With PSAT around the corner, it seems like the arduous last mile to run even after years of practice in English and Math.
Why is the last week important?
Test anxiety is natural to occur and it builds up during the last few days. A bit of it is good, as it helps students keep up their momentum and put in that extra effort that would help them past an average PSAT score inching towards a high score. Well prepared is well armed, and every step in the right direction will take you closer to your target.
Students often ask, What is a good PSAT score? Well, PSAT scores range from 320 to 1520. While the average PSAT score is around 920, an outstanding PSAT score is between 1420 and 1480. Years of education and practice through the last week will determine the score ranges, and every effort matters.
This is the time to revise and focus academically as well as prepare for the test day by going through information on venue, stationery required and the test’s policies. Let us go over the dos and the don’ts that matter:
- Revise Math formulae. A good revision helps in bettering your PSAT scores
- Do a few sample tests each day. If you have not been tutored, check websites like eTutorWorld that have free test papers simulating the test. If required take help from a live online tutor to review concepts and PSAT format. This is important as the mind is more relaxed and thinks faster if it has been well trained over the expected patterns
- Focus on your possible weaknesses like spellings and tables
- Time your PSAT practice test so you can manage your minutes better during the test.
- Be in touch with your tutors, trust them as they act as educators as well as mentors
- Ask questions, seek solutions
- Plan how you would approach the sections and sequence them. The PSAT is a test for 2 hours and 45 minutes, composed of four sections: two Math Sections, Critical Reading, Writing and Language Sections. The test is mostly multiple-choice, but there are four grid-in math questions at the end of each math section that require takers to enter their responses on a grid.
- Sleep well
- Have a balanced diet
- Keep your stationery ready. You can carry 2 pencils with erasers, an approved calculator
- Go over the document mentioning your registration number, date, time and venue. Carry validID, Social Security number (optional)
- Check on policies on medications and medical devices if applicable to you. Food and drinks, including bottled water, are not permitted unless approved by the College Board’s Services for Students with Disabilities. Epinephrine auto-injectors (e.g., EpiPens) are permitted. They must be placed in a clear bag and stored under the student’s desk during testing.
- Go through the list of gadgets and instruments that are not allowed to be carried like smart watches, mobile phones, protractors, compasses, rulers, highlighters, colored pens or pencils, pamphlets or papers.
- Check where the exam would be held and how you plan to reach there, plan the time to leave home
- If you need College Board testing accommodations for students with disabilities, talk to your counsellor.
All the best for the upcoming college board PSAT. You can log onto eTutorWorld for free SAT and PSAT practice tests and also avail online test prep help and tutoring for the upcoming test. While you can only take the PSAT once a year, many students take the test in both 10th and 11th grades. Some students appear for PSAT 8/9 or PSAT 10 that helps them to better prepare for college. If you wish to improve your PSAT scores next year, get in touch with us. You can enroll for our year – long tutoring programs to sharpen your skills in English, Science and Math from grade 3 to grade 12. This naturally would help you to stay at the top of class every year. You may invite your friends and siblings as well to try our free sessions!
Some of you who are new to PSAT must be wondering, ‘What is PSAT?’ It is the Preliminary SAT which is also a National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test for juniors. If you earn a high score on the PSAT during your junior year, you could qualify to receive a National Merit Scholarship. Even becoming a Commended Scholar can add a spark to your future college applications. That leaves you with enough reason to ace the PSAT and prep well for it. So keep cool, ready and go for it!
