Advice and tips for (P)SAT & ACT.

Test Preparation SAT Preparation
1

Hey I’m gonna be a junior and I decided to start studying for the SAT, PSAT, and ACT. I’ve started reading the SAT black book but I have no idea how to start studying. Also my PSAT score was a 1280 how can I bring it up 300+ points?

Thanks.

2

The max score you can get on the PSAT is a 1520.

3

Oops, my bad. So yeah do you have any tips for bringing it up as much as possible?

4

Focus on the PSAT first. Your score on the PSAT is a pretty good estimate of what you’ll get on the SAT. The ACT, in comparison to the SAT and PSAT, is much easier.

Tips? Well:

  1. master the test format.
  2. Know your time limits and question types
  3. always review the practice tests you take and identify the errors that you keep making. Make sure they don't happen again.
  4. When taking practice tests, mimic actual test conditions. No distractions, quiet setting with a timer, etc.

The day before and day of the test, do anything but study. Watch/read something funny and chew gum. Stimulates the brain juices.

5

The PSAT to me was MUCH easier than the SAT, but the format is pretty much the same. The difference between the SAT and ACT is that the SAT usually contains more trick answers and questions, while the ACT is pure “how fast can you do this many problems?”. The ACT questions are usually easier, but you have to do more of them in a shorter amount of time. I’d encourage you to take a practice test every other week, while spending a productive (no phone breaks) 1-2 hours per day studying certain parts of the SAT. If you prepare for the SAT, you’ll be prepared for the PSAT; it is just an easier version of the SAT. However, on the other side, if you focus studying on PSAT material, you won’t have studied the difficulty of questions that you’ll see on the SAT. Use Khan Academy, Barron’s, Princeton Review or the College Board books to study for the tests. If you feel prepared for the SAT, you’ll be really prepared for the PSAT. I spent all summer last year studying for the SAT, and scored a 1500+ SAT first time and a perfect PSAT a couple days later, without specifically studying for the PSAT. GL!

6

You can link your online college board account with your PSAT information to Khan academy and they’ll give you practice modules that start with your weaker areas. (Start by logging into college board and go from there).