Official Wednesday PSAT Discussion

Test Preparation
501

<p>I'm taking the PSAT this Saturday, and I haven't studied at all, except for taking <em>one</em> practice test that the school gave me. I'm screwed. I thought it wouldn't count this year (sophomore year), but it turns out that the score is needed for a lot of summer programs that I'm applying to. Snap. I'm aiming for 80M, 75W, and 60-65R. Yeah, I can't read for anything.</p>

<p>two questions:
a) How difficult was the math? (honestly) What <em>types</em> of problems were common?
b) ANY TIPS???? especially for critical reading because I know for a fact that I'm totally going to screw that section up.</p>

502

<p>MontyS, you may ultimately be correct, but this is why I disagree:</p>

<ol>
<li><p>The “patent nonsense” language in the second paragraph is in response to the proposition that there is NO SUBJECT MATTER in the area of parapsychology TO STUDY. Since the author studies this subject matter for a living, he is a little defensive about this issue. Otherwise, the author seems very careful to state that he does not “believe” in ESP and, that as a scientist, he focuses on the evidence. He states that, “One’s religious beliefs might require . . . a leap of faith precisely because there is no evidence to support them.” Later on he states, “Actually, all we have at that point is an anomaly, something that science at its present stage is unable to explain.” He never argues that ESP is the explanation for the anomaly. </p></li>
<li><p>On the issue of the current sufficiency of evidence for accepting ESP as the explanation for certain anomalies, the author of passage 2 seems to agree with the author of passage 1 (not enough evidence). Koestler, on the other hand, seems to have made the “leap of faith” with his “negative sort of [reconciliation]” argument. He indicates that ESP is not so preposterous. He is arguing for ESP despite the lack of scientific evidence.</p></li>
<li><p>The question asked about the reaction of the author of Passage 2 to Koestler’s assessment of parapsychology, not whether there are a lot of strange things going on in science today. For the reasons stated in 2, I do not think Passage 1, lines 17-21, and Passage 2, lines 93-95 are a point of agreement.</p></li>
</ol>

503

<p>Look, if we are able to get every section posted from jrcho,
we can all practically know what we got ahead of time. We can just discuss every question. Therefore, why don't we start by discussing the second reading passage. We really need jrcho to post it though.</p>

504

<p>i got the same answers as curmudgeon for the parapsychology passage.</p>

505

<p>JRCHO, Please post more</p>

<p>Yes, JRCHO, please post more math and writing section (or rather, scan them, and we'll discuss)! thanks</p>

506

<p>Wow scanning is amazing. If we analyze this thing, by two weeks we can get a result.</p>

507

<p>question: why is 23 E, and not B??</p>

508

<p>jrcho - wait until after saturday to post more. this isn't exactly fair :) especially for the math...</p>

509

<p>I hope the saturday PSAT is different. I really do. Yeah, lol. They know what to expect now!</p>

510

<p>how about not waiting until saturday. How would that be unfair?</p>

511

<p>well, for the writing and CR it isn't unfair because those two sections always cover the same stuff. but the saturday people may get a better idea about what will bve on the math section than we did.</p>

512

<p>i see your point. But people on cc pretty much know what to expect.</p>

513

<p>For the PSAT, if I miss around 6 verbal questions and 3 math questions, what would be the "predicted" scores for my math and verbal sections?
thanks</p>

514

<p>71 M 69 V </p>

<p>This is based of the mean scale in the bulletin and I assumed it didn't include a guessing penalty. The curve on this one should be lighter.</p>

515

<p>does anyone have an idea what the cutoff for semifinalist will be for illinois. What was it last year.</p>

516

<p>216 last year. there's a complete list in the "PSAT prediction score" thread.</p>

517

<p>good luck, everyone...</p>

518

<p>so i guess the school that administered my test screwed up by giving me the test?</p>

<p>but I dont understand why they would have to collect the booklets because it does not have to be submited to collegeboard (according to the test proctor).</p>

519

<p>yeah, your school screwed up. they don't want kids to have them so they don't tell people in other timezones the answers.</p>

520

<p>do you still have the test booklet. do you think you could scan the black women passage?</p>