Overcoming the PSAT

Many kids took the PSAT on October 13. If you take the PSAT freshman or sophomore year it is good practice for taking tests in an intimidating environment and taking standardized tests. Taking tests in class is very different from the PSAT because you have more restrictions, less time, and higher stakes.

Your junior year your PSAT score will be sent to the National Merit Scholarship Corporation which determines whether or not you will be placed in the National Merit organization. Being part of the National Merit Corporation can be helpful. It qualifies you for scholarships that can help pay for your college tuition fees. 

Studying for the PSAT can be difficult and you may not know where to start. The best place to begin is to get a PSAT guide book. These books are located in the library, you can buy them on Amazon, or borrow one from a friend. These prep books provide multiple practice tests, drills, and complete explanations of previous PSAT answers.

These books have lots of helpful tips and strategies that prove to be very useful. Learning the tips and tricks provided are essential because while you won’t know the questions on the test, they are formatted the same each year, and learning some strategies will help you understand the questions better.

Next, managing your time is essential. Get a head start on your studying, take practice tests, and just overall review questions. Taking practice tests is a good way to see what the test is like, that way you don’t walk in completely clueless. Even though the questions may not be the same, the formatting, the style, and the structure will be similar every year.

There is no way of knowing exactly what is going to be on the test, but the best way to not walk in completely clueless is by familiarizing yourself with previous content. That way you know the main format of each section and can get the best score possible which is always a good goal.