PSAT LECTURE

Preparation for Test Day

  • Mental Readiness

    • On test day, focus on getting all questions correct that you already know how to do.

    • Approach the test with a calm demeanor—take deep breaths if necessary.

Test Format and Structure

  • Adaptability of Questions

    • The test will adapt its difficulty based on the student's performance.

    • Initial questions will be midrange difficulty in reading/writing.

    • If many questions are answered correctly, harder questions will be presented later.

    • Conversely, if many questions are missed, easier questions will follow.

    • The term Advanced Module refers to the harder questions you may face if you perform well in initial sections.

  • Assessment of Difficulty on Test Day

    • Encountering harder questions in the second module is positive, indicating a higher score range.

    • It's possible to still achieve a good score, even without facing the most difficult questions.

Subject Specific Modules

  • Math Routing Module

    • Begins with midrange questions adapting similarly to reading and writing.

    • Performance determines the difficulty level of subsequent questions.

  • Digital Tools Available

    • Students have access to Desmos, a free online graphing calculator.

    • Recommendation to practice using Desmos before the test to become familiar with it.

    • Download Blue Book (described as the test format) prior to the test to prepare effectively.

Timing Guidelines for Each Section

  • Reading and Writing

    • Approximately 70 seconds per question on average.

    • Can complete some standard English questions quicker (~50 seconds).

    • If a question takes longer than 90 seconds, consider skipping it; you can flag and return later if time permits.

  • Math

    • General guideline of 90 seconds per question.

    • Skip questions anticipated to take longer than 90 seconds to maximize scoring efficiency.

Categorization of Questions

  • Question Categories:

    • Category 1: Can be answered confidently and quickly.

    • Category 2: Confident but may take more time.

    • Category 3: Uncertain or typically time-consuming questions; consider guessing or leaving for later.

Technical Issues and Communication

  • For technical support, utilize the Q&A pod provided in the platform.

  • Personal information must not be shared in any public chat for security reasons.

Problem-Solving Methodology

  • Understanding Questions:

    • Identify precisely what you are being asked to solve.

    • If mistakes have occurred in practice due to misreading questions, taking a moment to read carefully can improve your score.

    • Utilize scratch paper to organize thoughts and calculations.

  • Strategies for Solving:

    • Back-Solving: Test answer choices to find the correct solution.

    • Be aware of common traps in questions. For example:

    • Misinterpreting the output of a function (i.e. mistake of assuming a variable equals a function output).

    • Correct interpretation should maintain correct variable relationships (e.g. $f(x) = 24$ implies solving for $x$).

Graphing Questions

  • Customize approach while graphing to interpret functions and their values.

  • Understand intercepts:

    • Y-intercept: Value of $y$ when $x = 0$.

    • X-intercept: Value of $x$ when $y = 0$ (requires algebraic definitions).

Nonlinear Functions and Parabolas

  • Characteristics of parabolas based on the coefficient $a$:

    • If $a < 0$: Graph opens downwards (frowning), highest point at vertex.

    • If $a > 0$: Graph opens upwards (smiling), lowest point at vertex.

    • Understanding the concepts of vertex and axis of symmetry.

    • Axis of Symmetry: Line that divides the parabola in half, value of $x$ at the vertex.

Algebraic Expressions: Solving Examples

  • Practice on expressions:

    • Set equations equal to efficiently solve for unknowns by isolating variables.

  • Understanding the output and input relations in equations is crucial:

    • e.g., If needed to find $f(x)=63$, understand the function completely before plugging in values.

Words in Context

  • Be able to determine meanings from context, especially in reading comprehension questions:

    • Important to predict definitions based on surrounding words rather than fixed dictionary definitions.

    • Attention to transition words can significantly affect understanding.

Conclusion: General Test Advice

  • Maintain calm and focus on understanding what is asked before rapidly checking answer choices.

  • If confident predictions are made, trust them to avoid overthinking, leading to potential mistakes.

  • Use elimination when not confident in predictions, especially in reading comprehension questions.

  • For synthesis questions, remember to stick to the specific criteria tasked in the question as general advantages may lead to irrelevant choices.