S A T E n g l i s h P r e p C l a s s | Mrs. Roney
Name: _____________________
MP #1 / HO#: 2
Overview of New SAT / PSAT/NMSQT Tests1
Keep this handout in your Notebook as we progress through the year.
Reading Test
https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/test-design/reading
In the Reading Test, students will encounter questions like those asked in a lively, thoughtful,
evidence-based discussion.
Quick Facts
 All Reading Test questions are multiple choice (4 answer choices of A, B, C, D) and
based on passages.
 Some passages are paired with other passages or informational graphics, such as
charts, graphs, and tables.
 No mathematical computation is required.
 Prior topic-specific knowledge is never tested.
The Reading-Writing Connection
All assessments in the SAT Suite of Assessments will include a Reading Test and a Writing
and Language Test. A student’s scores on these two tests are combined to arrive at a section
score for Evidence-Based Reading and Writing.
The exam structure reflects the relationship between these two literacy skills and their shared
focus on textual evidence, relevant words in context, and application of skills across the
curriculum.
Passages
All Reading Test passages are selected from previously published works and represent some
of the best writing and thinking in the fields of classic and contemporary U.S. and world
literature, history/social studies, and science. The passages on the Reading Test vary in
complexity, ranging from texts like those found in challenging courses in grades nine and 10
to texts comparable to those assigned in typical college-level, credit-bearing courses. The
test asks students to base their answers on what is stated or implied in the passages and any
accompanying supplementary material, such as informational graphics.
Some history and social studies passages are selections from U.S. founding documents and
the texts they have inspired. Engaging and often culturally and historically important, they
wrestle with problems at the heart of civic and political life. Other passages discuss topics in
economics, psychology, sociology, and other social sciences.
1
This handout has really good information and suggestions for you that apply to both the PSAT and the SAT! Read
carefully! Highlight sections! Take notes in the margins! That’s good careful reading practice!
1|Page
Science passages examine both foundational concepts and recent developments in biology,
chemistry, physics, and Earth science.
Distinctive Features
The Reading Test will support the redesigned SAT’s emphasis on analysis in history/social
studies passages; the interpretation of words in context and command of evidence will be
highlighted in science passages.
Literacy across the curriculum is of primary importance; questions will test students on
analysis in history/social studies and analysis in science. In many cases, students will
need to make use of the ways of thinking important to a particular field to analyze passages
and graphics. For example:


Science passages may be paired with questions focused on hypotheses,
experimentation, and data.
Literature passages may be paired with questions focused on theme, mood, and
characterization.
“SAT words” will no longer be vocabulary students may not have heard before and are not
likely to hear again. Instead, the SAT will focus on words that derive their meaning from the
contexts in which they are used.
Some questions will test how well students understand words in context. These are words
and phrases used widely in college and career texts, the meaning of which depends on how
they’re used in particular situations. Students will need to use the context clues they find in
passages to determine the precise meaning of words and phrases that the author intended.
The Reading Test will assess three facets of command of evidence:



The use of evidence: Students will need to find the evidence in a passage that best
supports the answer to a previous question or that serves as the basis for a
reasonable conclusion.
The analysis of an argument: Students will need to identify the way authors use
evidence to support their claims.
The analysis of quantitative information: Students will need to examine informational
graphics and relate the information conveyed by them to the information and ideas
conveyed through words.
Informational Graphics
The Reading Test includes two passages accompanied by one or two related graphics (for
example, charts, graphs, or tables). Students will be asked to interpret a graphic’s meaning
and make connections between graphic and passage. However, they’ll never need to use
mathematical computation to answer the questions.
Sample Questions
Learn about the Reading Test firsthand by viewing sample questions from the redesigned
SAT, PSAT/NMSQT, and PSAT™ 10. Each exam will include Reading questions from three skill
categories that connect to two subscores.
2|Page
Writing and Language Test
https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/test-design/writing-language
The Writing and Language Test puts students in the active role of an editor who is improving
a written passage. Most questions ask students to decide which, if any, of the three
alternatives to an underlined part of a passage most improves it.
Quick Facts
 All Writing and Language Test questions are multiple choice and based on passages.
 Some passages are paired with informational graphics such as charts, graphs, and
tables.
 Prior topic-specific knowledge is never tested.
 No mathematical computation is required.
The Reading–Writing Connection
All components of the redesigned SAT Suite of Assessments will include a Reading Test and a
Writing and Language Test. A student’s scores on these two tests are combined to arrive at a
section score for Evidence-Based Reading and Writing.
The test structure reflects the relationship between these two literacy skills and their shared
focus on textual evidence, words in context, and application of skills across the curriculum.
Passages
All Writing and Language passages will be created especially for the test so that errors can
be intentionally introduced. Passages will be several paragraphs long so that students can
engage in complex, real-world revision and editing tasks, and students will often need to have
a good understanding of one or more paragraphs, or even the entire passage, to answer a
particular question. The passages on the Writing and Language Test vary in complexity,
ranging from texts like those found in challenging courses in grades 9 and 10 to texts
comparable to those found in typical college-level, credit-bearing courses.
Passages take the form of arguments, informative/explanatory texts, or nonfiction narratives.
They address topics related to careers, history/social studies, the humanities, and science.
Distinctive Features
The Writing and Language Test will support the redesigned SAT’s emphasis on analysis in
history/social studies passages, and the interpretation of words in context and command of
evidence in science passages.
Some questions will test students on the expression of ideas. These questions ask students
to improve topic development, organization, and rhetorical effectiveness. This category
includes passages on the topics of science and history/social studies. Thus, some Writing
and Language Test questions will also test students on analysis in science and analysis in
history/social studies.
Other questions test students on their understanding of standard English conventions.
These ask students to edit text so that words, phrases, sentences, and punctuation are used
appropriately and in a way that is consistent with the practices of standard written English.
As on the Reading Test, some Writing and Language Test questions assess how well
students understand words in context. These questions ask students to improve passages
by using words carefully and with purpose.
3|Page
Students’ command of evidence is also assessed by some questions on the Writing and
Language Test, as on the Reading Test. These questions assess how well students revise a
passage to improve the way it develops information and ideas.
Informational Graphics
The Writing and Language Test includes some passages that are paired with tables, charts,
graphs, and other informational graphics. Students will be asked to draw connections
between the graphics and the text they accompany. For example, students might need to
correct a passage’s inaccurate interpretation of the data presented in a table or to improve
the clarity or precision of that interpretation. However, they’ll never need to use
mathematical computation to answer the questions.
Sample Questions
Learn about the Writing and Language Test firsthand by viewing sample questions for the
redesigned SAT, PSAT/NMSQT, and PSAT™ 10. Each assessment will include Writing and
Language questions that connect to two subscores shared with the Reading Test and two
subscores that are unique to the Writing and Language Test.
SAT Essay
https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/test-design/essay
The redesigned SAT Essay will assess whether students can demonstrate college and career
readiness proficiency in reading, writing, and analysis. The SAT Essay will ask students to
demonstrate comprehension of a high-quality source text by producing a cogent and clear
written analysis of that text supported by critical reasoning and evidence drawn from the
source.
Students will be asked to:



Read a passage.
Explain how the author builds an argument to persuade an audience.
Support their explanation with evidence from the passage.
Important SAT Only: The SAT Essay is available on the SAT, but not on the PSAT/NMSQT,
PSAT 10, or PSAT 8/9.2
Quick Facts




The redesigned SAT Essay closely mirrors common postsecondary writing
assignments.
It will be scored using clearly defined and widely communicated criteria focused on
reading, analysis, and writing.
The source text will change every time the SAT is given, but the task will stay the
same.
Prior topic-specific knowledge is never tested.
2
You won’t need to worry about the SAT Essay for the PSAT; however, we will be diving into it probably in the 3 rd marking
period. I wanted you to have an overview of it for future reference.
4|Page
Important Changes
The redesigned SAT Essay differs from the essay section on the current SAT in several
important ways:




Students will have 50 minutes to complete their essay — not 25, as is the case on the
current SAT.
Students will no longer be asked to agree or disagree with a position on a topic or to
write about their personal experience.
The SAT Essay will no longer be required of everyone who takes the SAT; individual
colleges and universities will determine whether they choose to require SAT Essay
scores from prospective students. View college SAT Essay policies.
The three SAT Essay scores will be reported separately from each other (rather than
combined into a single score) and from the other scores on the test.3
Passages
All passages are selected from previously published, high-quality sources. Passages will vary
each time the test is given, but all will:





Address a broad audience.
Convey an argument.
Express nuanced views on complex subjects.
Use logical reasoning and various forms of evidence to support substantive claims.
Examine ideas, debates, trends, and the like in the arts, the sciences, and civic,
cultural, and political life.
The passages are carefully chosen to ensure that they are appropriately and consistently
complex — challenging enough to assess college and career readiness but not so challenging
that they keep students from responding under timed conditions.
Reading, Analysis, Writing
Students’ essays should demonstrate an understanding of the passage and use evidence
from the passage to support an effective, well-written analysis of how the author builds an
argument to persuade an audience. Students will be instructed to focus their discussion on
the passage’s most relevant features. Essays should make purposeful, selective, substantive
use of quotations and paraphrases in a way that supports students’ analysis.
Students’ essays are evaluated in terms of reading, analysis, and writing:
Reading: Successful essays demonstrate thorough comprehension of the passage, including
the interplay of central ideas and important details, and use textual evidence effectively.
Analysis: Successful essays demonstrate skill in evaluating the author’s use of evidence,
reasoning, style, and other stylistic or persuasive techniques and support and develop claims
with well-chosen evidence from the passage.
3
Note: Students who take the current SAT before spring 2016 must complete an essay; their essay scores contribute to
the Writing and composite scores. Learn more about the current SAT essay. Go to the College Board website at
https://sat.collegeboard.org/home. NOTE: Most of you in this class will not have to worry about the current essay as you
won’t take the SAT until March 2016 or later.
5|Page
Writing: Successful essays are focused, organized, and precise, with an appropriate style
and tone that varies sentence structure and follows the conventions of standard written
English.
View Scored Sample Essays
Every SAT Essay will be read by two scorers. Each scorer will award 1 to 4 points each in
reading, analysis, and writing. The scores will be combined for a total of 2 to 8 points in each
of the three categories.
Essay Scoring
All scorers will read essays using the same set of detailed criteria. These criteria are clearly
stated in the rubric, which describes the characteristics shared by essays earning the same
score point in each category.
Sample Essays
Learn about the SAT Essay firsthand by viewing two sample essay prompts — each with
eight scored responses.
Signing Up for the SAT Essay
Students will be able to sign up for the SAT Essay when they register for the SAT, or in the
days leading up to test day. As colleges decide whether to require the SAT Essay, the College
Board will post that information online. As always, students should check the websites of the
colleges they’re interested in for the latest information.
Students using SAT fee waivers will be able to sign up for the SAT Essay at no cost.
Score Choice
Score ChoiceTM will continue to work as it does today. Consistent with the policies of the
schools they are applying to, students who take the SAT more than once may choose which
scores to send to colleges. All section scores from a selected date, including the SAT Essay
score, will be reported and used in accordance with each school’s stated score-use practices.
Key Content Changes
https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/test-design/key-changes
The SAT Suite of Assessments includes the redesigned SAT and PSAT/NMSQT, as
well as the new PSAT 10 and the PSAT 8/9. Tightly aligned, all
assessments include a Reading Test, a Writing and Language Test, and a Math Test. The SAT
will have an optional essay component, which some colleges will require. Questions
throughout the assessments will focus on the few things that research shows matter most for
college readiness and success.
Words in Context
Many questions on the redesigned assessments will focus on important, widely used words
and phrases found in texts in many different subjects. The focus of these
questions will be on determining the meaning or implications of these words and
phrases in the contexts in which they are used. This is demanding but rewarding
work centered on words and phrases that students use throughout their lives — in
high school, college or workforce training, and beyond.
6|Page
No longer will students use flashcards to memorize obscure words, only to forget them the
minute they put their test pencils down. The redesigned exams will engage students in close
reading and honor the best work of the classroom.
Command of Evidence
When students take the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing sections of the assessments
and the SAT Essay, they’ll be asked to demonstrate their ability to interpret, synthesize, and
use evidence found in a wide range of sources. These sources include informational graphics,
such as tables, charts, and graphs, as well as multiparagraph passages in the
areas of literature and literary nonfiction, the humanities, science, history, and
social studies, and on topics about work and careers.
For every passage or pair of passages students read on the Reading Test, at least one
question asks them to decide which part of the text best supports the answer to the previous
question. In other cases, students will be asked to integrate the information conveyed
through words and graphics in order to find the best answer to a question.
Questions on the Writing and Language Test will also focus on command of evidence.
Students will be asked, for example, to analyze sequences of sentences or paragraphs to
make sure they are logical. In other questions, students will be asked to interpret graphics
and to edit a portion of the accompanying passage so that it clearly and accurately conveys
the information in the graphics.
The SAT Essay will also require students to demonstrate command of evidence. Students
analyze a provided source text to determine how the author builds an argument to persuade
an audience through the use of evidence, reasoning, and/or stylistic and persuasive devices.
They're asked to write a cogent and clear analysis supported by critical reasoning and
evidence drawn from the source.
Essay Analyzing a Source
The focus of the Essay on the redesigned SAT will be very different from that of
the essay on the current SAT. In the new format, students will read a passage and
explain how the author builds an argument to persuade an audience. Students may
analyze such aspects of the passage as the author’s use of evidence, reasoning,
and stylistic and persuasive elements. This task more closely mirrors college writing
assignments.
The new Essay is designed to support high school students and teachers as they cultivate
close reading, careful analysis, and clear writing. It will promote the practice of reading a
wide variety of arguments and analyzing how authors do their work as writers.
The Essay prompt will remain consistent; only the source material (passage) will change. The
Essay will be an optional component of the SAT, although some school districts and colleges
may require it. The SAT is the only assessment in the SAT Suite that includes the Essay.
Learn more about the Essay.
Problems Grounded in Real-World Contexts
Throughout the assessments in the SAT Suite, students will engage with questions
grounded in the real world and directly related to the work performed in college and
career.
7|Page
The Evidence-Based Reading and Writing section will include questions on literature and
literary nonfiction, but will also feature charts, graphs, and passages like the ones students
are likely to encounter in science, social science, and other majors and careers. Students will
be asked to do more than correct errors; they’ll edit and revise to improve texts from the
humanities, history, social science, and career contexts.
Analysis in Science and in History/Social Studies
When students take assessments in the SAT Suite, they will be asked to apply their
reading, writing, language, and math knowledge and skills to answer questions in
science, history, and social studies contexts. In this way, the assessments will call on
the same sorts of knowledge and skills that students will use in college, in their jobs,
and throughout their lives to make sense of recent discoveries, political developments, global
events, and health and environmental issues.
Students will encounter challenging texts and informational graphics that pertain to the
aforementioned issues and topics in the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing section and the
Math section. Questions will require them to read and comprehend texts, revise texts to be
consistent with data presented in graphics, synthesize information presented through texts
and graphics, and solve problems grounded in science and social science contexts.
The Great Global Conversation and U.S. Founding Documents
The U.S. founding documents, including the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights,
and the Federalist Papers, have been
inspired by and have helped to inspire a
conversation that continues to this day
about the nature of civic life. Authors,
speakers, and thinkers from the United
States and around the world, including
Edmund Burke, Mary Wollstonecraft,
Nelson Mandela, and Mohandas Gandhi,
have broadened and deepened the conversation around such vital matters as freedom,
justice, and human dignity. Every time students take an assessment in the SAT Suite, they
will encounter a passage from a text from this global conversation. In this way, the
assessments will inspire a close reading of these rich, meaningful, often profound texts, not
only as a way to develop valuable college and career readiness skills but also as an
opportunity to reflect on and deeply engage with issues and concerns central to informed
citizenship.
No Penalty for Guessing!!!!!!
The SAT Suite of Assessments will not deduct points for incorrect answers.
Students will earn points for the questions they answer correctly. This move to
rights-only scoring encourages students to give the best answer they have to every question.
SAT Redesign Specifications
https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/test-design/redesign-specifications
This high-level comparison between the current SAT and the redesigned SAT highlights major
design features of the two tests. The first table provides a comparison of the major features
of the current SAT and redesigned SAT. The second table provides a comparison by test,
including the number of items and testing time. It is important to note that while the
information in these tables represents our best understanding of the nature and features of
8|Page
the redesigned SAT, some specific elements, such as timing, length, and reported scores, are
subject to revision based on the ongoing research process that guides the redesign.
Major Features Compared
Comparison of the Major Features: Current SAT and Redesigned SAT
Category
Current SAT
Redesigned SAT
3 hours and 45 minutes
3 hours (plus 50 minutes for the Essay [optional])
Total Testing
Time*
*Redesigned
SAT testing time
subject to
research
Components
1.
2.
3.
4.
Critical Reading
Writing
Mathematics
Essay
1. Evidence-Based Reading and Writing
 Reading Test
 Writing and Language Test
2. Math
3. Essay (optional)



Important
Features



Essay

Score

Emphasis on general
reasoning skills
Emphasis on vocabulary,
often in limited contexts
Complex scoring (a point for
a correct answer and a
deduction for an incorrect
answer; blank responses
have no impact on scores)
Required and given at the
beginning of the SAT
25 minutes to write the
essay
Tests writing skill; students
take a position on a
presented issue
Scale ranging from 600 to
2400







Continued emphasis on reasoning
alongside a clearer, stronger focus on the
knowledge, skills, and understandings most
important for college and career readiness
and success
Greater emphasis on the meaning of words
in extended contexts and on how word
choice shapes meaning, tone, and impact
Rights-only scoring (a point for a correct
answer but no deduction for an incorrect
answer; blank responses have no impact
on scores)
Optional and given at the end of the SAT;
postsecondary institutions determine
whether they will require the Essay for
admission
50 minutes to write the essay
Tests reading, analysis, and writing skills;
students produce a written analysis of a
provided source text
Scale ranging from 400 to 1600
Scale ranging from 200 to 800 for
9|Page
Comparison of the Major Features: Current SAT and Redesigned SAT
Category
Current SAT
Reporting*

*Redesigned

SAT scores
Redesigned SAT
Scale ranging from 200 to
800 for Critical Reading; 200
to 800 for Mathematics; 200
to 800 for Writing
Essay results scaled to
multiple-choice Writing

Evidence-Based Reading and Writing; 200
to 800 for Math; 2 to 8 on each of three
dimensions for Essay
Essay results reported separately
subject to
research
Subscore
Reporting
Subscores for every test, providing added insight
for students, parents, admission officers,
educators, and counselors
None
Test Length and Timing Compared
Comparison of Test Length and Timing: Current SAT and Redesigned SAT
Current SAT
Redesigned SAT
Component
Time
Allotted
(min.)
Number of
Questions/
Tasks
Component
Number of
Time Allotted
Questions/
(min.)
Tasks
Critical
Reading
70
67
Reading
65
52
Writing
60
49
Writing and
Language
35
44
Essay
25
1
Essay (optional) 50
1
Mathematics 70
54
Math
80
58
Total
171
Total
180 (230 with
Essay)
154 (155 with
Essay)
225
The following sections are from this source (which you can order, too!):
Stuart, Brian W., M.Ed, ed. Strategies and Practice for the New PSAT/NMSQT. Hauppauge, NY:
Barron's Educational Series, Inc., 2015. Print.
10 | P a g e
How is the new PSAT different from the SAT?
The new PSAT and SAT are far more similar than they are different. They both have the
same types of math, writing, and reading questions. Preparing for the PSAT will definitely
help you prepare for the SAT, just as preparing for a half-marathon will help you prepare for
a full marathon. The PSAT is different from the SAT in three important ways:




The PSAT is shorter than the SAT
The PSAT is primarily for the National Merit Scholarship contest, while the SAT is
primarily for college admission.
The PSAT does NOT have an essay, while the SAT has an optional in-depth essay.
The PSAT is administered once a year, while the SAT is administered several times a
year.4
What should I do before the PSAT?
The new PSAT and SAT are far more similar than they are different. They both have the
same types of math, writing, and reading questions. Preparing for the PSAT will definitely
help you prepare for the SAT, just as preparing for a half-marathon will help you prepare for
a full marathon. The PSAT is different from the SAT in three important ways:



Go to bed at a reasonable hour starting a week before the test. If you wait until the
night before the test to get a good night’s sleep, you may not be rested enough come
test day. After all, calming down and relaxing the night before a major assessment
can be extremely difficult.
Know the test directions – you do not want to waste time reading the directions on
each section. At a minimum, now that you SHOULD INCLUDE AN ANSWER for every
question since there is no longer a guessing penalty.
Become comfortable with timing. Do at least some practice with timing so you will not
work too quickly or too slowly on test day.
What should I bring to the PSAT?





A scientific or graphing calculator; see www.collegeboard.org/psat/nmsqt/approved
calculators for a list of acceptable calculators.
Several sharpened #2 pencils.
A watch to monitor your pacing (bring one that doesn’t make any noise).
If you are taking the test at a school different from your own, bring a photo ID.
Have a professional-sounding e-mail address you can use to receive information from
colleges, and enter it on your answer document.5
4
NPSD gives the PSAT to all sophomores in order for you, your parents/guardians, and your teachers/administrators to
have a snap-shot of how you might do on the SAT if you took it now, what you skills you need to work on to prepare for
the SAT in your junior year, and, since the PSAT / SAT are now linked to the National Core Standards, which are essentially
the same as the Pennsylvania Core Standards upon which the Keystone Tests are based, we all get an idea of what skills
you need to focus on for the Keystone Exam. Juniors – you should sign-up for the PSAT as well!
5
This is the time to create an email account that isn’t “myfavoritedogelsa@whatever my carrier is.com”, but something
like “firstname.lastname@...” Do it on gmail if need be. Then ONLY use this email for SAT/College stuff and eventually
your professional life – like sending out resumes or such. Remember this email address and set up your account and
password (remember it, too!) at the College Board website. You’ll get a lot of great information and even recruitment
11 | P a g e

Do NOT bring snacks, drinks, or a cell phone into the room.6 You will have a break, so
you may want to have a snack at that time.7
How can I manage my test anxiety on the PSAT?
With only one shot to perform well on the PSAT for National Merit consideration8 taking the
PSAT can be a very stressful process. Being nervous is normal. Here are a few things to
keep in mind if you find anxiety interfering with your ability to perform at your best:





When it comes to college admissions, how you perform on the actual SAT and/or ACT
will be much more important than your PSAT performance. You will have many
opportunities to take the SAT and/or ACT.
Colleges will receive your scores only if you opt-in to the informational services.
Everyone else taking the PSAT in 2015 will be doing so for the first time under the
new system. You are absolutely not alone if you feel stressed about the uncertainty.
Your performance will be measured against that of others who are in the same
situation as you.
Mentally rehearse ahead of time to think about how you can best respond to the
pressure of the PSAT. Are you someone who tends to rush through tests? Instead,
are you someone who tends to get stuck on questions? Knowing your tendencies will
help you recognize if your thought process is off track, enabling you to made
adjustments on test day.
Realize that if the PSAT does not go well even after quite a bit of preparation, you will
have built skills that will help you on both the SAT and ACT since those two tests have
very similar questions to much of what you will find on the PSAT.9
The following sections are from this source (which you can order, too!):
The Staff of the Princeton Review. Workout for the New PSAT/NMSQT. New York: Penquin Random
House, 2015. Print.
Princeton Review Techniques and Strategies
Think about the last time you set out to accomplish something: whether it’s taking a photo,
recording a song, building a cabinet, or writing a screenplay, you probably used all the tools
at your disposal to get the job done. The PSAT is no different from any other task – just as
you wouldn’t attempt to film a movie without a video camera or a boom mike, you wouldn’t
want to take this test without the skills and strategies that will bst help you to succeed.
from colleges that have the disciplines and majors you want to pursue. You might even learn about a college, career, or
scholarship that is just perfect for you but about which you have never heard! DO IT TODAY!!!!
6
When the PSAT is administered at NPHS, the teacher/administrator will take your cell phone from you and log it in a safe
place. But it MUST be turned off. Any interruption in the test may negate the test for everyone in the room. People will
be very angry at you!!!
7
Use the rest room BEFORE the test begins. You won’t be allowed out of the room during testing AND the break is short
and the bathrooms get very crowded!
8
Juniors only are considered for the National Merit Scholarship – and that is why you should schedule the PSAT on
October 14 as well as testing where you are in your skills; however, sophomores you want to do your best work, too,
because of also evaluating your skills and test-readiness for the Keystones and next year’s PSAT (when the National Merit
Scholarship will apply to you) and SATs and/or ACTs!
9
The PSAT will be scored on a curve. So if the test seems more difficult or easier than you thought is would be, do not
worry. Everyone is taking the same test, and the curve will reflect how people did.
12 | P a g e
[Practicing with actual testing questions] is what we at The Princeton Review affectionately
call “drill and kill” . . . offering gobs of practice problems and detailed answers and
explanations [lead to better results]. . . . Let’s introduce some of the shorthand terms that
you might see [or use] in your PSAT [or SAT] practice problems.
POE10. There are many more wrong answers on the PSAT than there are credited answers,
so on some of the more difficult questions, you’ll be well served by not trying to find the best
answer, but rather finding the wrong answers and using POE, Process of Elimination. Even if
you aren’t quite sure of the correct answer, you can guess strategically by eliminating a few
choices that you know are incorrect and then taking your best guess.11
Ballparking. Ballparking helps you eliminate answer choices and increase your odds of
zeroing in on the correct answer by eliminating any answer choices that are “out of the
ballpark.”
PITA. Plugging in the Answers tends to be a function used more on the math sections
where you might substitute real numbers for in algebra problems to turn them into arithmetic
problems. But you can also do this strategy in Reading and Writing by substituting the
underlined sections with the possible selections in the multiple choice answers.
OK. Now what? [Mrs. Roney talking now!]
It’s time to dive into some practice questions and
begin exploring directions, types of questions, and
the most common skills that the PSAT and SAT
test. Remember: you don’t have to “cram” for the
test, but use your best reading and writing skills,
and what you already know about grammar and
such!
As we work through exercises, I will expect you to
keep notes on what skills (and questions) you
succeed at and in which you have confidence. But
even more important, keep a list of those skills and
questions that trip you up – even sometimes!
Those are the ones you need to practice in class
and, OK, think about this, practice on your own.
The best part about the new structure and content
of the PSAT – and eventually the SAT – is that you
will be reading some very interesting fiction and
non-fiction selections. You may be familiar with
some material, but I’m having fun adding to my
knowledge as I work through these practice
exercises and tests. I hope you will, too. Learning
comes in many forms even on tests!
So, let the adventure (& learning) begin!
10
Not the guy who wrote “The Raven”, “The Bells”, or “The Tell-Tale Heart” – but you should know him, Mr. Edgar Allan
Poe; his work might show up in a PSAT or SAT! In fact the best “studying” you can do for the PSAT & SAT is to read
everyday and everything you can. Reading books will help your reading comprehension, your ability to pick up the
meaning of vocabulary in context, and your feel for English Grammar! SO READ!!!!
11
Remember: wrong answers no longer count against you! Don’t leave blanks!
13 | P a g e