GCISD Superintendent’s Scholars PSAT Preparation – Improve your Already Terrific Score!

Today’s Schedule TimeActivity 9:00 – 9:45Introductions & PowerPoint: The PSAT 9:45 – 10:00In hallway : Introduce yourself to other students 10:00 – 10:15Break 10:15 – 10:30Move to rooms 203 and :30 – 10:55Section I Pretest – Critical Reading 11:00 – 11:25Section II Pretest – Math 11:30 – 12:00Section III Pretest – Critical Reading

Tuesday’s Schedule TimeActivity 9:00 – 9:30PowerPoint: Our Textbook 9:30-9:45Break 9:45 – 10:15Section IV Pretest – Math 10:15 – 10:45Section V Pretest – Writing Skills 10:45 – 11:00Break 11:00 – 11:15PowerPoint: Scoring the PSAT 11:15 – 12:00Score Your PSAT and Set your Goals HOMEWORKSAT Book: Test 3 Section 2 Math (pages ), Section 4 Writing (pages 520 – 524)

Wednesday’s Schedule TimeActivity 9:00 – 9:30Go over Homework. Describe the breakout sessions. 9:30 - 9:45Break; Move to Rooms 203 & 204 9:45 – 10:45Room 203: Discuss math questions missed; Math Strategies Handout 9:45 – 10:45Room 204: Discuss Reading Comprehension/Writing questions missed 10:45 – 11:00Break 11:00 – 12:00Trade rooms to continue discussing questions missed OR Computer Lab Time on Collegeboard.com, Quizlet, or Grockit HOMEWORKSAT Book: Test 3 Section 5 Math (pages ), Section 6 Reading Comprehension (pages 531– 536)

Thursday’s Schedule TimeActivity 9:00 – 9:30Go over Homework. PowerPoint: The SAT 9:30 – 9:45 Break; Move to Rooms 203 & 204 9:45 – 10:45Room 203: Discuss Math Strategies Math Group Work 9:45 – 10:45Room 204: Discuss Reading Comprehension/Writing Strategies Reading Comprehension/Writing Group Work 10:45 – 11:00Break 11:00 – 12:00Trade rooms to continue working with strategies OR Computer Lab Time on Collegeboard.com, Quizlet, or Grockit HOMEWORKSAT Book: Test 3 Section 7 Reading Comprehension (pages ), Section 8 Math(pages 543– 548)

Friday’s Schedule TimeActivity 9:00 – 9:30Go over Homework. PowerPoint: The ACT 9:30 – 9:45Break; Move to Rooms 203 & 204 9:45 – 10:45Room 203: Discuss Math Strategies Math Group Work 9:45 – 10:45Room 204: Discuss Reading Comprehension/Writing Strategies Reading Comprehension/Writing Group Work 10:45 – 11:00Break 11:00 – 12:00Trade rooms to continue working with strategies OR Computer Lab Time on Collegeboard.com, Quizlet, or Grockit NO HOMEWORK

Monday, June 28 TimeActivity 9:00 – 9:30PowerPoint: Your Responsibilities. Individual Session planning. 9:30 – 9:45Break. Move to Rooms 203 & 204 9:45 – 10:45Room 203: Discuss Math Strategies Math Group Work Individual meetings 9:45 – 10:45Room 204: Discuss Reading Comprehension/Writing Strategies Reading Comprehension/Writing Group Work Individual meetings 10:45 – 11:00Break 11:00 – 12:00Trade rooms to continue working with strategies OR Computer Lab Time on Collegeboard.com, Quizlet, or Grockit; Individual meetings HOMEWORKSAT Book: Test 3 Section 9 Reading Comprehension (pages ), Section 8 Writing(pages )

Tuesday, June 29 TimeActivity 9:00 – 9:30Go over Homework. PowerPoint: The Math Portion of the PSAT. Grading your SAT test online. 9:30 – 9:45Break. Move to Computer Labs (Rooms 404 and 409) 9: :00Enter your answers for Test #3 online and print your Item Type Report. 11:00 – 11:15Break. Move to Rooms 203 & :15 – 12:00Analyze results of your Item Type Report. Refine your Self- Assessment and Goals. Individual Meetings. HOMEWORKTest #4 Section 2 (Critical Reading) pp 576 – 580 Section 3 (Math) pp

Wednesday, June 30 TimeActivity 9:00 – 9:30Go over homework. Move to rooms :30 – 10:30Room 203: Discuss Math Strategies Math Group Work Individual meetings 9:30 – 10:30Room 204: Discuss Reading Comprehension/Writing Strategies Reading Comprehension/Writing Group Work Individual meetings 10:30- 10:45Break. 10:45 – 11:45Trade rooms to continue working with strategies OR Computer Lab Time on Collegeboard.com, Quizlet, or Grockit; Individual meetings. HOMEWORKTest #4 Section 5 (Writing) pp 587 – 592 Section 6 (Math) pp

Thursday, July 1 TimeActivity 9:00 – 9:30Go over homework. 9:30 – 9:45Break. 9:45 – 12:00Take Practice PSAT (5 sections) ( 2 hours 10 minutes, with short breaks)

Friday, July 2 TimeActivity 9:00 – 9:45Score & Analyze Practice Test. Discussion. 9:45 – 10:00Plan fall followup sessions. 10:00 – 10:15Break 10:30 – 11:30Students fill out evaluation form. Closing activities. 11:30 – 12:00Individual meetings

Table of Contents I. The PSAT The PSAT II. Our Textbook Our Textbook III. Scoring the PSATScoring the PSAT IV. The SATThe SAT V. The ACTThe ACT VI. Your responsibilities – a checklistYour responsibilities – a checklist VII. The Math Portion of the PSATThe Math Portion of the PSAT

I. The PSAT Why is the test called the PSAT/NMSQT? The “P” in PSAT stands for “preliminary.” So, first and foremost, the PSAT is the Preliminary AT. As such, its job is to familiarize students with the types of questions that are on the SAT and to help students assess their strengths and weaknesses.

PSAT/NMSQT The PSAT also serves as the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (NMSQT). Approximately 50,000 students nationally gain recognition in the NMSQT competition by their scores on the PSAT. This represents the top 4-5% of those who take the test. Our hope that everyone in this room will become a National Merit Finalist and that this course will help you do so.

How can the PSAT help me? It will help you gauge your potential scores on the SAT It will give you some idea of which colleges you should apply to in your senior year. It will give you access to scholarship competitions. It will give you practice in answering multiple-choice questions, where timing is an important factor. You may choose to take advantage of the College Board’s Student Search Service, by which you will receive mail from colleges and search programs.

What makes the PSAT different from other Tests? The PSAT is trying to measure your ability to reason using facts that are part of your general knowledge or facts that are included in your test booklet. You are not required to recall any history or literature or science. You are not even required to recall most math formulas –t hey are printed right in the test booklet.

PSAT Score Your score depends on how many correct answers you get within a definite period of time. You can’t go too slowly; however, accuracy is even more important than speed. You have to pace yourself carefully. The biggest mistake most students make is to answer too many questions. It is better to answer fewer questions correctly, even if you have to leave some out at the end of a section.

When can I take the PSAT? The PSAT/NMSQT is administered on the third Saturday of October and the preceding Wednesday. Wednesday October 13, 2010 at CHHS and GHS Saturday, October 16, 2010 at other locations

How can I register for the PSAT? All 10 th grade CHHS and GHS students will take the PSAT in October, 2009 during the school day on Wednesday, October th and 11 th graders who sign up for the PSAT may also take it that day.

What's on the PSAT? Like the SAT, the PSAT doesn't ask you to recall specific information from your course work, such as dates in history; instead, it tests the critical reading, math problem-solving, and writing skills that you've developed in school.

Does the PSAT play a role in College Admissions? No. The PSAT plays no role in college admissions. It’s really just a practice test for the SAT. The one exception is for that very small group of students, about 4 percent of all students nationwide, whose PSAT scores qualify them for National Merit recognition. Recognition as a commended scholar, semifinalist, or finalist for National Merit is an impressive addition to your college admissions portfolio.

What happens to the Score Report from the PSAT? Only you, your high school, and the National Merit Scholarship Corporation will receive copies of your score reports. They won’t be sent to colleges.

Will a bad PSAT score hurt my college applications? The PSAT is not a criterion for college admission, so taking the test can only help you.

How is the PSAT structured and timed? SectionLengthQuestion Type # of Questions Math Two 25-minute sections · Multiple Choice · Grid-Ins · 28 · 10 Critical Reading Two 25-minute sections · Sentence Completion · Reading Comprehension · 13 · 35 Writing Skills One 30-minute section · Identifying Sentence Errors · Improving Sentences · Improving Paragraphs · 14 · 20 · 5

PSAT vs SAT SATPSAT Structure10 sections5 sections Length3 hours 45 minutes2 hours 10 minutes PurposeCollege AdmissionsNMSQT Scoring2400Selection index out of 240

Will my SAT score rise if I take the PSAT as a sophomore and junior? YES! Taking the PSAT can help raise your SAT score. Based on the recent College Board SAT 2006 report, students who took the PSAT in their sophomore and junior years scored a combined 233 points higher than students who did not take the PSAT at all.

What's so important about the PSAT? Taking—and preparing for—the PSAT can help you: Gain familiarity with the SAT and acquire test-taking skills Compare your test performance with students across the country Qualify for National Merit Scholarships and other awardsNational Merit Scholarships and other awards