MCHS SUMMER PSATMCHS SUMMER PSATWORKSHOPWORKSHOP

MCHS SUMMER PSATMCHS SUMMER PSATWORKSHOPWORKSHOP

Strategies & TacticsStrategies & Tactics

PSAT/NMSQT• What is it? (What’s the difference

in the PSAT and the SAT?)• Who takes PSAT? When?• What’s NMSQT?• Who’s your competition?• How does the process work?

• 2011 National Merit Scholarship Competition (Oct. 2009 Test)

-September, 2010:• 34,000 Letters of Commendation (stop)

•16,000 semifinalists (go!)– February, 2011, semifinalists who meet academic

and other requirements advance to Finalist standing (approx. 90%).

– March 2011, winners of special scholarships notified.

Qualifying Scores for the Class of 2011 National Merit Semifinalists:

Alabama 210Alaska 214Arizona 209Arkansas 203California 219Colorado 212Connecticut 219Delaware 215District of Columbia 223Florida 210Georgia 215Hawaii 215Idaho 208Illinois 214Indiana 212Iowa 209Kansas 211

Kentucky 208Louisiana 210Maine 213

Kentucky 208Louisiana 210Maine 213

Maryland 220 Massachusetts 223

Michigan 209Minnesota 213

Mississippi 205Missouri 210Montana 208Nebraska 210Nevada 208New Hampshire 214New Jersey 221New Mexico 206New York 217North Carolina 214

North Dakota 202Ohio 212 Oklahoma 206Oregon 215Pennsylvania 216Rhode Island 211South Carolina 208South Dakota 205Tennessee 212Texas 215Utah 203Vermont 212Virginia 218Washington 218West Virginia 202Wisconsin 209Wyoming 202Commended 201International 223New England Boarding Schools 223

LAST YEAR’S CUT OFF:

YOUR TARGET SCORE (forMerit $$$:

205

210

Your currentscore:

A realistic personal goal:

?

?

BASED ON:• Realistic assessment of strengths &

weaknesses• Performance analysis to ID areas

where you stand to pick up most pts. • Commitment!• Targeted PRACTICE! PRACTICE! And

more PRACTICE!* (3O hrs. min.)

All but 10 items are MULTIPLE CHOICE

• 10 MATH questions are GRID-INS, which you must actually WORK!

The GOOD NEWS!

The BAD NEWS!

TIP #1:THINK!outside

the box!

Don’t be J.A.S. –Just another

student!

TIP #1:Memorize

Instructions!

TIP #1:

LearnFORMULAS!

TIP #1:

AB2 + BC2 = AC2 a2 + b2 = c2

___ ___

___

TIP #1:IGNOREVerbal

garbage!

TIP #1:

[ArithmeticMean]

TIP #1:Pay attention

Outside the box!

TIP #1:X=

an integer

See how See how well you thinkwell you think

OUTSIDE THE BOXOUTSIDE THE BOX

See how See how well you thinkwell you think

OUTSIDE THE BOXOUTSIDE THE BOX

……with a little with a little

Mini PSAT test!Mini PSAT test!

READY?• Here come four (4) questions and a

bonus question. • You have to answer them instantly.

You can't take your time; answer all of them immediately. OK?

• Let's find out just how clever you really are.... GO!

1. You are participating in a race. You overtake the

second person. What position are you in?

• Answer: If you answered that you are first, then you are absolutely wrong! If you overtake the second person, you take his place, so you are second!

• Try not to screw up next time. • Now answer the second question, but

don't take as much time as you took for the first one,OK?

2. If you overtake the last person, then you

are...? • Answer: If you answered that you

are second to last, then you are wrong again. Tell me, how can you overtake the LAST Person?

• You're not very good at this, are you?

3. Very tricky arithmetic! Note: This must be done in your head only. Do NOT use paper and pencil or a calculator. Try it.

• Take 1000 and add 40 to it. • Now add another 1000 . • Now add 30. • Add another 1000. • Now add 20. • Now add another 1000.• Now add 10……What is the total?

Did you get 5000?

• The correct answer is actually 4100. • If you don't believe it, check it with a

calculator!

Seeing’s believing…

• 1000 + 40 = 1040• 1040 + 1000 = 2040• 2040 + 30 = 2070• 2070 + 1000 = 3070• 3070 + 20 = 3090• 3090 + 1000 = 4090• 4090 + 10 = 4100

• Today is definitely not your day, is it?

• Maybe you'll get the last question right...

• ...Maybe.

4. Mary's father has five daughters: 1. Nana, 2. Nene, 3. Nini, 4. Nono.

What is the name of the fifth daughter?

• Did you Answer Nunu? • NO! Of course it isn't. • Her name is Mary. Read the

question again!

Okay, now the bonus round:

• A mute person goes into a shop and wants to buy a toothbrush. By imitating the action of brushing his teeth he successfully expresses himself to the shopkeeper and the purchase is done.

• Next, a blind man comes into the shop who wants to buy a pair of sunglasses; how does HE indicate what he wants?

He just has to open his mouth and asks...

•It's really very simple....

•Like lots of people taking the PSAT!

TIP #2:

• At SCHOOL, 70 = barely passing!• But on PSAT

Critical Reading70Math 70Writing + 70

(Below cutoff in over ½ states) 210

National Merit GLORY BOUND!

THINK ABOUT IT!

TIP #3:

KNOW THE “ROAD MAP”:

• Two 25 min. Critical Reading Sections

– SC’s – --short, long, & paired passages

• Two 25 min. Math Sections– MC’s– --grid-ins

• One 30 min. Writing Section– Error ID – Improve Sen.– Improve Paragraph

--1st 1/3 Easy

--2nd 1/3 Medium

--3rd 1/3 Killer

PSAT = Power Test

All points on a

are created EQUAL!

“--Move down!

--Bog down!

--Mark down!

--Go on!

Go through 3 times!

• DO THE EASY ONES• DO THE HARDER ONES• MAKE EDUCATED GUESSES

• At the end of the test…CHECK # ON EVERY 5TH ANSWER & LOOK AT ANSWER FREQUENCY DISTRIBUTION

If time’s short, what should you check?

1. A B C D E 2. A B C D E 3. A B C D E 4. A B C D E 5. A B C D E 6. A B C D E 7. A B C D E 8. A B C D E 9. A B C D E1O.A B C D E

11. A B C D E12. A B C D E13. A B C D E14. A B C D E15. A B C D E16. A B C D E17. A B C D E18. A B C D E19. A B C D E2O.A B C D E

TIP #4:TIP #4:TIP #4:TIP #4:There are an There are an APPROX. equal APPROX. equal

numbernumber of of A’s, B’s, C’s, D’s,A’s, B’s, C’s, D’s, and and E’s!E’s!

Only Only IDIOTSIDIOTS mark mark “C”“C” on what’s on what’s left it time’s running short!left it time’s running short!

Your definition of

“hard”:

DIFFICULT

ETS’s definition of

“hard”:that which

MOST people miss

Rule #1:Rule #1:Rule #1:Rule #1:EASY QUESTIONSEASY QUESTIONS

HaveHave

EASY ANSWERS!EASY ANSWERS!

Rule #2:Rule #2:Rule #2:Rule #2:HARD QUESTIONSHARD QUESTIONS

HaveHave

HARD ANSWERS!HARD ANSWERS!

So you’d better KNOW So you’d better KNOW WHERE you are on the test!WHERE you are on the test!

TOUGH NUTS!Levels 1 2 3 4 5 Easy. . .Medium . . .Hard

Q: What’s Mona’s problem?

Watch out! Everything that looks easy ISN’T necessarily

easy!

1-8 9-16 18-23 easy medium

hard

22.A Woman drove to work at an average speed of 40 MPH and returned along the same route at 30 MPH. If her total traveling time was 1 hr., what was the total # of miles in the round trip?

A. 30 D. 35 B. 30 1/7 E. 40C. 34 2/7

x

Remember:Remember:

You can keep going until You can keep going until you see theyou see the

Remember:Remember:

You can keep going until You can keep going until you see theyou see the

--Move down!

--Bog down!

--Mark down!

--Go on!

Don’t work like J.A.S.

Tip #5: You give the orders!

--TOP TO BOTTOM!--LEFT TO RIGHT!

--START TO FINISH! De-

condition yourself!

A POWER TEST

distinguishes

• from … those with no point at

all!

The Sharp

The Super Sharp

HAMLET’S HAMLET’S PSAT PSAT

QUANDARYQUANDARY

HAMLET’S HAMLET’S PSAT PSAT

QUANDARYQUANDARY““To GUESS or NOT toTo GUESS or NOT to

GUESS.GUESS.THAT is the QUESTION!”THAT is the QUESTION!”

THE ANSWER…ESCHEW

*The DIVINE SCHOOL of guessing

*The CONNECT-THE-DOTS approach

But should I guess?

TIP #6:

WHY? Well…

PSAT SCORING =

BUILD UP•+1 for correct answers•+0/-0 for omissions•-1/4 for incorrect answers

on all except MATH GRID-INS

You shouldn’

t see

TIP #6:

WHY NOT?

You should see a

Because it’s an

opportunity!

If you If you eliminate two eliminate two

or more or more choices…choices…

If you If you eliminate two eliminate two

or more or more choices…choices…

The ODDS are in yourThe ODDS are in yourFAVOR!FAVOR!

Think of it as a game…

Let’s FLIP!

•HEADS – you WIN a DOLLAR

•TAILS – you LOSE a QUARTER Want

to Play?

You can MISS 3 out of 4,

and still come out AHEAD!

HOW?

The margin

of VICTORY

!

That could be…

See See for yourself!for yourself!

See See for yourself!for yourself!

Empirical EvidenceEmpirical Evidence to to corroborate corroborate

Tip #6Tip #6

Tip #7: Learn to

ick nd

ero in Answers!

Are you good at

LIABILITIES into

ASSETS?

Then why not turn

your

Process of Elimination

P.O.E.x

Get Credit forPARTIAL answers!

Q: What is the capital of Burundi?A. LONDONB. CALCUTTAC. MOSCOWD. BUJUMBURUE. MEXICO CITY

Get Credit forPARTIAL answers!

Q: The sun is a A. MAIN SEQUENCE STARB. METEORC. ASTERIODD. WHITE DWARFE. PLANET

Let’s Let’s PLAY!PLAY!Let’s Let’s PLAY!PLAY!

--A game of P.O.E.--A game of P.O.E.

--a 50/50 Math, --a 50/50 Math, CR, or Writing CR, or Writing

RelayRelay

TIP #8:TIP #8:TIP #8:TIP #8:WRITEWRITE

on the TEST!on the TEST!

You PAID for it!You PAID for it!

Your Test-taking

License…Q: 2 x 2 =

A. 4,000B. 400C. 4D. .4E. .04

AndRIDICULOUS

Choices!

OWN YOUR TEST

BOOKLET!

• No DIAGRAM?• Diagram NOT

drawn to SCALE?

•DRAW ONE!•SCRATCH IT!

Then draw your own!

IMPROVISE! If you need to…

• Measure an angle,

• Measure something to scale,

• Tear off the corner of a page for a protractor! Corner = 90 degrees! Fold for less!

• Tear off a strip & make a customized ruler by marking the scale on it!

MARK IT UP!

• UNSURE? Circle or put ?• Mark all answers (except grid-ins)

in TEST BOOKLET and TRANSFER to ANSWER SHEET @ end of each group

--saves time!

--reduces errors! …but you MUST watch your time!

TIP #10:Always

underline

•KEY WORDS•KEY PHRASES

TIP #9:• The correct choices is ALWAYS

inarguably RIGHT!• The incorrect choices is ALWAYS

inarguably WRONG!

Let the “DOCTOR”

prescribe your answer!

I’ll be prescribing answers for you on

SENTENCE COMPLETIONS!

TIP #10: Look for sour notes!

TIP #10: Look for sour notes!

•NOTE: Figure not drawn to scale

• Don’t assume lines are parallel!

TIP #10: Look for sour notes!

•NOTE: Figure not drawn to scale

• Don’t assume lines are parallel!

____ J.A.S.’s answer____ the RIGHT answer!

WATCH YOUR ASSUMPTIONS!

• Why?• SYLLABICATION will explain!! See

what it makes out of U & ME?

•ASS / U / ME !!!

Paris in theParis in thethe Springthe SpringParis in theParis in thethe Springthe Spring

Paris in theParis in thethe Springthe SpringParis in theParis in thethe Springthe Spring__________________

3/2 = x/y

y/x

y/x = 2/3!

Learn toLearn toLearn toLearn to--see what’s THERE!--see what’s THERE!

--see what’s NOT there!--see what’s NOT there!

TIP #11:TIP #11:

IT’S •Trite•Cliché•Banal•Hackneyed

……but TRUE!but TRUE!

One One

PICTUREPICTURE

is worthis worth

aa

THOUSANDTHOUSAND

Words!Words!

TIP #12:TIP #12:TIP #12:TIP #12:

When there’s no When there’s no picture,picture,

visualize!visualize!

Video Vocabulary

• Ferris Bueller’s Respite• Oblivious• Prevaricator, Prevaricator• Selected Shorts & Music Videos• Illustrated Flashcards

ADD CREATIVITY, COSTUMES, LIGHTS,

CAMERAS, and ACTION!

• SNAPS!• SKITS!• SCENES! (like this one from

LEGALLY BLONDE! Heads-up!!!LEGALLY BLONDE DRESS UP DAY =

COMING NEXT WEEK!

That 70s Day is coming…

FRIDAY!

FRIDAY!

Get ready to get down with Funky “D”!

Tip #13:Learn to AVOID

NEWSFLASHNEWSFLASH!!!!!!

NEWSFLASHNEWSFLASH!!!!!!

You get NO points for…You get NO points for…

the the RIGHT ANSWERRIGHT ANSWER to to

the the WRONG QUESTION!WRONG QUESTION!

Fish forFish for

PRACTICEPRACTICE

DAILY!DAILY!

Fish forFish for

PRACTICEPRACTICE

DAILY!DAILY!

TIP #14:Never “buy” an

answer without a“test drive”!

““Test Drive” answers at Test Drive” answers at a rapid pace with a rapid pace with

““Test Drive” answers at Test Drive” answers at a rapid pace with a rapid pace with WRITING & SCWRITING & SC

RELAYS!RELAYS!

““Test Drive” answers at Test Drive” answers at a rapid pace with aa rapid pace with a

““Test Drive” answers at Test Drive” answers at a rapid pace with aa rapid pace with a

GEOMETRYGEOMETRYBALL!BALL!

Tip #15:

•PACE YOURSELF!

Your NEMESIS?•Educational•Testing•Service

Is the test written by GENIUSES?

Einstein doesn’t work

for ETS!

TIP #16:

•NOT really a test of HOW SMART YOU ARE!

•REALLY a test of HOW SMART YOU DO!

SAT PSAT

…a test of HOW GOOD you are at

TAKING THE TEST!So…

Tip #16:

K.I.S.S. the Test!

•Keep it SIMPLE, STUPID!

Chicken Math

= 2Note

definitions!

Mrs. Daniel’sChicken Math is EASY!

x =Don’t let unfamiliar symbols make you “fly the coop.” Just look for the definition & substitute!

4

Chic Math!

x

REMEMBER:

CHICKEN MATH = Good!

ARMADILLO MATH = Bad!

TIP # 17:TRANSFER SKILLS!

FOR EXAMPLE: Verbal Values

+ PLUS

- MINUS

0 NEUTRAL o

VOCABULARYis

to improving yourscore.

Vocabulary is KEY!

If the PRODUCT of three numbers is an INTEGER, which of the following could be TRUE?I. None of the numbers is an INTEGER.

II. Exactly 1 of the numbers is an INTEGER. III. Exactly 2 of the numbers are INTEGERS.

A. I B. I and II onlyC. II D. I and III onlyE. I, II, and III

TIP #18:It’s easy as

Just treat them as

Which of the following is/are logical?

I. Monkeys eat bananas. II. Lan eats bananas.III. Lan is a monkey. IV. Both humans and simians eat

bananas. A. I only D. II, III, and IV

B. III only E. I, II, and IV C. I, II, and III

++

-+

___________

DIAGNOSIS:

AcuteATROPHY of

TheVOCABULAR

Y!• A generation of

non-readers• Dumbed-down

textbooks• A media

wasteland

DIAGNOSIS:

CRACKING THECRACKING THE CODE CODE

CRACKING THECRACKING THE CODE CODE

Become an Email MysteryBecome an Email Mystery MAVEN (expert or connoisseur)! MAVEN (expert or connoisseur)!

“It’s ELEMENTARY!”

•Augment your

•Augment your

•Augment your

DIAGNOSIS:Find your WEAKNESSES

(PRETEST)

Specific Diagnosis:

Specific Prescription:

Work on PROBLEM AREAS

PRESCRIPTION:1. Positive attitude2. Indomitable will3. Effective lists/texts4. Imaginative strategies5. Good “diet” of reading (30 min.

daily)6. Plenty of “EXERCISES”

NEWSFLASH!NEWSFLASH!NEWSFLASH!NEWSFLASH!

Working on things you Working on things you already KNOW will make already KNOW will make

you feel good, but it you feel good, but it won’t improve your score!won’t improve your score!

Tip #19:Tip #19:Tip #19:Tip #19:

Working on what other people need won’t help you either: FUGGITABOUTIT!

TIP #20a:--CARD what you

don’t know

--drill--cull

TIP #20b:Use DEAD TIME!

--keep lists/cards by T.V. & study during commercials

--post lists strategically…bathroom mirror/beside toilet

…refrigerator

TIP #21:Do your 30 min. of good reading daily

The New YorkerAtlantic MonthlyScientific American

TIP #22:TIP #22:WATCH IT!WATCH IT!

TIP #22:TIP #22:WATCH IT!WATCH IT!

Bring an ANALOG (NOT digital) Bring an ANALOG (NOT digital) watch and set it to 9:00 at the watch and set it to 9:00 at the

beginning of each section!beginning of each section!

Do you need another math Do you need another math

problem or a pie chart?problem or a pie chart?

TIP #23:TIP #23:Stick with your routine!Stick with your routine!

TIP #23:TIP #23:Stick with your routine!Stick with your routine!

Don’t go to bed too early; you’ll Don’t go to bed too early; you’ll just toss and turn!just toss and turn!

Don’t eat a big breakfast if you Don’t eat a big breakfast if you aren’t in the habit!aren’t in the habit!

REMEMBER:

To climb “Merit Mountain,”

You must beat the competition!

TIP #24:Your TOUGHEST competitio

n is

So WATCH OUT!

REMEMBER:

•Don’t worry about BEING

SMART•Just DO SMART!

It’s a FORMIDABLE CHALLENGE

ENERVATED

•Lacking Energy•Lacking Movement

No GET-UP-AND-GO!

LETHARGICLETHARGICLETHARGICLETHARGIC

Adj. Adj. having having

little or no little or no energyenergy

INDOLENTINDOLENTINDOLENTINDOLENT

Adj. lazy; not Adj. lazy; not wanting to do wanting to do

any workany work

Costs of a SEDENTARY

lifestyle…

LASSITUDELASSITUDELASSITUDELASSITUDEN. Tired feeling, N. Tired feeling,

usually resulting from usually resulting from depression or too depression or too

much workmuch work

We’ll provideWe’ll provideAMPLEAMPLE

opportunityopportunity

We’ll provideWe’ll provideAMPLEAMPLE

opportunityopportunity

ENERGIZED!

•Opposite of ENERVATED!

How exciting!

How wonderful!

ARDENTARDENTARDENTARDENT

Adj. full of Adj. full of passion passion

and and emotionemotion

ARDUOUS ARDUOUS task!task!

ARDUOUS ARDUOUS task!task!

EBULLIENTEBULLIENTEBULLIENTEBULLIENTAdj. filled with a Adj. filled with a

bubbly excitement, as bubbly excitement, as if boiling over with if boiling over with

excitementexcitement

EXUBERANTEXUBERANTEXUBERANTEXUBERANT

Adj. Adj. overflowing overflowing with vitality with vitality

and good and good spiritsspirits

UNWAVERINGUNWAVERINGUNWAVERINGUNWAVERINGAdj. Firm Adj. Firm

and and determineddetermined

INDOMITABLE WILL!

To succeed, you must exercise

BEFORE

PRACTICE

AFTER

PRACTICE

it may drive you a little

nuts !

BUTBUTBUTBUT

What else have you What else have you got to do this got to do this

summer?summer?