come back to them • Mark answers in testing booklet and grid five or more answer at a time • Beware of answers being TOO easy – read carefully • Cover the answer choices and predict the answer • Don’t spend too much time on any one question - don’t 2nd guess yourself

  5. Scoring • 1 point for each correct answer • -1/4 of a point for each wrong answer • 0 point for skipped questions • 0 point for wrong answers on the Grid-in • 50/50 guessing

  6. Math Strategies • Take practice timed tests • Know the sub-topics/sections of the test • 25 minutes each • 28 Regular multiple choice • 10 Grid-in • Two types: • Multiple choice • Self-answer Grid-in– Never skip the Grid-in Questions • (you can only earn points) • Arranged easiest to hardest

  7. Math Strategies • Review Algebra I and Geometry skills • Calculators are allowed but could slow you down • Formulas are provided at the beginning of all math sections • Review common math terms such as quotient, absolute value, prime, variable etc)

  8. Reading Strategies • Take practice timed tests • Know the sub-topics/sections of the test • 25 minutes each • 13 Sentence Completion (single and double blanks) • 35 Reading Comprehension including short, long • and pair-passage sets

  9. Reading Strategies • Positive/Negative Charges to a word • Sentence Completion arranges easiest to hardest • Reading Comprehension – NOT in order of difficulty

  10. Writing Strategies • Take practice timed tests • Know the sub-topics/sections of the test • 30minutes each • 20 Improving Sentences • 14 Identifying Sentence Errors • 5 Improving Paragraphs

  11. Writing Strategies • Positive/Negative Charges to a word • Sentence Errors and Improving Sentences - arranged easiest to hardest within each section • Improving Paragraphs– NOT in order of difficulty

  12. Essay Strategies Not an official part of the PSAT/NMSQT by College Board • Practice writing to a prompt timed (30 minutes) • 1 minute read the prompt • 5 minutes plan your essay • 20 minutes write your essay • 4 minutes review/re-read for errors/additions • Write it like you would write the essay for the SAT • (three practice prompts are on the school website) • Stay on topic and support with evidence • 3-5 paragraphs

  13. Reference Materials • College Board PSAT website http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/psat/about.html • Kaplan PSAT/NMSQT Premier 2011 • Kaplan Inside the SAT • The Princeton Review-Cracking the PSAT 2012 • Gruber’s Complete PSAT/NMSQT Guide 2012 • Barron’s PSAT/NMSQT 2012

  14. Where To Go From Here? • Parent Resource Center http://www.lcps.org/site/default.aspx?PageType=3&ModuleInstanceID=7575&ViewID=7b97f7ed-8e5e-4120-848f-a8b4987d588f&RenderLoc=0&FlexDataID=8135&PageID=1413 • Private Group Tutoring (timed tests and strategies) • Three practice test dates - Cascades Library • Reading – Thursday, September 29th 4:30-6:30 • Writing/Essay – Monday, October 3rd 4:30-6:30 • Math – Tuesday, October 4th 4:30-6:30 • Sign-up and fees – Fill out the form and attach payment per session and hand to one of us by the day before the session to guarantee a spot and the session. • 6-20 students per session – (first come, first serve)

  15. Q & A

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