1. PSAT Overview Extraordinary Education October 15, 2014

2. What is the PSAT? P reliminary S cholastic A ptitude T est Who takes the PSAT? Approximately 3 million students High school Juniors & Sophomores Younger students for practice

3. 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

4. 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

5. Raw Score vs. Actual Score Raw Scores are converted to “Selection Index” Conversion Chart ranges from 20-80 Highest Possible Score is 240 (80 + 80 + 80) Example Critical Reading:56 Writing Skills:59 Math:62 TOTAL: 177 Selection Index

6. Will the PSAT help me with the SAT? Similar types of questions Nationally normed, timed test ◦ PSAT – 2 hrs. 10 min. ◦ SAT – 3 hrs. 45 min. PSAT is realistic practice PSAT Selection Index roughly equates to SAT Composite (add ‘0’ to Index score) Example: ◦ PSAT Index = 177 ◦ Estimated SAT Composite = 1770

7. 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

8. Test Day Details Colquitt County High School Test will START at 8:15 Bring No. 2 pencils & erasers. Bring extras! Bring an approved calculator ◦ NO - keyboards, tape printout, noises, plugs ◦ NO CELL PHONE CALCULATORS!

9. 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.)

10. How the PSAT Looks Types of Sections & Time Allowed: ◦ Critical Reading25 minutes ◦ Math (multi-choice) 25 minutes ◦ Critical Reading25 minutes ◦ Math (multi-choice + grid-in)25 minutes ◦ Writing Skills+30 minutes TOTAL TIME 2 hrs. 10 min.

11. General Strategies POE - 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!

12. Pacing Tips Slow 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.

13. Test Traps & Tips Answer 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.

14. Critical Reading Two 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

15. Sentence Completion Questions Choose 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

16. Critical Reading 2 sections – 25 minutes each No 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

17. Critical Reading Tips Pace yourself! Not enough time to read thoroughly CR 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

18. 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)

19. “Go Fetch” Questions Retrieve 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

20. Reasoning Questions Similar to Go Fetch questions – find information in the passage Also must answer a question about what role that information serves in the passage. Usually include the words: ◦ serves to ◦ in order to ◦ to show

21. Inference Questions Infer means to draw a conclusion Usually include the words: ◦ infer, imply, suggest, conclude Can be tricky or misleading - typically have “obvious” answers Correct answers are often “unattractive” Answers tend to be phrased very differently from the passage so they “sound wrong”

22. Complex Questions Hardest questions to answer Requires 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

23. Answer Tips Evaluate every answer choice Avoid answers that contain these words: ◦ must, always, impossible, never, cannot, all, only, each, every, totally, completely, solely Avoid extremes Focus on the passage

24. Mathematics 2 Sections – 25 minutes each Section 2 ◦ 20 multiple-choice questions Section 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

25. Mathematics Know 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

26. Numbers & Operations (20-25%) Basic Arithmetic Word Problems! Math Vocabulary Even, odd, prime numbers, digits, integers Percent, ratio, proportion, fractions, divisibility Greatest common factor, least common multiple Rational numbers, sequences, series Sets – union, intersection, elements

27. Algebra & Functions (35-40%) Simplify algebraic expressions Properties of exponents, absolute value Algebraic word problems Linear equations & inequalities Systems of equations & inequalities Quadratic equations Rational & radical equations Equations of lines Newly defined symbols based on commonly used operations

28. Geometry (25-30%) Be familiar with FORMULAS on pg. 22 Geometry terms - line, angle, point, congruent, complementary, supplementary, corresponding, etc. Parallel & perpendicular lines Similarity, transformations Area & perimeter of a polygon Area & circumference of a circle Volume of a box, cube, cylinder Triangles – Pythagorean Theorem, properties of isosceles, equilateral & right triangles Coordinate geometry, Slope

29. Data Analysis, Probability (10-15%) Data interpretation ◦ Tables ◦ Graphs Statistics ◦ Average ◦ Mean, median, mode Probability

30. Section 4 – Math Grid-ins Mark only ONE circle per column Write 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.)

31. Writing Skills One section – 30 minutes Improving Sentences – 20 questions Identifying Errors – 14 questions Improving Paragraphs – 5 questions ◦ Being Consistent ◦ Expressing Ideas Logically ◦ Being Clear & Precise ◦ Following Conventions

32. Relax! Just Do Your Best