PSAT Basics
Why do we take the PSAT junior year?
- practice for the PSAT
- qualify for National Merit Scholarships
Tom gets to a math problem that he immediately knows the answer to. What strategy should tom use?
Use the calculator to check his answer before moving on.
What is the equation of a line?
y=mx+b
Her appetite for french-fries was voracious; she couldn't ever get enough. What does "voracious" mean in this sentence?
Craving food in great quantities
Finish this - "How tall are you?"
6-7
What is the date of the PSAT?
October 8th, 2025
This strategy is best used when you are not finished with a section and there are 5 minutes or less available.
Answer all of the remaining questions! Leave no question unanswered.
When calculating measurements of a right triangle, what formula would you use?
Pythagorean theorem (a2+b2=c2)
Kate's plans to study was thwarted when she decided to go shopping. What does "thwarted" mean in this sentence?
Ruined/Hinder/Prevent
This actress stars as the heroine in the movie series Halloween.
Jamie Lee Curtis
What are the two sections of the PSAT?
Reading & Language
Math
What is a strategy for handling sentence completion questions?
Read the sentence first, then fill it in with the answer choices listed to determine which answer choice is the best choice.
How would you calculate the area and circumference of a circle?
A=πr2
C=2πr
"What you see with your eyes are transient and ephemeral, what you see through your heart is everlasting and eternal."- Debasish Mridha
What is the author trying to say about your eyes?
Ephemeral is fleeting/short-lived. Our emotional experience is longer lasting than a cursory glance at something.
Christ Pratt starred in this movie series, a gothic noir take on dinosaurs.
Jurassic Park
Name one way to feel more prepared for the PSAT.
- good night's sleep
- practice tests
- use testing strategies
- dress in layers
When reading a passage, you will use this strategy before answering the questions.
Focus on the main idea and key points of the passage.
I need to calculate the volume of air a basketball holds. What formula would help me do that?
V=4/3πr3
Whenever a teacher asks a question, her class seems reticent, causing her to wait until someone volunteers to answer. How could you describe her class?
Quiet/Reluctant/Hesitant
Which artist just wants "one-dance"?
Drake
Leslie scored a 1350 on the PSAT and was in the 87th percentile. Should Leslie be happy about this? What does the percentile tell Leslie?
Yes! Due to her score, she scored higher than 87% of test takers on the PSAT.
You can feel confident on multiple choice questions because of this strategy.
Process of elimination
What is the value of x?
3x-15=15
x=10
Bill had 12 locks on his door, and thought to himself "After 2 locks, these other locks seem superfluous. Maybe I should remove some." What does Bill mean?
excessive
Which female rapper had a baby, then collaborated with Maroon 5 in 2018?
Cardi B