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?
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