1. 1 A Step to the Future: Preparing Students for the PSAT/NMSQT Benefits of taking the PSAT/NMSQT The test provides: the best practice for the SAT Reasoning Test ™. the option to receive information from colleges and scholarship services through the secure Student Search Service the entry point to compete for National Merit Scholarships (juniors only), including the National Achievement Program. It also provides recognition via the National Hispanic Recognition Program. information about college major interests motivation for students to think actively about preparing for college. Access to My Road. Online College, major, and career exploration tool. Access code distributed with score report.

2. 2 A Step to the Future: Preparing Students for the PSAT/NMSQT Benefits of taking the PSAT/NMSQT Additionally, when you take the test, you receive: personalized feedback on critical reading, math, and writing skills, including suggestions for improvement. information about each test question, including correct answers with full explanations online; students also have their actual test book returned with their score reports. insight into how students’ academic skills compare to their college- bound peers. free access to MyRoad, a dynamic Web-based career, major, and college exploration tool

3. 3 A Step to the Future: Preparing Students for the PSAT/NMSQT Scholarships & Recognition By taking the PSAT/NMSQT, you may qualify to enter the competitions for prestigious scholarships and participate in recognition programs. (As cosponsor of the PSAT/NMSQT, NMSC receives all students' scores. If you do not want your scores released to other recognition programs, contact us.) National Merit Scholarship The National Hispanic Recognition Program National Scholarship Service The Telluride Association

4. 4 A Step to the Future: Preparing Students for the PSAT/NMSQT National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) National Merit® $2500 Scholarships Every Finalist competes for these single payment scholarships, which are awarded on a state representational basis. Winners are selected without consideration of family financial circumstances, college choice, or major and career plans. Corporate-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards Corporate sponsors designate their awards for children of their employees or members, for residents of a community where a company has operations, or for Finalists with career plans the sponsor wishes to encourage. These scholarships may either be renewable for four years of undergraduate study or one-time awards. Corporate-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards College-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards Officials of each sponsor college select winners of their awards from Finalists who have been accepted for admission and have informed NMSC by the published deadlines that the sponsor college or university is their first choice. These awards are renewable for up to four years of undergraduate study. College-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards

5. 5 A Step to the Future: Preparing Students for the PSAT/NMSQT National Hispanic Recognition Program The College Board's National Hispanic Recognition Program was initiated in 1983 to identify outstanding Hispanic high school students and to share information about these academically well-prepared students with subscribing colleges and universities. In order to be eligible, students must be at least one-quarter Hispanic. Each year the NHRP identifies approximately 3,300 of the highest scoring students from a nationwide total of 124,000 high school juniors who took the PSAT/NMSQT and designated themselves as Hispanic as well as approximately 125 of the top scoring PAA students from Puerto Rico. The nationwide selection also includes students from Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and U.S. citizens attending international and APO schools. Although the College Board is not able to provide a monetary award to these students, an important component of the program is the CD-ROM distributed to subscribing four-year postsecondary institutions. This CD-ROM lists the names of all students selected in the program and is mailed in September to these subscribing colleges and universities. Being listed may give students an opportunity to hear from colleges that are particularly interested in communicating with prospective students of Hispanic heritage.

6. 6 A Step to the Future: Preparing Students for the PSAT/NMSQT National Scholarship Service National Scholarship Service (NSSFNS) offers a free college advisory and referral service for students who plan to attend two-year or four-year colleges. Scores will be sent for juniors who indicate that they are African American students. (This program is not conducted by NMSC.) For more information, write to: National Scholarship Service 980 Martin Luther King Drive, SW, PO Box 11409 Atlanta, GA 30310

7. 7 A Step to the Future: Preparing Students for the PSAT/NMSQT The Telluride Association The Telluride Association offers scholarships to gifted juniors for summer seminars in the humanities and social sciences. (This program is not conducted by NMSC.) For more information, write to: Telluride Association 217 West Avenue Ithaca, NY 14850

8. What is on the PSAT/NMSQT? What is it testing?

9. 9 A Step to the Future: Preparing Students for the PSAT/NMSQT What does the PSAT/NMSQT actually test? Critical reading skills—using content from: humanities, social studies, natural sciences, and literature. Math reasoning skills—using content from: number and operations; algebra and functions; geometry and measurement; data analysis, statistics, and probability. Writing skills—focus on editing, grammar, usage, and organization.

10. 10 A Step to the Future: Preparing Students for the PSAT/NMSQT PSAT/NMSQT Critical Reading Questions 13 Sentence Completions 35 Passage-Based Reading Questions (100- to 800-word passages)

11. 11 A Step to the Future: Preparing Students for the PSAT/NMSQT PSAT/NMSQT Math Questions 28 Multiple-Choice Questions 10 Student-Produced Response Questions (”Grid-ins”)

12. 12 A Step to the Future: Preparing Students for the PSAT/NMSQT PSAT/NMSQT Writing Skills Questions 20 Improving Sentences Questions 14 Identifying Sentence Error Questions 5 Improving Paragraph Questions

13. 13 A Step to the Future: Preparing Students for the PSAT/NMSQT How does the PSAT/NMSQT compare to the SAT? Same question types, except the SAT includes an essay assignment. PSAT/NMSQT is 2 hours, 10 minutes; the SAT is 3 hours, 45 minutes. SAT will have a few math questions from third- year math courses; PSAT/NMSQT will not. (Samples of third-year math questions are available on www.collegeboard.com/psatextra after you receive your score report in December.)www.collegeboard.com/psatextra

14. Sample PSAT/NMSQT Questions

15. 15 A Step to the Future: Preparing Students for the PSAT/NMSQT Critical Reading Section Sentence Completions Roger said the report was significant; Heather contradicted him, saying that all the information presented was -------. (A) contemporary (B) scintillating (C) objective (D) irrevocable (E) immaterial

16. 16 A Step to the Future: Preparing Students for the PSAT/NMSQT Critical Reading Section Sentence Completions Roger said the report was significant; Heather contradicted him, saying that all the information presented was -------. (A) contemporary (B) scintillating (C) objective (D) irrevocable (E) immaterial Because Heather is contradicting Roger, the correct response is the word that is most nearly the opposite of "significant.“ Choice (E) is correct. "Immaterial" means inconsequential or irrelevant. Information that is immaterial is by definition not significant.

17. 17 A Step to the Future: Preparing Students for the PSAT/NMSQT Critical Reading Section Passage-Based Reading Excerpt from reading passage: After I left the room, I began to sift my impressions. Only the day before, an acquaintance had warned me to watch carefully for sleight-of-hand tricks, especially as the man had earlier been a stage conjuror.

18. 18 A Step to the Future: Preparing Students for the PSAT/NMSQT Critical Reading Section Passage-Based Reading The “acquaintance” mentioned in line 2 can best be described as a (A)skeptic (B)hypocrite (C)hoaxer (D)confidant (E)mystic

19. 19 A Step to the Future: Preparing Students for the PSAT/NMSQT Critical Reading Section Passage-Based Reading The “acquaintance” mentioned in line 2 can best be described as a (A)skeptic (B)hypocrite (C)hoaxer (D)confidant (E)mystic The acquaintance mentioned in line 2 warns the author to "watch carefully for sleight-of-hand tricks." Choice (A) is correct. In warning the author to watch out for tricks, the acquaintance is showing that he is skeptical about the telepathist's supposed powers.

20. 20 A Step to the Future: Preparing Students for the PSAT/NMSQT Math Section Multiple Choice If ax + bx = 36, what is the value of x when a + b = 12? (A)3 (B) 6 (C) 12 (D) 24 (E) 48

21. 21 A Step to the Future: Preparing Students for the PSAT/NMSQT Math Section Multiple Choice If ax + bx = 36, what is the value of x when a + b = 12? (A)3 (B) 6 (C) 12 (D) 24 (E) 48 The expression ax + bx is equivalent to (a + b) x, so the equation ax + bx = 36 is equivalent to (a + b) x = 36. When a + b = 12, the equation becomes 12x = 36, which can be solved to get x = 3.

22. 22 A Step to the Future: Preparing Students for the PSAT/NMSQT If — + — = —, what is the value of h? h 1 5h 4 3 6 Math Section Student-Produced Response

23. 23 A Step to the Future: Preparing Students for the PSAT/NMSQT If — + — = —, what is the value of h? h 1 5h 4 3 6 Math Section Student-Produced Response 4 /7 Multiply each member of the equation by 12 (the common denominator) to get 3h + 4 = 10h Subtract 3h from both sides to get 7h = 4 Divide by 7 h = 4/7.

24. 24 A Step to the Future: Preparing Students for the PSAT/NMSQT Math Section Know the Student-Produced Response Directions Read and understand the directions ahead of time.

25. 25 A Step to the Future: Preparing Students for the PSAT/NMSQT Math Section Student-Produced Response Practice Grids

26. 26 A Step to the Future: Preparing Students for the PSAT/NMSQT Math Section Calculators are encouraged A scientific or graphing calculator is recommended. Bring one with which you are familiar. NO CELL PHONES!!!

27. 27 A Step to the Future: Preparing Students for the PSAT/NMSQT A few barges still move oil up to Hartford, but in the old days they had more traffic then. (A)but in the old days they had more traffic then (B)but in the old days traffic was heavier (C)but in the old days they had a lot more (D)whereas the traffic was a lot more in the old days (E)whereas then there was more traffic in the old days Writing Section Improving Sentences

28. 28 A Step to the Future: Preparing Students for the PSAT/NMSQT A few barges still move oil up to Hartford, but in the old days they had more traffic then. (A)but in the old days they had more traffic then (B)but in the old days traffic was heavier (C)but in the old days they had a lot more (D)whereas the traffic was a lot more in the old days (E)whereas then there was more traffic in the old days Writing Section Identifying Sentence Errors Choice (B) is correct. It avoids the errors of the original by eliminating both the unnecessary adverb, "then," and the vague pronoun, "they."

29. 29 A Step to the Future: Preparing Students for the PSAT/NMSQT The electronic computer is a technological triumph that scientists have developed, mastered, and then put it to constantly increasing use. No error. Writing Section Identifying Sentence Errors A BC DE

30. 30 A Step to the Future: Preparing Students for the PSAT/NMSQT The electronic computer is a technological triumph that scientists have developed, mastered, and then put it to constantly increasing use. No error. Writing Section Identifying Sentence Errors A B C D E The error in this sentence occurs at (B), where an unnecessary pronoun is used. The object of the verb "have... put" (like the object of the verbs "have developed" and "have... mastered") is the relative pronoun "that," which refers to "technological triumph." The pronoun "it" is therefore unnecessarily inserted after "put."

31. 31 A Step to the Future: Preparing Students for the PSAT/NMSQT Writing Section Improving Paragraphs (1) The last century was a time of great technological progress. (2) Life is more convenient, comfortable, and efficient today than ever before. (3) Yet this has created new concerns. Which of the following versions of sentence 3 (reproduced below) is most effective? Yet this has created new concerns. (A)Although this has created new concerns. (B)Yet this progress has created new concerns. (C)Yet these have created new concerns. (D)Yet this has created new concerns to worry about. (E) New concerns have been created.

32. 32 A Step to the Future: Preparing Students for the PSAT/NMSQT Writing Section Improving Paragraphs (1) The last century was a time of great technological progress. (2) Life is more convenient, comfortable, and efficient today than ever before. (3) Yet this has created new concerns. Which of the following versions of sentence 3 (reproduced below) is most effective? Yet this has created new concerns. (A)Although this has created new concerns. (B)Yet this progress has created new concerns. (C)Yet these have created new concerns. (D)Yet this has created new concerns to worry about. (E) New concerns have been created. Choice (B) is correct. The vague pronoun "this" is replaced by "this progress," which clearly refers to the progress mentioned in sentence 1.

33. 33 A Step to the Future: Preparing Students for the PSAT/NMSQT Writing Section Practice for the SAT Essay A practice SAT essay assignment will be printed on the PSAT/NMSQT Student Score Report. Students can go online to www.collegeboard.com/psatextra to see sample papers written for that essay assignment and learn about how the SAT essay will be scored. www.collegeboard.com/psatextra

34. Scoring the PSAT/NMSQT

35. 35 A Step to the Future: Preparing Students for the PSAT/NMSQT How is the PSAT/NMSQT scored? Multiple-choice questions: 1 point for each correct; 1/4 point deducted for each incorrect Math grid-ins: 1 point for each correct; 0 points for each incorrect (nothing deducted) 0 points for omitted questions (nothing added, nothing deducted)

36. 36 A Step to the Future: Preparing Students for the PSAT/NMSQT How is the PSAT/NMSQT scored? Scores are reported on a scale of 20–80 for each section: critical reading, math, and writing skills. For juniors, 47–50 is about average; for sophomores, 43–46 is about average.

37. 37 A Step to the Future: Preparing Students for the PSAT/NMSQT How does a PSAT/NMSQT score compare to an SAT score? Some students add a “0” to the two-digit PSAT/NMSQT score to give a rough estimate of a three-digit SAT score. A more reliable SAT projected score range will be on your PSAT/NMSQT Score Report. SAT writing score = approximately 1 / 3 essay scaled score + 2 / 3 multiple-choice score. Students who have taken the PSAT/NMSQT average higher scores on the SAT than those who have not.

38. 38 A Step to the Future: Preparing Students for the PSAT/NMSQT Personalized Skills Information Lists skills that have the best chance of improvement with additional work. Includes advice, written by teachers, on how to improve those skills. The PSAT/NMSQT Score Report has helpful information to help students improve their skills.

39. Getting ready to take the PSAT/NMSQT Long-term and short-term preparation

40. 40 A Step to the Future: Preparing Students for the PSAT/NMSQT Short-term Test Preparation Students should: take the full-length practice test in the Official Student Guide and get comfortable with the test format. Take time to score it, to better understand the scoring process. Visit www.collegeboard.com/psat for additional practice test itemswww.collegeboard.com/psat Sign up to receive the SAT Question of the Day at www.collegeboard.com Understand “formula scoring” and “educated guessing” Become familiar with the types of test questions, the directions, and test format

41. 41 A Step to the Future: Preparing Students for the PSAT/NMSQT Test-Readiness Strategies Learn the directions beforehand Read all the answer choices Do scratch work in the test book Work steadily If you skip a question, be sure to note it in the test book, and leave it blank on the answer sheet. Return to it if you have time. Remember: students don’t have to answer every question to score well

42. 42 A Step to the Future: Preparing Students for the PSAT/NMSQT Tips and strategies Sentence Completions Some PSAT sentence completions have two blanks rather than one. If you can guess the meaning of one blank, but not the other, scan the answer choices, looking for the word you’ve guessed. Eliminate the answer choices that don’t include it or a near-synonym, and then guess from what remains. Critical Reading Look for the main idea of each paragraph. Remember the concept of the "topic sentence"? Your English teacher may have taught you to include one in every paragraph you write. PSAT paragraphs often contain such a sentence that summarizes the central point of the paragraph. When you find one, underline it. Math Multiple-Choice If you don’t see your answer listed as one of the choices, it may be the same as one of the choices but written in a different mathematical form. If your answer is a fraction, try changing it to a decimal or percent. Grid-ins The grid that you will use to fill out your answer does not contain a minus sign, so there is no way to indicate that a value is less than zero. If the answer you come up with is a negative number, check back over your work because you’ve made a mistake.

43. 43 A Step to the Future: Preparing Students for the PSAT/NMSQT Be sure to take the Practice Test in the 2005 Official Student Guide

44. 44 A Step to the Future: Preparing Students for the PSAT/NMSQT Test-readiness Strategies In most sections, the questions are arranged from easy to more difficult (except for passage-based reading in critical reading section and improving paragraphs in writing skills section) Wild guessing is discouraged, but students should make educated guesses.

45. 45 A Step to the Future: Preparing Students for the PSAT/NMSQT WG EG 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

46. 46 A Step to the Future: Preparing Students for the PSAT/NMSQT Wild Guessing

47. 47 A Step to the Future: Preparing Students for the PSAT/NMSQT Educated Guessing

48. 48 A Step to the Future: Preparing Students for the PSAT/NMSQT Answer Key

49. 49 A Step to the Future: Preparing Students for the PSAT/NMSQT To learn more… visit www.collegeboard.com

50. 50 A Step to the Future: Preparing Students for the PSAT/NMSQT Take the PSAT/NMSQT How to sign up:Everyone will take the PSAT (Be sure to pick up the Official Student Guide with Practice Test.) Test Day/Date:Wednesday, October 18 th 2006 Time: 8:00 – 12:00 Where: Go to homeroom in the morning Bring: Two #2 Pencils Calculator Social Security Number (optional) E-mail Address (optional)

51. 51 A Step to the Future: Preparing Students for the PSAT/NMSQT Sources of Information www.staghs.org.www.staghs.org.www.staghs.org www.fastweb.comwww.fastweb.comwww.fastweb.com www.scholarships.comwww.scholarships.comwww.scholarships.com www.collegeboard.comwww.collegeboard.comwww.collegeboard.com www.usnews.comwww.usnews.comwww.usnews.com www.act.org/www.act.org/www.act.org/ www.petersons.com/www.petersons.com/www.petersons.com/ www.suny.edu/Student/payi ng_scholarship_links.cfmwww.suny.edu/Student/payi ng_scholarship_links.cfmwww.suny.edu/Student/payi ng_scholarship_links.cfmwww.suny.edu/Student/payi ng_scholarship_links.cfm  http://www.college- scholarships.com/100college.ht m. http://www.college- scholarships.com/100college.ht m http://www.college- scholarships.com/100college.ht m  http://www.finaid.org/scholarsh ips/. http://www.finaid.org/scholarsh ips/ http://www.finaid.org/scholarsh ips/  http://www.fastaid.com. http://www.fastaid.com  www.ncaaclearinghouse.org. www.ncaaclearinghouse.org  http://www.hsf.net/ http://www.hsf.net/  http://www.hesc.com/. http://www.hesc.com/  Guidance Office