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