PSAT PREP
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Lesson Plans
October, 2013
What's on the Test
The PSAT/NMSQT includes five sections:
• Two 25-minute critical reading sections
Two 25-minute math sections
One 30-minute writing skills section
The whole test requires two hours and 10 minutes. Students
should expect to be at South for approximately 3 hours.
About Guessing
Educated guessing means guessing an answer whenever you
are able to eliminate one or more of the choices as definitely
wrong. Educated guessing may help you.
Random guessing probably won't help you because of the way
the test is scored. Random guessing means that you have no
idea which answer choice is correct. Don't waste time on that
kind of question. Move on to the next one.
CRITIAL READING
CRITICAL READING
• Two 25-minute critical reading sections
• Read the entire sentence to yourself.
• Watch for introductory or connecting words and
phrases like "but," "not," "because," etc.
• In sentences with two blanks, make sure the words
for both blanks make sense in the sentence.
• Start by working with one blank at a time.
• Stay within the meaning of the sentence.
• Before you mark your answer, read the complete
sentence with your choice filled in.
CRITICAL READING
HELPFUL HINTS for CRITICAL READING
• Don't skip introductions to passages.
• Read each passage and any accompanying information carefully.
Follow the author's reasoning and be aware of features such as
assumptions, attitudes, and tone.
• You may find it helpful to mark the passages as you are reading,
but don't spend too much time making notes.
• Read each question and all the answer choices carefully.
• When a question asks you to compare an aspect of a pair of
passages, don't be misled by choices that are correct for only one
of the two passages.
• Select the choice that best answers the question asked. Don't
select a choice just because it is a true statement.
• You may find it helpful to read the questions first to get an idea of
what to look for. Or, you may prefer to read the passage and try to
answer the questions.
MATH
MATH
Two 25-minute math sections
Multiple-choice math questions
• Here are some general hints for answering Regular
Multiple Choice questions.
• Look at the answer choices before you begin to work
on each question.
• Read each question carefully, even if it looks like a
question you don't think you can answer. Don't let the
form of the question keep you from trying to answer
it.
• If your answer isn't among the choices, try writing it in
a different form. You may have the same answer in a
different mathematical format.
MATH
• Since answer choices aren't given, a calculator may be helpful in avoiding
careless mistakes on these questions.
• It's suggested that you write your answer in the boxes above the grid to
avoid errors in gridding.
• The grid can hold only four places and can accommodate only positive
numbers and zero.
• Do not worry about which column to begin gridding the answer. As long as
the answer is gridded completely, you will receive credit.
• Unless a problem indicates otherwise, an answer can be entered on the
grid either as a decimal or as a fraction.
• You don't have to reduce fractions like 3/24 to their lowest terms.
• Convert all mixed numbers to improper fractions before gridding the
answer.
• If the answer is a repeating decimal, you must grid the most accurate
value the grid will accommodate.
• Some questions may have more than one right answer.
• You don't lose any points for a wrong answer.
• Know the gridding rules before taking the test.
MATH
Students are advised to bring a calculator
with which they are comfortable. Students
should have basic knowledge of 4 math
categories:
1. Numbers and Operation
2. Algebra and Functions (but not 3rd year
level math that may appear on the new
SAT)
3. Geometry and Measurement
4. Data Analysis, Statistics and Probability
WRITING SKILLS
WRITING SKILLS
One 30-minute writing section
Identifying sentence errors
HELPFUL HINTS FOR IDENTIFYING SENTENCE ERRORS:
• Read the entire sentence carefully but quickly.
• Look at choices (A) through (D) to see whether anything needs
to be changed to make the sentence correct.
• Don't waste time searching for errors. Mark (E) No error, on
your answer sheet if you believe the sentence is correct as
written.
• Move quickly through questions about Identifying Sentence
Errors. The other kinds of questions (Improving Sentences and
Improving Paragraphs) will probably take more time.
• Mark questions that seem hard for you and return to them later.