| Starting in high school the counselors, teachers and | | | | and ten grid questions. Performance on the math |
| parents all start using acronyms. Now life is difficult | | | | section can be enhanced greatly with practicing and |
| enough and now everyone is throwing all these initials | | | | brushing up on math skills with a good PSAT |
| around expecting you to not only know what they | | | | preparation guide. |
| mean, but to score well on them. Well never, fear, | | | | The writing section of the PSAT involves a |
| there are many college bound students in the same | | | | thirty-minute allotment where the test taker is |
| boat as you that are wondering what the heck a | | | | expected to answer questions based on a given |
| PSAT really is. Seriously, you should know what | | | | writing sample. The student will answer multiple |
| these initials are by now, but you still may not have a | | | | choice questions based on finding mistakes, poor |
| good grasp on what it really involves. This article will | | | | sentence structure and other grammatical errors. The |
| serve as a guideline and help you better understand | | | | best way to prepare for the writing section of the |
| this test that you are headed toward. | | | | PSAT is to practice with the given exercises in the |
| PSAT or Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test | | | | PSAT study guide. There are thirty-nine questions |
| The PSAT is kind of a practice test that helps | | | | that must be answered in thirty minutes in the |
| students determine their placement and how much | | | | writing section. Warning: many first time students fail |
| preparation they need before they take on the SAT. | | | | the writing portion of the exam because they blow |
| This can give you a good idea of how the questions | | | | this section off. |
| are worded, what is expected and if the test is easy | | | | A perfect score on the PSAT is eighty and the |
| or difficult for you. Some students make the mistake | | | | lowest is a twenty. Most students that are still in high |
| of believing that because they aced the PSAT that | | | | school that take the exam score about a fifty. This |
| the SAT will be the same and never even study. | | | | could be greatly improved if the students made use |
| That is not advisable and it may be that you got | | | | of reference material. The mind gets better with |
| lucky with the PSAT. So always, make sure that you | | | | practice and certainly over time, so it is imperative to |
| prepare before any exam, unless you just have | | | | study for the PSAT and SAT. On the Internet you |
| money and early mornings to blow! | | | | will see a ton or study guides, courses and tapes |
| The PSAT is made up of two reading sessions, two | | | | that will raise your score. Many of these products will, |
| math sessions and one writing session. The questions | | | | but you need to make sure that you are getting a |
| are multiple choice or guess, as many prefer to say | | | | proven product. So, how do you know if it is proven |
| except for the writing portion of the test. The | | | | or not. Look at the testimonials of other students, if |
| allotted time for the test is a little over two hours, | | | | there are no testimonials, avoid making the purchase. |
| but not everyone takes that long and others need | | | | If others have benefited from the product than it is |
| the entire time. Two hours is not the maximum | | | | safe to assume that you can do the same. |
| given, but only a guideline. | | | | Most high schools begin trying to get their junior and |
| The reading sessions are approximately twenty-five | | | | senior classes to take the PSAT. This is a great time |
| minutes apiece and involves critical reading, | | | | to take the test to begin preparing in the areas that |
| vocabulary as well as determining the relationship | | | | you need help in or scored poorly. If you start |
| between words. The most important part of the | | | | preparing early you can eliminate some of the stress |
| reading section of the PSAT is to ensure that you | | | | and possibly even get more of an opportunity for |
| read the sections carefully. There are fifty questions | | | | financial aid and/or scholarship money. The quicker |
| in the reading section so it is important to adhere to | | | | you have the SAT results the more likely you are to |
| a time schedule. Hurrying through this part of the | | | | be granted money, that you don't have to pay back. |
| exam will lower your score, because there might be | | | | So, do not wait or put off taking the PSAT, consider |
| a trick or two! Pace yourself to ensure that you are | | | | it a practice and preparation for the SAT. |
| not carelessly answering the questions, but that you | | | | There are also several practice tests on the Internet, |
| are not taking too much time either. Those taking | | | | but are not all that you will need to prepare for the |
| the PSAT today will not have those all famous | | | | PSAT or SAT. Granted the free practice tests can |
| analogies to look forward to as they have been | | | | give you an idea of the test type questions, but it is |
| eliminated, darned of luck! | | | | not a good preparation strategy. Do not fall into the |
| The math sessions are approximately twenty-five | | | | "cannot afford it trap", find a way because the test |
| minutes apiece and consist of word problems, | | | | is not cheap and you do not want to waste the |
| algebra, graphs, geometry and statistics. The match | | | | money failing the test! |
| section consists of thirty multiple-choice questions | | | | |