PSAT Prep
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=
NrKE88QkNWw
The Brain is a Muscle: You can
Improve!!!
• Stanley Kaplan – showed the world that
performance on the SAT was not fixed.
Through his program, he single-handedly
demonstrated that the SAT could be gamed.
• Henry Louis Gates – Anyone sufficiently
motivated and curious can possess a culture
(and succeed on the SAT).
Agenda – Day One
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Vocabulary Development
Strategy Review
Sample Test
Error Identification
Improving Sentences Section
Agenda – Day Two
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Vocabulary Development
Writing Section Practice
Writing Section Review
Sample Essay -- Optional
Scoring and Anchor Papers -- Optional
Critical Reading Section
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Context clues
Predict
Mapping the Passage -Build your Vocabulary -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Bji1BjoT
Gg
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWu0Uz
C8dtQ
Mapping the Passage Practice
Step One: Draw the general structure of the concept map (the stage is
done before you start reading the passage). Note that in this case, I
created a circle for every paragraph, but you can adjust accordingly
both to your learning style and to the style of the PSAT passage. For
example, if a passage contains several short paragraphs, you may
want to combine two or three paragraphs into one circle. Of course,
you will not know how many circles to create if you do not know
what’is presented in the passage. However, I would recommend
that you create about six circles (you do not have to use them all):
one for the main point (usually I like to place the main point in the
center) and five others for main ideas of paragraph (s).
Step Two
• Step Two: Write the main point of passage.
You can usually deduce the main point of the
entire passage just by the first paragraph.
Write it down in the appropriate circle (again,
I like arranging the main point in the middle).
Step Three
• Step Three: Read the paragraphs one at a time (if
the passage contains several short paragraphs,
you may want to read a couple of paragraphs at a
time). As you read through each paragraph or
each couple of paragraphs, jot down the ideas
present in these paragraph(s) in the appropriate
circle. Usually, I like to jot down two points for
every circle: one point taken from the beginning
of the paragraph(s) and another taken from near
the end of the paragraph(s).
Step Four
• Step Four: Repeat the process described in
step three until you are finished reading the
passage.
Step Five
• Step Five: Now you have finished reading the
passage, you have a pretty decent idea of how
each paragraph relates. At this time, I would
draw in connecting lines to show the
relationship between each circle/paragraph
(maybe even add a few words to describe how
one paragraph relates to the next one). This
really helps when it comes to questions which
ask you about the role of a specific paragraph
(the primary function of paragraph 3 is…
).
Vocabulary
• Build vocabulary through on-line programs.
• http://www.vocabtest.com/
• Build vocabulary through reading. New York
Times Article Activity. H:\SAT Lessons\Personal
Stories About Global Warming Change
Minds.docx
• Build vocabulary through root words.
• http://www.vocabulary.co.il/root-words/
Sample PSAT
• 2013 Sample Test— Booklet
• 2013 Sample Test Answers:
http://media.collegeboard.com/digitalService
s/pdf/psat/critical-reading-section1-2013rev.pdf
Review Answers – Which Questions
did you get wrong?
• Did you sense a pattern? Was it vocabulary?
Was it reading? Did you try Chunking the
text?
Identifying Sentences
• 1. Choose the letter that corresponds to the
incorrect part of the sentence. If there are no
errors, choose (E).
• Both Janet and Tiffany want to be a veterinarian
and work in zoos when they grow up. No Error.
• (A) Both
(B) a veterinarian
(C) in zoos
(D) they grow up
(E) No error.
Improving Sentences
• 1. By the time they arrived at 2 a.m., I was so
worried I am fixing to call the police.
• (A) (No error.)
(B) I am calling the police.
(C) I am about to call the police.
(D) I was about to call the police.
(E) I've geared up to call the police
Improving Paragraphs
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1) El Niño was originally recognized by fishermen who were fishing off the coast of
South America who noticed an appearance that was unusual of some unusually
warm water in the Pacific Ocean, occurring very near the beginning of the start of
the year. (2) El Niño means The Little One in Spanish.
1. In the context of the paragraph, which is the best version of sentence (1)?
(A) (As it is now.)
(B) Originally being recognized by fishermen off the coast of South America as an
appearance of some unusually warm water, occurring very near the beginning or
the start of the year; El Niño was in the Pacific Ocean.
(C) El Niño was originally recognized by fishermen off the coast of South America
as the appearance of unusually warm water in the Pacific Ocean, occurring near
the beginning of the year.
(D) Occurring near the beginning of the year, some fishermen originally recognized
El Niño as the appearance of some unusually warm water, it occurred near the
very beginning of the year, in the Pacific Ocean.
(E) Some fishermen originally recognized off the coast of South America, as an
appearance of unusually warm water occurring near the very beginning or start of
this year in the Pacific Ocean.
Writing Section
• Pronoun Issues:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jH8Dlsas9c
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyUM9tfrLP8
• Run-ons:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8jijdt7yyI
• Ambiguous Pronoun:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyUM9tfrLP8
• Passive and Active Voice:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dn4Axx9BmhY
Idioms:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D70Lq2im_fE
SAMPLE TEST Debrief
• What kinds of questions did you struggle
with?
• Review Video Tutorials to improve the skills on
which you performed poorly.
SAT Essay – Review Guidelines
• Consider – What makes a good essay?
Strategies for the long-term
• Read the New York Times, The Economist, The
New Yorker.
• Keep list of vocabulary words. Use the
templates provided.