Plan of AttackPSAT 2012

The Basics Why?

Gives you practice for the SAT Gives you a chance to qualify for the National

Merit Scholarship Program Scholarships for college

Scoring Correct answer– one point Unanswered question-0 points Incorrect answer to a multiple choice

question- lose ¼ of a point Incorrect answer to a math grid question- 0 pts

Structure 1. Critical Reading

25 minutes 13 sentence completion and 35 reading comprehension questions

2. Math 25 minutes 28 regular math multiple choice questions and 10 grid-in questions

3. Same as #1 4. Same as #2 5. Writing Skills

30 minutes 14 identifying sentence errors, 20 improving sentences, and 5 improving

paragraphs

Selection Index The sum of your math, critical reading, and

writing scores. A range from 60 to 240.

Hard questions are worth same amount of points as easy ones. Skip around and answer as many as you can. Don’t waste time on questions that you don’t know at all.

Math and sentence completion questions Math questions—both multiple choice and

grid-ins-are arrange from easy to hard. Sentence completion--ditto

Reading Comprehension and Writing Not arranged in any order—not arranged from

easier to harder.

Hard questions Circle them in your test booklet, skip them

and come back once you have answered all the ones you know.

Be sure to skip that number on your scantron sheet.

When to guess If you can rule out two of the choices as

wrong, then you should probably guess. But on the math grid– guess! There is no

penalty for wrong answers on this section.

A suggestion Some people wait to mark their scantron sheet

until they come to the end of a section. They circle the correct answers in the test booklet. This method can help save time, keep your momentum going, and help avoid mistakes on the scantron sheet.

I have never done this, but it might work for some

Remember The answer is right in front of you on all the

multiple choice questions Look for quick points if you are running out

of time For example, on the reading comprehension,

some questions ask you to identify a word meaning, which can be done w/o reading the entire passage.

Vocabulary Vocab is vital to PSAT Find your own study techniques

Flashcard Worksheets Notebooks Mnemonic devices

STUDY REPEATEDLY

Vocabulary cont.. Use root words Listen to your gut Try and recall context

SENTENCE COMPLETION Testing vocabulary Testing ability to follow sentence flow

Remember: arranged in order of easy to hard

USE CLUES!!!

How to attack the sentence completion sections Build vocab Look for context clues and predict an answer Scan choices for one that would fit For two blanks, decide which blank is easier

to predict and scan choices.

Kaplan Four-Step Method Read for clues Predict Scan answers for match Read back in the sentence

READ CAREFULLY While George Balanchine’s choreography

stayed within a classical context, he challenged convention by recombining the traditional idioms of ballet in ---- ways. A. novel B. familiar C. redundant D. naive E. awkward

Survey Says…. A. Novel Since Balanchine worked within a classical

context, he must have done something different in order to “challenge convention.” You can predict that he used “traditional idioms” in new ways.

Novel matches the prediction (adj. something new or different)

Process of Elimination Prior to the American entrance into WWI, President

Woodrow Wilson strove to maintain the ---- of the U.S., warning both sides against encroachments on American interests. A. involvement B. belligerence C. versatility D. munificence E. neutrality

Survey Says…. E. neutrality The most important phrase in the sentence is

“prior to” Before America entered the war, Wilson couldn’t

maintain the involvement or belligerence (engaging in war). C (versatility-many skills) and D-munificence-generous don’t make sense.

Neutrality accurately represents prewar status.

Weighing over seventy tons, Brachiosaurus was-----creature, yet its brain was quite----

A. an intelligent…enormous B. gargantuan…small C. minute…tiny D. prodigious….fossilized E. extinct…extant

Survey Says……. B!! Gargantuan and small!

“Weighing over seventy tons”-gigantic Yet sets up the contrast Something small and tiny Prodigious works too (enormous) but fossilized

doesn’t extant- existing

The ---------nature of the platypus makes it difficult to sight, even in the-------space of a zoological.

a. elusive……confined

b. crafty……massive

c. amiable…inhabited

d. playful….structured

e. slothful…open

Survey Says…. A!!!

“difficult to sight”- confined works here!

Slothful-lazy Amiable-friendly Inhabited-having inhabitants-animals living in a

certain place

Reading comprehension questions Know the directions-questions are only based

on the information in the passage. Do not apply outside knowledge when answering.

You’ll be asked About overall tone (Big Picture) Overall content Specific details (little picture) What author suggests/implies (inference) Paired passages will ask you to compare and

contrast the texts Vocabulary in context

With partner… In your own words, define the following types

of questions: Big Picture Little picture Inference Vocab-in-context

Pp.211-213 #’s 12-18; pp. 214-216 #’s 19-24 & pp. 101-103 #’s 21-27 (2009)

Various Mode Homework 40 Model Essays Text/Various Mode work:

Description pp. 21-25 Once More to the Lake by E.B. White and Silent Dancing by Judith Ortiz Cofer /Meaning, Purpose and Audience, Method and Structure, Language and Writing topic #1 on p. 33 OR Writing Topic #2 on p. 49 (no more than a page typed 12pt font Times New Roman, double spaced)

Some tips for long passages Make a map: jot down simple notes in the

margins as you read Underline key points Note places where the author gives opinion

Do pp. 268-270 (2009) AND pp. 98-99 (2009)

Skim the passage Read the question. Make sure you understand

what it is asking Locate the material you need– if it gives a

line number, go directly to it.

pp. 25-26 #18-24

pp. 22-23 #6-11 (2009)

How to Attack the Writing Section Part I: 14 Identifying Sentence errors Assume that the parts of the sentence not

underlined are correct. Listen for what sounds wrong

Part II: 20 Improving sentences questions Choice A is always identical to the original

sentence.

5 Improving Paragraph questions

Complete the following activities: You will be given one of the common

questions found on the writing section of the PSAT (found in Kaplan)

Summarize the characteristics of that type of writing section question

Make an original test question that could be used in that section Including multiple choice answer options Mark the correct answer and STATE WHY

Part I: Identifying Sentence ErrorsGroup 1 (2 sections): Baird and Vaughn

Verb tense errors; Adjective and adverb errors

Group 2 (2 sections): Kelly and DavisSubject-verb agreements; Double negatives

Group 3: Hartman and MorrisonPronoun errors: Case and number

Group 4: Hornberger and Woods Pronoun errors: Ambiguous reference

Group 5: Crum and SchulzIdioms

Group 6: Hughes, Donnelly, and BrewerComparison errors

Part II: Improving SentencesGroup 1: Davis and Hornberger

Sentence fragments

Group 2: Vaughn and HughesRun-on sentences

Group 3: Kelly and SchulzCoordination errors

Group 4: Baird and Brewer Subordination errors

Group 5: Donnelly and WoodsMisplaced modifiers

Group 6: Morrison, Crum, and HartmanBad parallelism

Part II: Improving ParagraphsGroup 1: Hartman and Hughes

Sentence revision

Group 2: Woods and BrewerSentence combination

Group 3: Morrison and VaughnLogic and clarity

Group 4: Crum and Donnelly Sentence revision

Group 5: Hughes and BairdSentence combination

Group 6: Hornberger, Davis, and Kelly

Logic and clarity