1. Preparation for the PSAT

2. Expectations at the High School Maturity Responsibility Accountability Get Involved Study Habits

3. Graduation Requirements You need a minimum of 26 credits to graduate. You need a minimum of 7 credits per year. English: 4 credits Social Studies: 4 credits Mathematics: 4 credits Science: 3 credits Business Information Technology/Computer Applications: 1 credit Physical Education/Health: 1 credit Electives: 8 credits Graduation Project: 1 credit

4. The PSAT The Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) is a program cosponsored by the College Board and National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC).National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) It's a standardized test that provides firsthand practice for the SAT ®. It also gives you a chance to enter NMSC scholarship programs and gain access to college and career planning tools.

5. What does the PSAT measure? Critical Reading Skills Math Problem-Solving Skills Writing Skills  You have developed these skills over many years, both in and out of school.  This test doesn't require you to recall specific facts from your classes.

6. It’s free! The test is October 17th. You receive feedback on your strengths and weaknesses on skills. You can focus your preparation on those areas of weakness. It helps get you ready for college. You can see how your performance on an admissions test might compare with that of others applying to college. It helps you prepare for the SAT. You can become familiar with the kinds of questions and the exact directions you will see on the SAT. Can enter scholarship competition (11 th grade)

7. What’s on the PSAT? There are 5 sections on the PSAT. Two 25-minute critical reading sections 48 questions (13 sentence completions and 35 critical reading questions) Two 25-minute math sections 38 questions (28 multiple choice and 10 student-produced responses) One 30-minute writing skills section 39 questions (14 identifying sentence errors, 20 improving sentences, 5 improving paragraph questions) The whole test requires 2 hours and 10 minutes.

8. Can I use a calculator? Yes, students are strongly encouraged to use a calculator! (p. 17) Take a calculator you know how to use. Don’t try to use the calculator on every question. Decide how to solve the problem before using the calculator. You are not permitted to share a calculator. Approved Calculators:  Four-function calculator  Scientific calculator  Graphing calculator Not Permitted:  Pocket organizer  Hand-held or laptop computer  Electronic writing pad or pen input device  Calculator with typewriter-like keypad  Calculator with paper tape  Calculator that makes noise or requires an outlet

9. Preparing for the PSAT  Go to www.collegeboard.org for informationwww.collegeboard.org  Take some challenging academic courses and read a variety of books (not just what is required)!  Start practicing with sample questions  Become familiar with the instructions for each type of test question  Take the practice test (you can review complete answer explanations for all the questions on the practice test)

10. Please go to this website on your Career Cruising homepage: PSAT Prep link: http://www.collegeboard.com /student/testing/psat/about/ ontest.html

11. Critical Reading Hints (p. 8) Sentence Completion Questions measure your knowledge of the meanings of words and ability to understand how the different parts of a sentence logically fit together. Read the entire sentence to yourself. Watch for introductory or connecting words and phrases like but, not, because, etc. In sentences with two blanks, make sure the words for both blanks make sense in the sentence. Start by working with one blank at a time. Stay within the meaning of the sentence. Before you mark your answer, read the complete sentence with your choice filled in.

12. More Critical Reading Hints Passage-Based Reading Questions measure your ability to read and think carefully about a single reading passage or a pair of related passages. Don’t skip introductions to passages. Read each passage and any accompanying information carefully. You may find it helpful to mark the passages as you read. Select the best answer choice- don’t select just because it’s true. You may find it helpful to read the questions first to get an idea of what to look for. When a question asks you to compare an aspect of a pair of passages, don’t be misled by choices that are correct for only one of the two passages.

13. Math Hints (p. 17) When answering multiple choice questions, you are given 5 choices to pick from. Look at all answer choices. If your answer isn’t among the choices, try writing it in a different form. You may have the same answer in a different format.

14. More Math Hints Grid-ins (student-produced responses) require you to solve a problem and enter your answer. (p. 26) A calculator may be helpful for these questions. It’s suggested that you write your answer in the boxes above the grid to avoid errors in gridding. The grid can hold only 4 places and can accommodate only positive numbers and zero. Don’t worry about which column to begin gridding. As long as the answer is gridded completely, you receive will credit. An answer can be entered as a decimal or a fraction. You don’t have to reduce fractions to simplest terms. Convert all mixed numbers to improper fractions before gridding. Some questions may have more than one right answer. You don’t lose points for a wrong answer with these math questions.

15. Writing Skills Hints (p.29) Identifying Sentence Errors Questions test your knowledge of grammar, usage, word choice, and idioms.  You either find errors in sentences or indicate there is no error.  Look at choices A through D to see whether anything needs to be changed to make the sentence correct.  Don’t waste time searching for errors. Mark E (no error) on your answer sheet if the sentence is correctly written.  Move quickly through these types of questions since the other writing skills questions may take more time.  Mark questions that seem hard for you and return to them later.

16. More Writing Skills Hints… Improving Sentences Questions ask you to choose the best, most effective form of an underlined portion of a given sentence.  Read the entire sentence (not just the underlined portion).  Mark Choice A if the underlined portion is correct.  Think how you would revise the underlined portion if it seems wrong- then look among your choices.  Concentrate on choices that seem clear and exact when you read them.

17. More Writing Skills Hints Improving Paragraphs Questions require you to make choices about improving the logic, coherence, or organization in a flawed passage.  Read essay quickly to determine overall meaning. The essay is meant to be a draft, so don’t worry about the errors.  Make sure that your answer about a particular sentence or sentences makes sense in the context of the passage as a whole.

18. Please answer some practice questions from the reading, math, and writing sections.

19. PSAT is on October 17th Visit www.collegeboard.org for more information!www.collegeboard.org If you have any additional questions or concerns about anything, please visit Mrs. Usouski in the Guidance Office. Please complete the survey in Career Cruising.