If you are a Sophomore or Junior this year, you will be taking the PSATs. This year they are taking place on Wednesday, October 10th, so we here at The Sabre Voice would like to give you some advice to help you succeed.
The first thing you should do to prepare for the test is to take some free practice tests. They can be found here or here, and answers to those tests can be found here and here. Khan Academy online also offers free practice for the PSAT that is made in cooperation with the College Board. If you are interested, click here.
The PSAT is timed, but any questions that are not answered in the time period do not count towards your score, so remember to take your time and read the entire question and all the answer choices before choosing!
When taking the reading part of the exam, always ask yourself what is the author trying to say. If you’re struggling a bit with this, try to pick out a word or sentence that describes each paragraph. Always remember to read through the text thoroughly and more than once if you need to.
The math portion of the PSAT includes calculator active and inactive sections. As a student, you’ve likely used a calculator for so long you might have difficulty with mental math. If you’re struggling with this, try to practice some basic problems in your head, write out your times table, or print off a sheet of questions and do it without a calculator. For some students, geometry can be one of the more time-consuming parts of the math test, so try to become fluent with coordinate geometry, functions, difference of squares and how to foil.
It is recommended to bring your own calculator for the test if you own a graphing or scientific calculator, but if you don’t, one will be provided for you by your instructor.
Most importantly, remember to get a full night’s sleep beforehand and eat a hearty breakfast! You’ll need your best brain power.
Best of luck Sabres!
