Urgent PSAT Q!!

Test Preparation
1

Hey guys, so I’m taking the PSAT tomorrow morning and it’s currently 10:30pm. I’ve been studying a bit tonight (I SUCK at math, so I’m just praying for the absolute best. If I don’t get the scholarship, which I really want, I at least wanna just improve my score from last time.). However, I have two calculators, one is the Casio fx 9750GII and the other is the TI 30 Plus. I’m not sure which to take!!! I know I won’t NEED the advanced abilities of either but since my math skills are weary I just want to have a good selection of functionability for tomorrow. Which would you take? Also, any last tips? I wanna do well tomorrow!!

2

I honestly don’t understand how to use either right now for their intricate functions soooo

3

Pro tip: do the grid-in math questions first

4

Thanks!! Will do

5

Will the proctors allow 2 calculators? Since I’m a junior, it’s in the gym so I’m gonna bring my backpack tomorrow and hopefully they allow them in there because I have classes after the exam.

6

You can only have one calculator on your desk at a time for the last section. Whichever you chose to be the backup must be under your desk and I believe you technically have to as the proctor whenever you want to swap calculators between the one under and on your desk.

7

OK, it’s early morning and the odds are only fair that you’ll check in.

As a math teacher, here’s what I suggest:

  1. Bring the calculator you’re most comfortable with. Having a hi tech calculator that you don’t know how to really utilize won’t help.
  1. Some time before the test, familiarize yourself with the instructions for the grid-in questions. They're in the middle of a timed section and can be confusing. Simply put:
  2. you can grid in only one answer per question, no "acd" types of answers like you would have on a classroom scantron.
  3. On this section, there are no negative answers-- there's no negative sign in the grid.
  4. the occasional question has several answers, as in "find one of the scores that John could have achieved." In those cases, any of the correct answers is OK.
  5. You can NOT grid in a mixed number; the machine will read it as an improper fraction. Convert your answer to an improper fraction or decimal.
  6. If your decimal won't fit into the 4 digits, you have three choices: change it to a fraction that will fit, round the LAST digit, or truncate (cut off) the LAST digit. So 0.6666666.... is either 2/3, or .666 or .667 (the decimal takes up one of the 4 digits.)
  7. Don't sweat this exam. At this point, its primary purpose is to give you an idea of what you need to do for the SATs in the spring.