Test taking strategies for SAT/PSAT Success on the SAT comes from knowing how to beat ETS (Educational Testing Service) at its own game know the structure of the test know what ETS is up to know what ETS expects you to do

Fun facts to know and tell 1. Almost everyone can raise his or her score by slowing down and doing fewer questions. 2. Be sure to do all the easy questions for every section. That will be the first third on each section. 3. ETS knows that almost everyone is going to get the last third of each section wrong. So you are better off doing ALL of the easy questions and attempt the medium ones

Meet Joe Bloggs! Joe always goes with the choice that seems right to him. Joe represents the “average” student…don’t dismiss him, we all have some Joe Bloggs in us!

S…C…O…R…E Score, score it’s important to me!! Go Team! For every correct answer on the SAT, you earn one point. For every blank answer you earn zero points For every wrong answer, you lose 1/4 of a point

Guessing Choose one of the following: a. I will guess only when I narrow a question down to 2 answers b. I will guess if I can narrow a question down to 3 choices. c. I will guess if I can eliminate at least one choice d. Heck, I’ll guess even if I can’t eliminate any choices!

The answer? Go ahead guess, even if you can eliminate even one choice! The SAT is a test of courage. Show them what you are made of! If you have absolutely no idea…remember you lose no points for no response!

Sentence Completions It is suggested that you cover the answers for each question as you do it. Then try to fill in the blank with your own words. Finally uncover the answers and see which fits best to your word. Eliminate those that are not near your word.

Sample Filmmaking is a ________ effort, since the director, cinematographer, writer, editor and many others must work together to produce a movie. Think of a word that you think would fit

Then go to the Answers A: creative B: lucrative C: glamorous D: collaborative E: Concentrated

The Clue The clue is a word or phrase that makes one answer choice better than the others. Every sentence has one. Let’s go back to our example from before...

Triggers Trigger words: indicate the direction in the sentence: and, because, in fact (;) (:)=same thing but, however, although, in contrast to, rather, despite= opposite, negative

Find the trigger, clue, your own word When the impressionists first exhibited their work, it was received without much enthusiasm, but eventually this new style of painting found an audience.

Possible answers: Clue: without much enthusiasm trigger word:but A: appreciative B:ambivalent C:irresponsible D:unobtrusive E: intolerant

analogies Joe bloggs goes right for the answer you need to make a sentence! Types of analogies: Type of: maple: tree degree: dislike: loathe is used to: scissors: cut means without/lacks: eternal: end is characteric of : dishonesty:liar If more than one answer fit…tweak your sentence

Side of the fence For the more difficult analogies, you may need to focus on one side of the (:) and fill in that blank. This may help you eliminate a choice or two, increasing your odds.

Critical reading Joe Bloggs reads the entire passage, wasting valuable time. Read the blurb. Read and translate the questions Look for the answers in the passage

Answering the questions Go for the questions with particular line numbers as a reference first Read about 5 lines before the line number referred to and 5 lines after so you know the context of the material

Next... Go for questions asking you for a definition of a word Remember, the questions run chronologically from the passage

Some more helpful hints Remember, the questions run easiest to most difficult; get those easy ones done and done right! For the main idea questions, read the first couple of sentences of each paragraph and any sentence that begins with those trigger words from before! Feel free to jot down notes about the passage as you are perusing it! The ‘best’ answer is offends no one and makes common sense

And some more... Feel free to jot down notes about the passage as you are perusing it! The ‘best’ answer offends no one and makes common sense

Assumption questions Assumption questions ask you to identify something that has to be true in order for the author’s statement to make sense. Look for something that the author doesn’t actually say but has to assume in order to make his/her point.

The basics! Absolutely no social life the night before! Bring plenty of pencils. Eat! This is big! No late night cramming the night before. Don’t forget to breathe slowly and methodically during the test.

Source Title “Meet the SAT”version 1.0 publisher: The Princeton Review Management, L.L.C. copyright: 1999