2.  The PSAT (Preliminary SAT) is a test sponsored by the College Board and the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.  The test is meant to help you practice for the SATs and it’s a way for you, the test-taker, to qualify for scholarship programs. It also serves as a way for you to find planning tools.  This test measures three very important skills that students should have at the time that they take the test.  These skills are:  Critical Reading  Math Problem-Solving  & Writing Skills

3.  The test consists of different sections with different types of questions, adding up to about two hours. These are:  Two 25 minute practical reading sections  Two 25 minute math sections  And One 30 minute writing skills section  The critical reading sections consist of stories and questions and some fill in the blank/complete the sentence questions.  The math sections are mostly multiple choice, with the exception of ten “you produce them” answers. You should bring a calculator. The math sections covered are numbers of operations, algebra and functions, geometry and measuring, and analysis and probability.  The writing skills section is made up of identifying the errors in sentences, making sentences better, and improving paragraphs. These questions are meant to see how well you can express your ideas and to show where your grammar and defining skills might be kind of weak.

4.  The PSAT could help you pin-point the areas that you have to practice on for the SATs. This way you can focus on these areas when you study for the tests.  It can also help you see how your performance compares to that of others who have taken the test. As a junior, you could also enter the NMSC scholarship competition  Finally, the test shows you the types of questions on the SAT so you know what is coming.

5.  The top five tips given to PSAT and SAT takers are: 1.Answer the easy questions first and mark harder ones so you can come back to them later. 2.When unsure of an answer, try to use the elimination process to see which answer fits best. 3.Try not to make marks on the answer sheet, except on your answer, because the machine that corrects the test can’t distinguish between doodles and answers. 4.Know that you get one point for a correct answer, partial points for wrong answers, and no points are taken away for blank answers or wrong ones in the “you produce the answer” math section. 5.Only change an answer if you’re sure that you did something wrong.

6.  Use these sites to help you practice for your test.  http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/psat/about/ontest.html - This site has different practices for each different section of the PSATs. http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/psat/about/ontest.html  http://www.testprepreview.com/psat_practice.htm - This site provides you with everything you need to be your own PSAT practice teacher. As the site says, “the best teacher is the one who knows you best, you!” http://www.testprepreview.com/psat_practice.htm  http://www.petersons.com/testprep/practice_test.asp?id=436&path=u g.pft.psat&sponsor=1 – This one also gives free test-taking so you’ll know what’s coming on the PSAT. http://www.petersons.com/testprep/practice_test.asp?id=436&path=u g.pft.psat&sponsor=1  http://www.4tests.com/exams/examdetail.asp?eid=59 – This site not only has practice materials, but it can also refer you to other sites with more practices. http://www.4tests.com/exams/examdetail.asp?eid=59  http://www.barronstestprep.com/PSAT/home.html - This site, although not free, is another useful tool in your PSAT preparation. http://www.barronstestprep.com/PSAT/home.html

7.  "PSAT/NMSQT - The Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test." PE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1- transitional.dtd":: College Planning Made Easy | Inside Source for College Admissions Requirements. Web. 02 Oct. 2009..  "PSAT/NMSQT: What's on the Test." PE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd":: College Planning Made Easy | Inside Source for College Admissions Requirements. Web. 02 Oct. 2009..

8.  "PSAT Test Practice Questions - Help your PSAT Exam Score with free PSAT Test Preparation." Test Prep Review | Exam Practice for ACCUPLACER, ACT, GED, GMAT, GRE, LSAT, MAT, MCAT, NCLEX, Praxis, SAT and other Test Preparation. Web. 02 Oct. 2009..  "Free Practice Test for the PSAT/NMSQT - Peterson's." Search for Colleges and Universities, Graduate Schools, Online Degree, Private Schools - Peterson's. Web. 04 Oct. 2009..

9.  "SAT Test Taking Tips and Techniques." SAT, ACT, GRE, TOEFL, MBE, MPRE, DSM-IV Flash Cards. Web. 04 Oct. 2009..  "PSAT test prep and practice from Barron's Test Prep." PSAT, ACT and SAT Test Prep and Practice Tests - Raise your Test Scores the Easy Way. Web. 04 Oct. 2009..  "4Tests.com - Free, Practice PSAT/NMSQT Exam." 4Tests.com - Your Free Online Practice Exam Site! Web. 05 Oct. 2009..