PSAT General Tips
Test Anxiety
• Some test anxiety is completely NORMAL, but
don’t focus on it either. Anxiety can be a habit
more than anything.
• Test anxiety feeds on the unknown. By:
– Becoming familiar with the test material,
– Identifying your strengths & weaknesses,
– & Practicing
You are already eliminating this factor – so you’re on the
right track!
Short-Term Relaxation Techniques
Tensing/Differential Method
• Put your feet flat on the
floor.
• With your hands, grab
under your chair.
• Push down your feet &
pull up on chair @ the
same time for 5 seconds.
• Relax 10 seconds.
• Repeat procedure 2-3
times.
Palming Method
• Close your eyes.
• Rest lower part of hands on
cheekbones and place palms
over eyes. Hands should not
be touching your eyes.
• Think of relaxing scene and
mentally visualize you are
there.
• Visualize this relaxing scene
for 1-2 minutes.
Long-Term Relaxation Techniques
Cue-Controlled Response
Positive Self-Talk
• This is considered one of the
• Before the test, make-up some
best techniques. You induce
positive statements to tell
your own relaxation based on
yourself.
repeating certain cue words to
yourself, In essence, you are • During tests, positive self-talk
builds confidence and hampers
taught to relax and then
test anxiety.
silently repeat cue words, such
as “I am relaxed.”
• Mentally pat yourself on the
• May sound hokey but
back when you feel you have
experiments show test takers
successfully answered a
that use this technique
question or completed a
outscore control groups on
section.
math assessments. (Dr. Paul
Nolting)
Long-Term Test Preparation
Developing Skills
READ:
– improve vocabulary and develop essential skills
through continuous reading of texts with sophisticated
vocabulary and syntax
– read more books than just those required for class or
summer reading
PRACTICE:
– exercise, develop, and strengthen critical thinking,
higher-order reasoning, and problem-solving abilities
by taking the most challenging courses your schedule
allows
Short-term Test Preparation
• Students should:
– Become familiar with the types of test questions, the test
directions, and test format.
– Review most common Greek/Latin roots words to unlock
the meaning of unfamiliar vocabulary.
– Take several full-length practice tests to get comfortable
with the test format and scoring.
Short-term Test Preparation
• Think like the test writers.
– After taking several practice tests you should be able
to identify the types of questions you miss the most.
You might notice patterns.
– Draw a visual or diagram to help you see patterns.
Online Resources
• Practice tests and sample questions available in
official booklet and online at
– www.collegeboard.com/psat
– http://www.petersons.com/testprepchannel/psat_free
• On youtube, search using “brightstorm2 PSAT” or
“PrepMatters PSAT” for helpful tutorial videos
• Sign up to receive the free SAT Question of the
Day
– www.collegeboard.com
Eat and sleep well!
•Hate to sound like a
commercial, but start your day
off right with a good healthy
breakfast.
•Stay away from sugar in the
morning – it can amplify
anxiety too.
•Research supports adolescents’
cognitive performance improves when
they are regularly getting 8 ½ to 9 ½
hours of sleep a night.
•Be DELIBERATE about this! Put tech
items (cell phones, etc.) away & cut out
caffeine 3-5 hrs before bedtime.
•Don’t just do this the night before the
exam. Make it a goal for the fall
semester.
Morning of the PSAT
Dress in layers. Be
prepared for any testing
environment, warm or
cool. This is one less
distraction to worry
about.
Pack the following:
(1) Plenty of no. 2 pencils
(2) A calculator
(3) A quiet time piece
(4) A snack like a granola
bar or package of
crackers/cookies
During the PSAT –
PACE yourself!
Pacing: Which problems should I focus on first?
Section 1
Reading
1
Section 2
Math
1
Section 3
Reading
25 Easy
Section 4
Math
21 Easy
Section 5
Writing
Skills
Easy
4
Easy
Medium
Medium
Medium
7
29 Hard
31
30
9
9
Medium
10
NO
Order of
Difficulty
24
Easy
NO
Order of
Difficulty
16
Hard
20
48
33
Medium
36
Hard
38
GRID-IN
Hard
30 Hard
NO
Order of
Difficulty
Don’t Be Like Joe!
Joe
Right
Wrong
Blank
Easy Questions (6)
5
1
0
Medium Questions (6)
4
2
0
Hard
Questions (6)
1
5
0
Total
9
8
0
Multiplier
1
-0.25
0
Total
9
-2
0
Total For Section
7
Don’t Be Like Joe!
Jane
Right
Wrong
Blank
Easy
Questions (6)
6
0
0
Medium Questions (6)
5
1
0
Hard
Questions (6)
0
0
6
Total
11
1
0
Multiplier
1
-0.25
0
Total
11
-0.25
0
Total For Section
10.75
Pacing Tips
• Slow down! Work fewer problems with accuracy.
• Bring a watch to pace yourself. Proctor will also call out
time or write it on board.
• Not every problem has the same level of difficulty, but
every problem is worth ONE POINT.
– Be sure to work all of the easy & medium difficulty questions.
– Hard questions – You need to answer these if you want to
score in the higher range. Use strategies to help you!
• Don’t waste time on one tricky problem. Go back later if
you have time. Remember: you don’t have to answer
every question to score well
General Strategies
• POE - Process of Elimination
– Identify WRONG answers!
– Wild guessing is discouraged, but students should make
educated guesses when answer choices can be eliminated.
• Use your BOOK - Write all over your book. It’s YOURS!
– Underline what is being asked.
– Underline what is given, when appropriate.
• Ball-parking (Math sections)
– Logically estimate the answer.
– Eliminate obvious wrong answers.
– Read the question carefully. Don’t do too much
calculating!
Ticket-out-the-door
Please answer the following:
(1) What was the most useful tip for today?
(2) What question(s) do you still have about the
PSAT?