The PSAT is more important than most high schoolers think. Not only does it serve as a preparation test for the SAT, but it provides the opportunity of national merit scholarship programs which can lead to recognition by college admissions. Today, I will go over a few effective ways to best prepare yourself for the highly dreaded yet important PSAT.
Context
In late 2022, the college board announced that the PSAT and SAT will transition to digital tests starting in 2023. This change has been a highly controversial topic, with topics such as cheating and disadvantages to people with learning disorders arising. However, there are many ways to better prepare yourself for this drastic change in testing atmosphere. Junior counselor Mr. McDaniel shared his thoughts on the upcoming test saying:
“The PSAT is frequently misconceptualized. Students often don’t take it as seriously as they should, because it isn’t just a practice test, it is an opportunity to show colleges your academic talents.” – Mr. McDaniel
Ray Dass
First, a great tool which is provided through Jesuit is the testing preparation program, Ray Dass. Ray Dass is made up of descriptive videos, followed by realistic test-like questions to practice. To login, simply go to the drop down option “classes” in RangerNet and you should see a class called “Ray Dass PSAT/SAT/ACT Prep.” From here, use your school ID as your username and your school password as the password to login. If you have any questions or have any issues with logging into your Ray Dass account, make sure to email Dr. Kirby at – bkirby@jcpstudents.org.
Khan Academy
While Khan Academy’s resources are directed towards success on the SAT (and should be included in your preparation for that test as well), the SAT and PSAT are effectively identical in the content they assess. As a result, Khan Academy’s SAT resources are extremely valuable in preparation for the PSAT. If you have taken a PSAT before, linking Khan academy to our College Board account will allow vou to have a personalized plan-of-attack for approaching your SAT (and PSAT) preparation, honing in on your weaknesses and acknowledging that your strengths might not require as much studying. It offers a comprehensive set of videos that allow you to learn the ins and outs of each question type, giving tips and tricks that will allow you to score highly. Additionally, Khan academy, in collaboration with the College Board, has made digital versions of the College Board’s 10 official SAT practice tests. Taking one of these will prepare you for the feel of taking one of these tests and, if taken early enough, will allow you to identify your own strengths and weaknesses for vour PSAT preparation.
YouTube
Another way to prepare for the PSAT is to utilize the tool of YouTube. Nowadays, one can find almost anything on YouTube, especially school related material. There are many ways to go about utilizing YouTube, personally I’ve found that taking notes as I watch the video helps me remember information. Down below I have provided a few channels which can be helpful sources of information.
Math Channels:
English/Reading Comprehension Channels:
Utilizing Class Material
Regardless if you’re in honors and AP classes or on-level courses, Jesuit provides its students with an extremely high level of education. While using these courses solely as a study tool for the PSAT is not the most efficient way, it is still an option. For example, the math department at Jesuit provides the necessary tools to excel on the math section, so take as much advantage of class time possible.
Good Luck, hopefully one of these methods helps you better prepare for the PSAT.
Stay tuned to the Jesuit Roundup for more Academic Tips and News!
