Attention one, attention all!
Attention all year-one Bard students! The National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (NMSQT) is upon us and you do NOT want to miss it! If you feel anxious- fear not. Come along with me and we will explore what the NMSQT is all about and what YOU can do to prepare.
What IS the PSAT?
The acronym, PSAT, stands for the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test. This test measures the skills deemed necessary for college and career readiness, which are divided into a math and reading & writing section. The PSAT/NMSQT is finally digital, meaning it is now easier, shorter, and provides more tools to help you succeed. The PSAT takes two hours and fourteen minutes to complete and is broken down into two sections. The reading and writing section is 64 minutes and contains 54 questions, on the other hand, the math section gives you 70 minutes to complete 44 questions.
Why take the PSAT?
The PSAT/NMSQT is a great opportunity to view your score progression, identify areas that require more attention, as well as set attainable goals for the SAT. By taking the PSAT, you also get one step closer to being eligible for the National Merit Scholarship Program, a not-for-profit organization that aids students in acquiring scholarships. The PSAT/NMSQT serves as an initial screen for high schoolers in the United States to potentially earn a $2500 national merit scholarship, a corporate-sponsored scholarship, or a college-sponsored scholarship.
Reading and Writing section overview:
The reading and writing section presents you questions based on a given text, which stands to be the basis for your answer. Each reading passage contains only one follow-up question, making the testing process easier for students to complete. Within the reading and writing section of the PSAT, there are four categories that your questions may fall under. The first category of this section is the craft and structure of a given text. This category evaluates your ability to comprehend the purpose of a passage, determine the meaning of advanced vocabulary, and formulate connections to other, similar texts. The second category of this section is information and ideas, in which you establish main ideas, propose inferences and provide evidence. This evidence is portrayed in various ways such as tables, bar graphs, line graphs, and of course- the text. The third category of the reading and writing section is standard English conventions. In this section you must revise the structure and/or punctuation of a text to make it abide by the conventions of standard English. The fourth and final category of the reading and writing section of the PSAT is the Expression of Ideas. In this section you will have to refine passages in order to better convey ideas and general points.
Math section overview:
During the math section of the PSAT, you will encounter multiple choice questions as well as student-produced response based questions. Similarly to the reading and writing section, the math section is also composed of four categories. Algebra is the first category of the math section and assesses your ability to understand, solve, and create linear equations and inequalities. The second category of this section is advanced math and it includes questions pertaining to nonlinear and equivalent expressions. Problem solving and data analysis is the third category of the math section. This category tests your quantitative reasoning in areas such as ratios, rates, and proportional relationships. The last category of the math section is geometry and trigonometry, which is centralized on exploring area, volume, triangles, angles, lines, and circles.
Study Tips & Additional Information
If you’re wondering how to prepare for the PSAT, look no further! Students can get ready for the PSAT by utilizing BlueBook, a software that allows them to get familiar with the format of the test and app. BlueBook also provides practice questions for the reading, writing and math sections so you can better grasp the concepts that will appear on test day.
Finally, as test day approaches, make sure to get at least 7-9 hours of sleep and consume a healthy, balanced breakfast in the morning. School breakfast will be served at 8-9 AM and testing will begin at 9 AM.
Believe in yourself and you will crush your PSAT goals! Good luck!