The SAT and PSAT

[Zane]

I am one of the minor POs and on Wednesday, October 13, I am taking the PSAT. I was just wondering if anybody else here is, has to, or has taken either of the tests and their opinions on it, scores, and experience. Once I take it (and someone else has posted due to the discrimination of double posts) I'll tell you guys about my experience.

[Blues]

I took my SAT last wednesday... but they lost my answer sheet, so I hafta retake it. >.<

As far as tips go, if you have no clue as to an answer, leave it blank, you'll not get counted off for it. If you can eliminate at least two answers though, guessing is a good strategy.

[Musashi]

*Moved to Soapbox*

[Silver Adept]

Having taken tests of that nature, I'll say that sometimes they get downright eccentric. But the PSAT isn't something to worry about, nor will the SAT when it arrives. Just pay attention to question formats and styles.

And always, always read the question carefully!

[Shammy]

Biggest tip I can possibly give you, do not place the answer you think is right. Pick the answer you think THEY think is right. I am taking the PSAT today, and my Freshman and Sophmore years I scored 1100 and 1210 respectively. Dont let the test get to you. Stressing out during it is a sure fire way to screw up.

[Sperrit]

I once heard that one of the best ways to prepare for the SATs was to drill yourself on being able to do quick, simple math in your head. You know, like your times-tables and stuff. This makes a lot of sense, because the SAT is full of that crap and, really, what will get you in the end is time, not how difficult the questions are.
Mostly, I'd agree with everything that's been said, especially about not stressing about it. The SATs aren't the be-all, end-all. Just try your best. Hell, I never even took the PSATs and I got a 1390 on my SAT. No sweat! I mostly remember the test being very boring....

Join the Fun

[Silver Adept]

Up here in Michigan we have a different test, the ACT that we can take, and I scored fairly well on that (31 out of 36), but also having taken the GRE (which is a real pain), Shammy's advice is spot-on.

In reading comprehension, answer the question in the way they want you to - avoid definitive or controversial statements, even if true. Waffle as best you can and you'll do fine.

Excepting in places where you need to give your opinion. There, you have free reign, so long as you remember what you're critiquing (The GRE has two of these types of questions - one where you give your opinion on the subject, and another where you give your opinion on the logic and arguments being presented in a piece. Two very different styles of writing.)

On the mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning portion of the test, there's a good chance that the answers you're staring down has one right, one that's missing the final step, two that you can arrive at if you miss a step somewhere along the line or apply a rule incorrectly, and one that's a throwaway.

If you're cursed with synonyms, antonyms, and the like, see if you can't deconstruct the words to their prefixes, suffixes and root words. If you know how all of those interact, you run into a word like defenestrate and have at least a decent clue as to what it means. (Incidentally, to defenestrate is to throw something out a window. From fenêtre, French for window.)

You're invaribaly going to run into problems where all of the answers would fit. The one they want is the one that fits best, so shades of meaning are important. (And this is why my verbal score on the GRE was nearly 100 points lower than my Quantitative score, even though my percentile was higher.)

Finally, general advice: If you can knock two or three answers out of the five, it's worth guessing. Even if you have no clue how to set about solving a problem, sometimes thinking about the premise and where the target area for an answer is will help you kick a few choices out. And while you're working out why certain answers don't fit, you might remember the way to the right answer.

Boy, that got long.

[Graillik Tur]

Let's put it this way. I scored a 1140 and went straight into college off of my GPA from High School and TASP exemption. Don't freak about it. Unless your going to Harvard, Yale, or an East Coast school with high standards.

[Zane]

Well, jsut got back from school and to be honest the test was pretty easy. The only thing that got to me was time. I'd bubble in the last answer and time would be up, almost didn't finish. Thanks for the advice guys.

[Suna-chan]

i had to take it today. boring. took to much time >< and easy...i think...

except for the last math problem *shaky fist

..apparently that one was an easy one too (or so people tell me...hehe)

^_^ oh well.