Study strategies for the PSAT

Andrea Alvarado

Staff Writer

Meet the Writer

The PSAT is right around the corner. In fact, it’s this Friday, and while some students see it as just a practice for the actual SAT,  others see it as a way to earn scholarships. Everyone has different study strategies, and finding the best strategy is the most important part.

The PSAT is a digital standardized test that assesses a student’s college readiness in math and English. If a student does well, then they can qualify for the National Merit Scholarship. The National Merit Scholarship is a program where a few students could earn multiple scholarships and recognition, which is why knowing the right study strategy can help prepare for the PSAT. 

One of the most common study strategies and one of the easiest ways is to answer a question each day. By answering at least one question daily, students can become familiar with how the questions are going to be during the PSAT. When students know how they are going to be asked, they can study questions that have the same layout to make sure that they understand what the question is asking them to do. 

“I’ve mostly used the resources from Mr. Tilton’s class, such as the exact path and the SAT question of the day to help study for the PSAT.  I think this studying is going to help me plenty for the PSAT,” said junior Daisy Gonzalez.

A few students are focusing on the subjects they scored lowest on, while others make sure to study both to get the best score possible. 

Kaiya Jones, another junior, expressed, “I currently focus more on math but I would like to focus on writing to be strong in both areas.” She utilizes online resources like Khan Academy and Collegeboard. Collegeboard is a good resource for students because it allows them to view their scores on the practice tests and allows students to view what they need to work on in each section. Khan Academy is also a good resource as it allows students to view videos and take practice tests on both English and Math.

Studying for the PSAT doesn’t have to be hard or time consuming. Students can save time by learning how to use the program and the calculator. Because the test and the Desmos calculator are different to what students are used to, many students have problems using those tools. Students can reduce stress and not waste time with the test by spending a few minutes a day learning Desmos functions and by learning where every tool is on the test.

Getting to bed early and eating a full meal the night before the test is extremely important for the test day. Eating a well-balanced breakfast is the best way to stay energized. If you don’t usually eat breakfast, or you don’t have time to, a snack can help as well. Another effective way to maintain high energy levels is to bring snacks to eat while you are taking the PSAT.

No matter what strategy works for you, studying doesn’t have to be stressful, and the PSAT doesn’t have to be too. Making sure you feel ready and are well prepared is the most important thing for the PSAT, no matter what you did to achieve that goal.