The Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, or PSAT, is administered to high school sophomores and juniors in October each year. In 2018, students will take the nearly three-hour exam on Oct. 10, 13 or 24, depending on the date their high school chooses.
Since many students consider the PSAT to be a trial run of the SAT, fewer study for the PSAT than do for the SAT. But to maximize the PSAT, high school students should consider spending time over the summer preparing for the exam.
[Read: 3 Reasons Your PSAT Score Matters.]
Here are three facts that can help you make the most of summer PSAT prep and minimize confusion between the PSAT and SAT.
The most difficult SAT questions do not appear on the PSAT. As you prepare for the PSAT this summer, focus on these three math areas: Heart of Algebra, which assesses your understanding of linear equations and systems of equations; Problem Solving and Data Analysis; and Passport to Advanced Math, which measures your ability to work with complex equations.
While the PSAT’s math section is not limited to these three topics, it places greater emphasis on them. The College Board considers these topic areas to be important to a range of college majors and careers.
In the reading portion of the test, students will be expected to show command of evidence skills, or the ability to closely examine the evidence that is used in particular passages. Test-takers will also have to demonstrate the ability to analyze passages focused on history, social studies and science topics as well as the ability to parse word meanings from context.
The writing and language portion measures the same skills the reading portion does, but students must employ them to improve a given passage. Students will also be asked to evaluate sentence structure, usage, punctuation and organization in this part of the test.
It is important to note that the PSAT lacks the more difficult question types that appear on the SAT. This is especially true in the math portion, though it applies to the other sections too. This is one reason SAT study materials can be great resources if you find you need more prep — they can introduce you to the broad range of question types that you will eventually face on SAT test day, while still being relevant to the PSAT.
[Read: How Parents, Teens Can Make Use of New PSAT Scores.]
The PSAT does not include an essay. On the one hand, this makes the PSAT shorter and more concise, and it reflects the fact that the SAT essay is optional. On the other hand, the lack of an essay means students forego writing practice that can be critical to those who plan to complete the SAT essay.
For students who struggle with writing more broadly but must take the SAT essay, or believe they may need to, it can be advantageous to begin developing SAT writing skills immediately.
As you outline your PSAT prep schedule, include extra time for essay practice.
PSAT prep is an opportunity to determine which SAT study strategies suit you. All high school students who plan to take the SAT should sit for the PSAT because it gives you the chance to gauge your strengths and weaknesses in an authentic setting.
While taking practice tests is an excellent SAT study method, the practice exams cannot mimic the genuine testing conditions that the PSAT is designed to emulate.
Another benefit of sitting for the PSAT is that students receive a detailed score report afterward. Here’s an example from the College Board. The score report includes your performance on each question type, the difficulty level of each question and suggested next steps for improving your skills.
[Read: Transform Your PSAT Score Into an SAT Game Plan.]
But you can go one step further. As you review your score report, think about the study strategies you used. Which were effective and for which question types? Which are not worth carrying over to the SAT?
You can view the PSAT as a chance to test-drive potential prep techniques. Make a note of the strategies you use as you study for the PSAT.
Students should devote some of their summer vacation to getting ready for the October PSAT. The first step is to become familiar with the subject areas and question types the test emphasizes and to plan your study efforts accordingly. It is also helpful to understand the value of the PSAT and learn how to use your score report to your advantage after it arrives.
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How to Use the Summer to Prep for the PSAT originally appeared on usnews.com
