plan of attack psat 2009. the basics why? gives you practice for the sat gives you a chance to...
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Plan of AttackPSAT 2009
The Basics Why?
Gives you practice for the SAT Gives you a chance to qualify for the National
Merit Scholarship Program Scholarships for college
Scoring Correct answer– one point Unanswered question-0 points Incorrect answer to a multiple choice
question- lose ¼ of a point Incorrect answer to a math grid question- 0 pts
Structure 1. Critical Reading
25 minutes 13 sentence completion and 35 reading comprehension questions
2. Math 25 minutes 28 regular math multiple choice questions and 10 grid-in questions
3. Same as #1 4. Same as #2 5. Writing Skills
30 minutes 14 identifying sentence errors, 20 improving sentences, and 5 improving
paragraphs
Selection Index The sum of your math, critical reading, and
writing scores. An range from 60 to 240.
Hard questions are worth same amount of points as easy ones. Skip around and answer as many as you can. Don’t waste time on questions that you don’t know at all.
Math and sentence completion questions Math questions—both multiple choice and
grid-ins-are arrange from easy to hard. Sentence completion--ditto
Reading Comprehension and Writing Not arranged in any order—not arranged from
easier to harder.
Hard questions Circle them in your test booklet, skip them
and come back once you have answered all the ones you know.
Be sure to skip that number on your scantron sheet.
When to guess If you can rule out two of the choices as
wrong, then you should probably guess. But on the math grid– guess! There is no
penalty for wrong answers on this section.
A suggestion Some people wait to mark their scantron sheet
until they come to the end of a section. They circle the correct answers in the test booklet. This method can help save time, keep your momentum going, and help avoid mistakes on the scantron sheet.
I have never done this, but it might work for some
Remember The answer is right in front of you on all the
multiple choice questions Look for quick points if you are running out
of time For example, on the reading comprehension,
some questions ask you to identify a word meaning, which can be done w/o reading the entire passage.
Vocabulary Vocab is vital to PSAT Find your own study techniques
Flashcard Worksheets Notebooks Mnemonic devices
STUDY REPEATEDLY
Vocabulary cont.. Use root words Listen to your gut Try and recall context
SENTENCE COMPLETION Testing vocabulary Testing ability to follow sentence flow
Remember: arranged in order of easy to hard
USE CLUES!!!
How to attack the sentence completion sections Build vocab Look for context clues and predict an answer Scan choices for one that would fit For two blanks, decide which blank is easier
to predict and scan choices.
Kaplan Four-Step Method Read for clues Predict Scan answers for match Read back in the sentence
READ CAREFULLY Although some of the revelations in the movie
star’s memoirs will surprise even this most ardent fans, much of his story is quite ----. A. Significant B. Familiar C. Impressive D. Explicit E. Thorough
Process of Elimination As different schools of thought on child rearing go
in and out of vogue, parents who at one time were esteemed for imposing strict rules upon their children may find themselves marginalized for being ----. A. Despotic B. Controversial C. Effective D. Pragmatic E. Erratic
Sander was blind to his own double standards, which were so apparent to all those who knew him; he was unable to tolerate even the slightest hint of _____ in others, yet he regularly offended his colleagues with his own _______ conduct.
A. snobbery…boorish B. timidity…impudent C. conceit…supercilious D. impropriety….prudish E. duplicity…moralistic
Jazz developed as a style of music that was uniquely characterized by its heavy reliance on improvisation and on ____ musical boundaries, yet today, a lot of jazz has become so _____ that many listeners cannot stand to hear one of their favorite “jazz standards” played in a novel manner.
a. respecting…fixed
b. Expanding… ambiguous
c. Expanding…standardized
d. Sustaining…particularized
e. Transgressing…universal
Reading comprehension questions Know the directions-questions are only based
on the information in the passage. Do not apply outside knowledge when answering.
You’ll be asked About overall tone (Big Picture) Overall content Specific details (little picture) What author suggests/implies (inference) Paired passages will ask you to compare and
contrast the texts Vocabulary in context
With partner… In your own words, define the following types
of questions: Big Picture Little picture Inference Vocab-in-context
P 88-92; 31-35 (2007)
Some tips for long passages Make a map: jot down simple notes in the
margins as you read Underline key points Note places where the author gives opinion
Do p. 86-88 P. 30-31 in 2007
Skim the passage Read the question. Make sure you understand
what it is asking Locate the material you need– if it gives a line
number, go directly to it.
Do practice p. 96-103 P. 32-47 in 2007 version
How to Attack the Writing Section Part I: 14 Identifying Sentence errors Assume that the parts of the sentence not
underlined are correct. Listen for what sounds wrong
Part II: 20 Improving sentences questions Choice A is always identical to the original
sentence.
5 Improving Paragraph questions
Complete the following activities: You will be given one of the common
questions found on the writing section of the PSAT (found in Kaplan)
Summarize the characteristics of that type of writing section question
Make an original test question that could be used in that section Including multiple choice answer options Mark the correct answer and STATE WHY
Part I: Identifying Sentence ErrorsGroup 1 (2 sections): Baird and Vaughn
Verb tense errors; Adjective and adverb errors
Group 2 (2 sections): Kelly and DavisSubject-verb agreements; Double negatives
Group 3: Hartman and MorrisonPronoun errors: Case and number
Group 4: Hornberger and Woods Pronoun errors: Ambiguous reference
Group 5: Crum and SchulzIdioms
Group 6: Hughes, Donnelly, and BrewerComparison errors
Part II: Improving SentencesGroup 1: Davis and Hornberger
Sentence fragments
Group 2: Vaughn and HughesRun-on sentences
Group 3: Kelly and SchulzCoordination errors
Group 4: Baird and Brewer Subordination errors
Group 5: Donnelly and WoodsMisplaced modifiers
Group 6: Morrison, Crum, and HartmanBad parallelism
Part II: Improving ParagraphsGroup 1: Hartman and Hughes
Sentence revision
Group 2: Woods and BrewerSentence combination
Group 3: Morrison and VaughnLogic and clarity
Group 4: Crum and Donnelly Sentence revision
Group 5: Hughes and BairdSentence combination
Group 6: Hornberger, Davis, and Kelly
Logic and clarity