In-School PSAT Test Date: October 12, 2022
In-School SAT Test Date: April 25, 2023
Sophomores and Juniors take the PSAT. Juniors and Seniors have the option to take the SAT.
In this post, we answer some common questions regarding the PSAT and SAT at Poly.
Table Of Contents
Jump to a section by clicking the link
What do I need to bring to my PSAT/SAT?
On the day of your PSAT or SAT, you should bring at least two #2 pencils (mechanical pencils are not allowed) and a graphic calculator. Optional but recommended items include a watch*, water bottle, and snacks.
Make sure to sleep at least 9 hours the day before the test. Also make sure to eat a nutritious and filling breakfast on test day.
*I highly recommend bringing a watch with you on test day. Most proctors at Poly do not display a timer at the front of the classroom while you’re taking the test, so students are left guessing how much time they have left if they don’t have a watch.
How should I prepare for the PSAT/SAT?
It is never too early or too late to start preparing for the PSAT or SAT. Whether you’re a freshman, sophomore, or senior, each of the following test prep strategies will help you achieve an impressive score on the test.
1. Take Practice Tests
I believe that the most beneficial form of SAT test prep is a full-length practice test. My reasoning is that it gets you acquainted to the timing of the test and what you should expect on test day.
When taking a practice test, try to make it as much like the real one as possible. That means setting a timer for each section and only taking breaks during the designated break intervals (after the reading section and the math without calculator section).
You can find practice tests in the official SAT books (which you can find in the counseling office at Poly) or on khan academy (see below).
2. Khan academy SAT prep
The great thing about Khan academy SAT prep is that it is free and endorsed by the college board itself. That means that the problems you see on khan academy are reflective of the problems you’ll see on the actual test. Better yet, the Khan Academy test prep interface is personalized, meaning it gives you practice suggestions based on your current knowledge and abilities.
To start prepping for the SAT on Khan Academy, go to satpractice.org.
3. Read Books
You might be thinking “Read Books? How is that gonna help me with the test?”. Well, to answer that question, let me provide you with two reasons why reading books is going to help you with the SAT or PSAT reading/writing sections.
First, reading books will help you to expand your vocabulary. Although memorization apps like brainscape and quizlet are nice, the best way to learn new words is to see them in context (by reading books).
Secondly, reading books is going to make you improve your familiarity with the texts that will appear on the PSAT/SAT. The more you read, the better you’ll get at it. The better you get at it, the better you’ll do on the reading section of the test.
Author’s note: To best prepare yourself for the texts you’ll see on the PSAT/SAT, make sure to read a variety of types of texts including scientific literature (research articles) and historical non-fiction. The PSAT/SAT always features three categories of texts: a fiction text, a scientific text, and a historical text. To best prepare for the reading section, you should acquaint yourself with all three.
How is the test structured?
There are four sections on the PSAT and SAT: The Reading Section, Writing and Language Section, Math w/o Calculator Section, and Math with Calculator Section. Note that all of the questions on the PSAT and SAT are multiple choice. Here is an in-depth look at all three.
1. Reading Section
Number of questions: 47 (PSAT), 52 (SAT)
Time allowed: 60 minutes (PSAT), 65 minutes (SAT)
There are four main categories of passages you’ll see in the reading section:
1. Fictional Literature
2. Natural Sciences
3. Social Sciences
4. Historical Documents
Each of the passages will be accompanied by somewhere between 8 to 15 multiple choice questions. I recommend reading each of the passages in their entirely before answering the questions.
2. Writing and Language Section
Number of Questions: 44 (same for both tests)
Time Allowed: 35 minutes
The “writing and language” section doesn’t actually make you write. It is actually testing you on your knowledge of grammar and writing conventions. Again, the writing and language section is 100% multiple choice.
3. Math without Calculator Section
Number of Questions: 17 (PSAT), 20 (SAT)
Time Allowed: 25 minutes (PSAT and SAT)
Expect to see a lot of Algebra 1 and 2 topics in this section, including factoring and rational/radical expressions.
4. Math with Calculator Section
Number of Questions: 31 (PSAT), 38 (SAT)
Time Allowed: 45 (PSAT), 55 (SAT)
Although they let you use a calculator in this section, you don’t really need it for most problems. Expect to see problems related to Algebra, Geometry, and Statistics in this section.
That said, if you can download a systems of equations or quadratic equations program on your calculator, it could come in handy. Email polycalculatorprograms@gmail.com if you would like one of these useful programs on your calculator.
Should I take the SAT outside of school before I take it in school?
The short answer is: it depends. Most guidance counselors at Poly recommend waiting until the in-school test date to take your first SAT. However, you may find it helpful to get a real testing experience before you take the SAT in school. If you feel like you’ve prepared enough to take the test early, by all means go ahead.
Author’s note: As a Poly student, you can get a fee waiver for the first 2 SATs you take outside of school. Just stop by the counseling office to pick one up.
The SAT is going digital. What does that mean for students?
Starting in the 2023-2024 school year, the SAT will be completely digital for students. Having taken the digital SAT as part of a pilot study, I can offer some insights on the nature of the new test.
First, the test is much shorter than the paper SAT. I felt that it was easier to focus and that the test felt less tiresome because of the shorter time.
Secondly, the college board added a built-in timer to the digital SAT. The timer came in clutch for me when I took the test because I forgot to bring a watch.
Additionally, the reading and writing sections are way different on the digital SAT. Instead of having long passages accompanied by many questions, on the digital SAT, each question is accompanied by its own “mini-passage”. Also, there is no “reading” or “writing and language” section. There are two sections, each of which contains both “reading” and “writing” related questions.
Lastly, the digital SAT is scaled. This means that the difficulty of questions you get later in the test is determined by your performance early in the test. For example, if you do well on the first reading/writing section, you will likely be presented with harder questions in the second reading/writing section.
In summary, the digital SAT is similar, but also a lot different from the paper SAT. Personally, I am a fan of college board’s new form of the test.
What is the National Merit Scholarship?
The National Merit Scholarship rewards Juniors who score well on the PSAT. If you receive a good score on the PSAT, you may become a National Merit semifinalist. From there, you have to complete a scholarship application by writing an essay to the National Merit corporation. The general prize for national merit is a $2500 scholarship. However, a few special students each year are awarded with corporate scholarships that can exceed $50,000. For more details go to nationalmerit.org.
Author’s note: Make sure you fill out the national merit related bubbles on your PSAT test sheet. My proctor never instructed me to, so I am not qualified for the national merit scholarship even though I scored a 1500 on the PSAT (a national merit qualifying score). Do not end up like me. Fill out the bubbles.
All about Scoring - How are scores calculated? What's a good score for the PSAT/SAT?
The PSAT is scored out of 1520 points and the SAT is scored out of 1600 points. Scores are calculated based on your performance on the test relative to the general test-taking population. That means that you could get a question wrong on the test but still get a perfect score, if that was a particularly hard version of the PSAT or SAT. While I will not dive into all of the details of PSAT/SAT scoring, it’s important to know that even if you miss a few questions, you can still get a very good score. For more on SAT scoring, go to https://blog.prepscholar.com/how-is-the-sat-scored-scoring-charts.
As for the second question “What’s a good score”, the answer is different for everyone. If you’re a good multiple-choice test taker, you should expect to score well. Likewise, if you’ve done a lot of test prep, you should expect to achieve a good score. Generally, any score above 1250 on both tests is considered good, as 1250 is usually around the 75th percentile among test-takers in America. However, in order to get into a prestigious college like Princeton or Stanford, you should have a score of at least 1500. That said, your SAT score is only a small piece of the criteria that colleges look at in the admissions process.
Given that the test is limited in scope and only has multiple choice questions, the extent to which it can be used to evaluate prospective college students is marginal.
About the Author
Brandon Isbell has taken 2 PSATs, 7 practice SATs, a paper SAT, and a digital SAT. His highest PSAT score is a 1500 and his highest SAT score is a 1520 (although he’s still waiting on his digital SAT score). Brandon thinks that the college board gets too much hate, given that AP classes adequately prepare students for the rigors of college.
What do you think about the college board? Let us know in the comments below.
