10 Tips for the PSAT

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  1.  Complex conjugate
    1. Multiply numerator and denominator by the complex conjugate
  2. Possessive
    1. Girl’s room=1 girl with 1 room
    2. Girls’ rooms=many girls with many rooms
    3. Girls’ room=many girls with 1 room
    4. Girl’s rooms=1 girl with many rooms
  3. Contractions vs. Possessive
    1. They’re=They are
    2. It’s=It is
    3. Its=possessive (The dog chews its bone)
    4. Its’ NOT A WORD NEVER PICK THIS
    5. Their=Possessive plural (My friends like their Iphones.)
    6. She’s=She is
  4. Transition words
    1. Be extremely careful when choosing the correct transition word. Several options may be grammatically correct, but only one will make sense in context.
    2. Some transition words indicate a contrast: however, although, since, regardless, in contrast to
    3. Some transition words are used for a concluding point or for cause and effect: therefore
    4. Some transition words are used to make an additional remark without contrast: for example, indeed, in addition to
  5. Parallel structure
    1. Sarah enjoys the music of Chopin more than Beethoven.
      1. INCORRECT
      2. Corrected version: Sarah enjoys the music of Chopin more than the music of Beethoven.
    2. Yael enjoys swimming, running, and to practice yoga.
      1. INCORRECT
      2. Corrected version: Yael enjoys swimming, running, and practicing yoga.
    3. To trust ones instinct is often being misguided.
      1. INCORRECT
      2. Corrected version: To trust one’s instinct is often to be misguided.
  6. Remember the top 3 rules for factoring:
    1. GCF-take out what is common
    2. DOS=difference of squares
    3. Inverse foil-set up parentheses
    4. ***Don’t forget, sometimes you factor out that which you are solving for.
      1. Example: Find and expression for m in terms of n if 3mn+4n=9m+12 → 3mn-9m=12- 4n → m(3n-9)=12- 4n
  7. READING: For vocab in context, reread the sentence 4 times plugging in each option.
  8. READING: For reading passages, read the passage FIRST and then answer all questions.
  9. Overall-stay calm. Remember how prepared you are. NO colleges will see your PSAT score. Do the best you can. Watch the clock and don’t let your nerves take over.