RIMS AVID Test Foundations Student Workbook 2014

RIMS AVID Test Foundations Student Workbook

2014

1 ? Study Smart Tutors 2014

Lesson #1 Intro

Title: PSAT Basics

PSAT Course Goal Sheet

Colleges that I want to apply to:

1. ____________________ Average 2013 Freshman SAT Score: ____________________

Math________________Reading___________________Writing___________________

2. ____________________ Average 2013 Freshman SAT Score: ____________________

Math________________Reading___________________Writing___________________

3. ____________________ Average 2013 Freshman SAT Score: ___________________

Math________________Reading___________________Writing___________________

4. ____________________ Average 2013 Freshman SAT Score: ____________________

Math________________Reading___________________Writing___________________

5. ____________________ Average 2013 Freshman SAT Score: ___________________

Math________________Reading___________________Writing___________________

Math Raw Score Target:________ Reading Raw Score Target:________ Writing Raw Score Target:________

Why are you preparing for the PSAT? ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________

Goals for PSAT Prep

1._____________________________________________________________________________

2._____________________________________________________________________________

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Scaled vs. Raw

The following table outlines how the SAT converts from "raw scores" in each section to scaled scores (out of 800). Take note of the scaled scores in each section that you need to receive to achieve their goals, and then work backwards to figure out the "Raw Score" equivalents. Circle the approximate Raw Score that you will be striving to achieve in each section.

Raw Score

67 65 60 55 54 50 49 45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 -5

Critical Reading (67 Questions)

800 740-800 660-760 630-710 620-700 600-660 590-650 560-620 530-590 500-560 470-530 440-500 410-470 380-440 340-400 270-370 200-290 200-210

Math (54 Questions)

800 690-770 680-740 630-690 580-660 540-620 510-570 470-530 430-490 400-460 340-420 280-380 210-310 200-210

Writing (49 questions + essay)

780-800 700-800 640-740 590-690 540-640 490-590 450-550 400-500 350-450 300-400 240-340 200-230

Definition of Raw Scores:

The SAT is not scored in the same way as most tests. For every question you answer correctly you will receive 1 raw point. For each question that you answer incorrectly, you will lose ? of a raw point. Every question that you leave blank will not count towards your score. To compute your raw scores, add the total number of correct answers and subtract a ? point for every incorrect answer.

Example: If my target math score is around 600, then my raw score goal is somewhere between 45 and 50. To get that raw score, I would need to answer about 48 correct and miss 6, assuming that I leave no questions blanks. (48-(.25(6)) = 46.5. However, depending on the number of questions that I leave blank, different combinations of correct and incorrect answers can yield the same raw score.

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Key Points "What Skills"

1. PSAT introduction 2. PSAT assessment 3. PSAT content & section breakdown 4. PSAT scoring 5. Testing tips 6. PSAT intro summary

"How Skills" The PSAT is a critical tool used to position students as competitive college candidates.

1. PSAT Introduction The PSAT assesses your ability to use reasoning and analytical skills in reading, writing, and basic math. Success on the PSAT, a 155 minute test, requires endurance and focus in addition to academic skills.

Who writes the PSAT? You may think that a bunch of college presidents get together each year to write the PSAT. Just because they are the ones who use the test doesn't mean that they write it! The PSAT is written by the Educational Testing Service, (ETS) who also write many other standardized tests.

2. PSAT Assessment The PSAT features many kinds of problems including math, writing, and vocabulary. However, even if you are an A+ writer it doesn't guarantee you will do well on the PSAT writing section. A lot of success on the PSAT is determined by the amount of time you spend preparing for PSAT type questions, for example by take PSAT test prep classes like this.

What does the PSAT measure? According to the College Board, "The Preliminary PSAT/National Merit Scholarship

Qualifying Test (PPSAT/NMSQT) is a program cosponsored by the College Board

and National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC). It's a standardized test that provides firsthand practice for the PSAT?. It also gives you a chance to enter NMSC scholarship programs and gain access to college and career planning tools."

Why should you take the PSAT? You should certainly take the PSAT before taking the actual SAT. Benefits of the PSAT include:

Receive feedback on your strengths and weaknesses on skills necessary so that you can focus your preparation on those areas that could most benefit from additional study or practice.

Compare your performance to others in your grade level Enter the competition for scholarships from NMSC (grade 11). Help prepare for the PSAT. You can become familiar with the kinds of questions

and the exact directions you will see on the PSAT.

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What's on the PSAT? The PSAT is divided into five sections. There will be two reading comprehension sections, two math sections, and one writing skills section. The whole test takes two hours and 10 minutes.

Sections Critical Reading Math Critical Reading Writing Skills Math

Time 25 minutes 25 minutes 25 minutes 30 minutes 25 minutes

Number of Questions 13 Sentence Completions 28 Multiple choice 35 Reading Comprehension 39 Questions 10 Grid ins

3. PSAT scoring Each section (reading, writing, math) is scored between 20-80 points. The three scores are then added together for a total score out of 240 points. Each correct answer earns you 1 raw point. Each question answered incorrectly loses you ? of a raw point. Each unanswered question doesn't affect your raw score.

4. Testing tips a. Process of Elimination: all PSAT questions have 4 wrong answers and a single right answer. Eliminating wrong answers can improve your chances of answering correctly, so look for right and wrong answers.

b. The Guessing Penalty: if you have no idea how to solve the problem, don't guess. If you can eliminate one or more answers, guessing will often improve your score.

Example: what is the capital of North Dakota? By eliminating wrong answers, you can improve your success rate with guessing.

(A) Billings (B) Dallas (this is obviously in Texas) (C) Bismarck (D) Fargo (E) Boston (this is obviously in Massachusetts)

Now that you've narrowed the question down to only three answer choices, it benefits you to guess.

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