A Step to the
Future
Preparing
Students for the
PSAT/NMSQT
This material was produced solely by the College Board for its organizational purposes;
National Merit Scholarship Corporation was not involved in its production.
What is the PSAT/NMSQT®?
• PSAT/NMSQT® stands for Preliminary SAT/
National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test
• The PSAT was first administered in 1959; it became the
PSAT/NMSQT in 1971 when National Merit Scholarship
Corporation began to cosponsor the test.
• The PSAT/NMSQT has kept pace with all the changes to the
SAT ® over the years, even moving ahead of the SAT when it
added the multiple-choice Writing Skills section in 1997.
• In 2004, over 2.9 million students took the PSAT/NMSQT:
49% were juniors, 51% were sophomores or younger students.
2
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.
3
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 collegebound peers.
• free access to MyRoad, a dynamic Web-based career, major, and
college exploration tool
4
A Step to the Future: Preparing Students for the PSAT/NMSQT
What is on the
PSAT/NMSQT?
What is it testing?
6
A Step to the Future: Preparing Students for the PSAT/NMSQT
7
A Step to the Future: Preparing Students for the PSAT/NMSQT
8
A Step to the Future: Preparing Students for the PSAT/NMSQT
9
A Step to the Future: Preparing Students for the PSAT/NMSQT
10
A Step to the Future: Preparing Students for the PSAT/NMSQT
What does the PSAT/NMSQT actually
test?
• Like the SAT, the test assesses the
academic skills that students develop
over the years, primarily through their
academic course work.
• It measures reading and math reasoning
and writing skills that are critical for success
in college.
11
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.
12
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)
13
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”)
14
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
15
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 thirdyear 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.)
16
A Step to the Future: Preparing Students for the PSAT/NMSQT
Sample
PSAT/NMSQT
Questions
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
18
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
19
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.
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.
20
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
21
(A)
skeptic
(B)
hypocrite
(C)
hoaxer
(D)
confidant
(E)
mystic
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
22
(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.
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
23
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
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.
(D) 24
(E) 48
24
A Step to the Future: Preparing Students for the PSAT/NMSQT
Math Section
Student-Produced Response
h 1 5h
• If — + — = — ,
4 3
6
what is the value of h?
25
A Step to the Future: Preparing Students for the PSAT/NMSQT
Math Section
Student-Produced Response
h
1
5h
If — + — = — ,
4 3
6
4 /
7
what is the value of h?
• 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.
26
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.
27
A Step to the Future: Preparing Students for the PSAT/NMSQT
Math Section
Student-Produced Response Practice Grids
28
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.
29
A Step to the Future: Preparing Students for the PSAT/NMSQT
Writing Section
Improving Sentences
A few barges still move oil up to Hartford, but in the old days
they had more traffic then.
30
(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
A Step to the Future: Preparing Students for the PSAT/NMSQT
Writing Section
Identifying Sentence Errors
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
Choice (B) is correct. It avoids the errors of the original by
eliminating both the unnecessary adverb, "then," and the vague
pronoun, "they."
31
A Step to the Future: Preparing Students for the PSAT/NMSQT
Writing Section
Identifying Sentence Errors
The electronic computer is a technological triumph that scientists
have developed, mastered, and then put it to constantly
A
B
C
increasing use. No error.
D
32
E
A Step to the Future: Preparing Students for the PSAT/NMSQT
Writing Section
Identifying Sentence Errors
The electronic computer is a technological triumph that scientists
have developed, mastered, and then put it to constantly
A
B
C
increasing use. No error.
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."
33
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.
34
(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.
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.
35
(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.
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.
36
A Step to the Future: Preparing Students for the PSAT/NMSQT
Scoring 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)
38
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.
39
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.
40
A Step to the Future: Preparing Students for the PSAT/NMSQT
Personalized Skills Information
The PSAT/NMSQT Score Report has helpful
information to help students improve their skills.
• Lists skills that have the best chance of improvement
with additional work.
• Includes advice, written by teachers, on how to improve
those skills.
41
A Step to the Future: Preparing Students for the PSAT/NMSQT
Getting ready
to take the
PSAT/NMSQT
Long-term and short-term
preparation
Long-Term Test Preparation
Developing Skills
Students should:
• READ
• improve vocabulary and develop skills through
continuous reading
• read more books than just those required
for class
43
A Step to the Future: Preparing Students for the PSAT/NMSQT
Long-Term Test Preparation
Developing Skills (continued)
• Students should:
• exercise, develop, and strengthen critical
thinking, higher-order reasoning, and problemsolving abilities
• take the most challenging courses they can
44
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 items
• 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
45
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
46
A Step to the Future: Preparing Students for the PSAT/NMSQT
Be sure to take the Practice Test in the
2005 Official Student Guide
47
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.
48
A Step to the Future: Preparing Students for the PSAT/NMSQT
Wild Guessing
49
A Step to the Future: Preparing Students for the PSAT/NMSQT
Educated Guessing
50
A Step to the Future: Preparing Students for the PSAT/NMSQT
Answer Key
51
A Step to the Future: Preparing Students for the PSAT/NMSQT
To learn more…
visit www.collegeboard.com
52
A Step to the Future: Preparing Students for the PSAT/NMSQT
Take the PSAT/NMSQT
• How to sign up:
_________________________________
___
(Be sure to pick up the Official Student Guide with Practice Test.)
• Test Day/Date:
_________________________________
___
• Time:
____________________________________________
• Where:
___________________________________________
• Bring:
53
 Two #2 Pencils
 Calculator
A Step to the Future: Preparing Students for the PSAT/NMSQT