Since 1971, the PSAT which is known as the Preliminary SAT or the National Scholarship Qualifying test is offered once every year in October. While the PSAT in reality is just a practice test, there are several reasons as to why it is important and you should give it your best effort if you decide to take it.
The first reason is that this test works as a great indicator to how you will score on an ACT/SAT. This is because the scoring on the PSAT is scaled and structured as such so that the score would reflect one of the junior year standardized tests.
In general, the test is a little bit easier and scored out of 1520 instead of 1600. Additionally, taking this test gives you the chance to see what topics you need more practice on before it is too late. Looking at the post test report will give you a perfect idea of what to study when you go to take either the SAT or ACT. Learn more about the PSAT exam format in more detail here.
Lastly, if you do well enough, you might qualify to be a National Merit Scholar and gain the potential scholarships that come with it. This means that if you do well enough, you have the potential to receive thousands of dollars in scholarships towards your college education.
These following tips will ensure that you will get a high score when taking this test.
The first tip is to search for and emulate wrong answers instead of looking for the right one. Look at each answer and try to find what makes it incorrect. Remember in order to be the correct answer, the entire answer has to be correct.
Secondly, get comfortable doing the reading passages out of order. Start with whatever subject you have the most difficulty with because you will have the most focus and energy at the beginning. For example, if you struggle with historical passages, start there and then work your way to the passage type you do the best at so that you are doing it at the end when you are a little fatigued. This is so you contribute the most brainpower to the passages you struggle the most with.
In the math section, a great strategy to save time and to make solving easier is to plug in numbers for variables. This makes some of the questions less confusing due to the fact that you are working with small numbers as opposed to letters. Continuing on the math theme, use the answers to your advantage. Try plugging them in when possible and work backwards to save yourself time on both math sections. Additionally, use them to eliminate answers that you know are wrong.
Looking at the test as a whole, one important strategy is to not leave any questions blank. The PSAT/SAT/ACT do not penalize you for getting an answer wrong. You just do not get the point. Therefore make sure you answer every question even if you have to guess. This relates to the next tip which is if you have to guess on any questions make sure that you guess the same letter. You will have a higher chance of getting more questions right if you guess B for every question you do not know instead of guessing a different letter each time. This is because statistically each answer is used 25% of the time so you will get around 25% of them right instead of guessing randomly and having little chance.Â
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