PSAT Reading Test
Tips and Strategies for Success.
Overview of Reading Test
Purpose is to give you a chance to show how
well you understand what you read
47 total multiple choice questions
60 minutes given for this section
Reading Test Tips
 You will be given a series of reading passages, some of which have
accompanying “supplementary materials” (like charts and graphs) with
multiple choice questions.
 Make sure you understand what the passage(s) “say directly and use
careful reasoning to draw supportable inferences and conclusions from
the passage(s)”
 The best answer will not rely on prior knowledge of the topic, but rather
what is stated or implied in the passage. READ CAREFULLY! Correct
answers can be supported by the actual text.
 Question do NOT go from easiest to hardest-rather they are presented in
a more logical sequence.
 Don’t jump from passage to passage.
 All questions worth one point. It is always better to take an educated
guess.
Types of reading passages
 Passages range in length from 500-750 words.
 Taken from a variety of fields, including literature, history, and
science.
 Some passages will have accompanying charts and graphs
you will have to analyze.
 Some questions may ask you to analyze meaning of words
and phrases in context and analyze how word choice
influence the passage.
 You may have paired passages with questions that ask you
to make connections between the two.