Mike Flynn

When you take the PSAT, it’s essential to understand its structure so that you can answer questions correctly. Knowing the structure, what the test is really asking, and how to eliminate bad answer choices are the best PSAT strategies you can find!

The test is made by the College Board, a gigantic “non-profit” that brings in more than $1B (that is a B for billion)! So you will have your work cut out for you in order to do well. They will make it hard on you and you must pay attention, otherwise, you will fall for their traps!

Take the PSAT as a Practice Test

Your first step should be to take a practice PSAT and get scores for each section (free tests can be found online).

Do not think that just by taking test after test that you will magically improve. The high-scoring, college-bound students looking for an advantage know that they need some specific test prep and must understand the strategies and test-taking tips that will work for all three parts of the exam.

WHAT SHOULD I STUDY FOR THE PSAT?

On every PSAT, there is always one Reading section, one Writing and Language section, and two Math sections (one with a calculator and one without your calculator). The Reading and Writing sections combine to form your Verbal Score, and the two math sections combine to create your Math score (note, that the majority of the math sections are multiple-choice, but there are 8 Grid-in (non-multiple choice).

I suggest you take a practice test (you can find a free practice test at this link), look to see what you got correct, and focus mainly on your wrong answers.

You will want to work on practice problems similar to the problems you missed on the test. Always make certain to check your answers so that you truly see if you are improving.

PSAT/NMSQT

The PSAT/NMSQT (National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test) is a challenging test, and each section requires different approaches to excel.

There are some specific strategies for each of these three parts of the test to help you improve. A little test prep and practice taking the PSAT will greatly improve your skills and prepare you to score higher. As a bonus for your PSAT prep efforts, you will be in a much stronger position when you take the SAT because the PSAT is based on the SAT!

So taking the PSAT is really the start of SAT prep for college-bound students.

BEST PSAT TEST PREP TIPS AND TRICKS

The PSAT is a very different test from any you’ve seen in school before (which is what often frustrates students).

Still, it shares one significant similarity: the ability to use test-taking strategies. On school tests, you probably spend more time on the more challenging questions than easier ones. Tougher questions are usually worth more points.

The way you approach a question is just as important as the answer you eventually select.

This is not the smart way to do the PSAT. On the PSAT, you should move around within a section if you come across tough questions, as they are worth the same number of points as less complex questions.

What matters is that you are bubbling in the correct answer choice, not how you arrive at it. 

PSAT STRATEGY #1: FIND EASY QUESTIONS

Although every student has different strengths and weaknesses, it is best to practice your faults, but on test day, avoid those weaknesses and attack the problems that are easier for you.

Every student should take each question using their style. Your goal on the PSAT should be to get as many problems correct as possible. Remember, to earn the highest score possible, you cannot work on any section other than the one your proctor tells you to do (same rules for the SAT).

It may seem weird to answer the problems out of order, but it will help you improve.

To do this correctly, follow these steps:

1. Work through all the easy problems that you can do quickly. Skip hard and time-consuming questions until the end. Work through the passages in order or jump to whichever passage you feel most comfortable working on.
2. Do questions that are difficult but take a long time.
3. Work through the most challenging questions last. Remember, all questions are worth the same point value, so focus on what is the highest probability of getting the question right and don’t worry as much about the problems you have very little chance of getting right. 

If you do not have the time to complete all the questions because you are running out of time, pick a single letter and bubble the answer sheet repeatedly with that letter.

This will save you time and will help ensure you really get 1 out of 4 questions correct.

PSAT STRATEGY #2: PROCESS OF ELIMINATION

Using the process of elimination is still an essential strategy, even though there is no penalty for wrong answers. If you can tell that one or more of the choices are clearly incorrect, eliminate those choices first to increase your chances of getting it right.

To eliminate wrong answer choices, make sure to:

• Read each answer choice fully
• Eliminate answer choices clearly incorrect (when in doubt, don’t cross it out!).
• Always guess because there is no longer a wrong answer penalty.

PSAT STRATEGY #3: GUESS AGGRESSIVELY

Each PSAT question has four answer choices, except for the Grid-In questions in the math section.

If you do not know how to answer a question, GUESS! You have a 25% chance of answering the question correctly. Even though you have a 75% chance of picking the wrong answer, it won’t cost you any points. On the PSAT, you will get zero points on a question if you do not answer it.

It would help if you always guessed, even when you do not know what to do.

When you guess on a question, do the following:

• eliminate choices that seem unlikely before guessing.
• never leave a question blank on the PSAT. 
• if you run out of time, pick your favorite column and work your way through the section.

Choosing your favorite column is a bit faster than random guessing. ***This is a repeat but too often students forget to bubble in for fear of losing points!

Free Bonus PSAT/SAT Tips to Prepare You for the Test

Math questions on the SAT have an order of difficulty that usually follows one-third of the questions will be easy, one-third will be medium difficulty, and one-third will be hard. The PSAT follows a similar structure, except there are just fewer hard questions.

The PSAT is more like 40% of the questions are easy, 40% are medium, and 20% are hard.

Frequently Asked Questions About the PSAT

The PSAT was started in the early 70s (if you didn’t know, the ’70s gave us bell-bottom pants, disco, and this test). Talk about a bad decade!

If the PSAT isn’t important, why should I prepare for it? Can I even prep for it?

As mentioned above, the PSAT is an important part of your college preparation. You might not be prepared, but if you know what it is like and how it will be different from other tests, you will have a better chance. Familiarizing yourself with the different types of questions and practice tests will allow you to be fully prepared for the test.

Go to Engeniuslearning.com, and we can help you with all of your academic needs.

How similar is the PSAT to the SAT?

The PSAT is an important test for college-bound students. The PSAT and SAT are similar in many ways, but they’re not identical. Unlike the SAT, the PSAT is shorter in both question count and time. Unlike the SAT, the PSAT does not include an essay. Second, the PSAT is comprised of only simple mathematics like arithmetic and geometry. Third, the PSAT is given at your high school and not a separate testing center.

The PSAT is one of the earliest measures of your academic skills, and, ideally, it’s supposed to pave the way for success with the more difficult SAT.

However, remember that taking this test should only be a small part of your preparation for the next level test-taker exam.

On the PSAT, is one answer choice more common than another?

No. There is an equal distribution of all answer choices to ensure that students could not gain an advantage over the test.

Do colleges use my PSAT scores to make admissions decisions?

No. Your PSAT scores are sent to numerous organizations, not just the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. College admissions departments can request lists of high-scoring PSAT students to contact them about scholarships. A high score attracts attention from top-tier colleges. A low PSAT score won’t have a significant impact on the admissions decision and isn’t a deal killer for college, but should be a wake up call to start improving your reading, writing, and math skills!

How Do You Guess on the PSAT?

The test doesn’t care if you know the answer or guessed it, it only cares if you marked the correct answer or not. A few years ago there was a wrong answer penalty, for wrong guesses and no penalty or benefit for a blank answer. This penalty has been removed; always answer all of the questions!

And, since the rules are the same, always answer all SAT questions as well!

Is it true that in order to earn a perfect score, you DO NOT need to answer all the questions correctly?

Many students have said that they missed some questions on the PSAT and got a perfect score (same for the SAT). The people who make the test use a technique called scaling. This allows you to miss a few more questions on an exam that is slightly harder and only miss a few questions on an easier exam. That way, you will consistently receive the same scores for any test you take. Avoid getting distracted by negative self-talk, and try to stay positive throughout the test.

Considering how few people get a perfect score, it would be better to focus on getting more questions correct and worry about the things you can control.

Are the PSAT and SATs like my regular tests in high school?

The PSAT has some of the same content as high school math, literature, and English classes. But it also presents concepts differently. On the PSAT, you need to solve problems quickly and with as few steps as possible. You do not need to show your work, and you will get the same number of points if you guessed the answer or knew the answer.

Working fast and aggressively guessing gets rewarded on the PSAT/SAT but generally frowned upon on your tests in high school.

How Do I Pick the Perfect College?

Parents and college-bound students are always wondering how to choose a college. I have simplified the process for college planning for college-bound high school students, but here are a few recommended steps to ensure success. While there are many different ways to start the college search process, you should expect unplanned detours along the way and consider these steps as merely starting points to your journey. At the moment, college seems like the destination, but trust me, college is just one of the steps you take in life.

The college search process can be an emotional ride, so buckle up!

Your progress and the path will unfold as your wants and needs change, making this challenging because it makes the process longer. Changing your mind as you go is normal and should be accepted. Your goal is to find the right college, and you should put in the necessary time required to make that happen!

What Should I Use as a Starting Point When Choosing a College?

The different starting points help you understand what you want from a college. No matter the starting point, the guidance covers all essential factors to determine the best fit. Your starting point should be the option that makes the most sense to you and factors in your goals. As you start, consider the:

• type of school and location (public/private, small/large, urban or rural)
• major (broad-based, liberal arts, hybrid-options, and number of options in each major)
• school ranking and expected degree outcome (Ivy League, competitive, or open admission based; BA, BS, MA, Ph.D.)

An easy way to get started is to use the Goldilocks principle:

• Is the college too far away, too hard, or doesn’t have your major?
• Is the college is too close, too small, too “easy,” doesn’t “feel” right?
• Is college far enough away, has your major, and has almost everything I want, and “is just right.”

It is often easier to eliminate colleges based on the Goldilocks principle, then search from what is left. And no matter what, your goal is to graduate from the school you pick! 

When looking at the type of school, we need to determine what makes sense for you.

The first step in picking a university is deciding what type of school would best suit your needs and desires. Do you want a small liberal arts college, or do you want something larger with more cache and more opportunities? Are you interested in an out-of-state school that will push you academically and socially? Or maybe even one abroad? Or is something small, close by better for you? Or is there another combination that you have in mind?

If you are uncertain about the type or location of the school to attend, then maybe we can approach this differently.

A second path to follow is to focus on the major. Do you want to be a doctor, lawyer, engineer, teacher, or accountant? Do you want to be a writer, or researcher, or maybe even work in business? Does the place where your undergraduate degree comes from matter more than a potential graduate degree? Or do you need to get the best grades possible to apply to grad school? If you do get a graduate degree, does that grad school need to be more prestigious than your undergraduate college?

If you want to learn more about how to pick the perfect college, watch this video!

Ok, don’t know which major to pick? Don’t worry! 

You are still very young, and maybe you don’t have enough life experience to determine what you want to do for the rest of your life! Don’t panic, and don’t give up (some colleges specialize in letting you find your way before declaring your major).

If location, size, and major won’t work, maybe we should focus on the school’s ranking. 

College and University rankings are a controversial topic, with many varying opinions. Still, they can provide a bit of guidance when you are struggling with direction. If you have seen my videos on college planning or read some of my work, you will learn I am very opposed to the terms “reach” and “safety” school! Both of those terms imply you didn’t belong academically at that college. Second, the so-called “academic reach” college may not be a good fit for you for non-academic reasons. Still, people get so focused on getting accepted to their “academic reach” college they don’t consider any other factors.

Some of these other factors that impact what is the right college for students are:

• four-year graduation rates
• six-year graduation rates
• number of students per class on average
• overall admission factors such as incoming student GPA

Sadly, these kids are often the ones that wash out within the first year. The college experience often chases them away from any college in the future.

Each of these paths has its strengths and weaknesses, and you may need to travel down each one to find the right fit. Finding the perfect college is a bit like finding a needle in a haystack. Lots and lots of choices, but we are only looking for that one specific thing. 

When Should I Start Looking for Colleges and Universities?

Well, in a sense, you should have started planning for college in 5th grade. This is when specific skills like math and habitual academic behaviors begin to matter. For most everyone else, kids will start somewhere during high school by visiting colleges. No matter what, you really can’t start later than the summer before your senior year.

The problem with starting during the summer before your senior year is that you have to devote a portion of your summer to college planning. Probably not your dream summer, right?

Will my High School Help with How to Choose a College?

The short answer is no, not really. The long answer is that school is concerned with every graduating senior, and we are only concerned with the one we have in front of us! Schools want to make sure that all of their college-bound students apply to college and hope most end up going somewhere. From their standpoint, any future education is better than no education.

Ok, so I understand the paths, and which one(s) may work better than another, now what do I do?

Your choice of a college or university to put you on the higher education path and major decision might be the biggest decision you have made in your life. You must spend the necessary time researching the schools, working on your essays, and submitting perfect applications. There are several different platforms to explore the different paths. There are also many different ways to prep for tests, writing essays, and submitting applications.

Choosing a college can feel overwhelming, but many students go to colleges and universities all over the country, so don’t give up, keep up the search, and you will eventually find the right school for you!

Where can I get help with test scores, pick colleges, work with essays, financial aid, and help with applications?

Why Engenius Learning Center, of course. We can help with all of your college planning needs, and tutor in most subjects. Let us help with your college search and we will help you choose a college perfect for you.

To get help from us, email Mike Flynn at mcflynn@engeniuslearning.com, and I will add you to the College Bound cohort that starts in early June. We can’t take too many students, so please let me know soon if you want me to save you save you a spot.

What will the College Bound course look like?

We will be holding weekly meetings in June to find the perfect college for you! The sessions will be hour-long, group meetings, with additional tutoring lessons to work on specific skills. Each of the group lessons will be online and recorded, so you can go back at any point and review what I covered. I will also have an online, asynchronous curriculum with written content to work on outside of the cohort lessons. Assistance with financial aid will be directed at college costs and ways to get merit-based scholarships.

In addition to the group meeting, we will set up tutoring sessions to work specifically on test prep questions or if you want additional help with your college essays.

Contact me now so we can plan this around your schedule and your needs. I’ll be happy to walk you through the process to get you where you need to be.ly optimized content goes here!

How to Pick the Perfect College

College-bound Seniors: Struggling to find a college that is the perfect match for you? Choosing a college can be tricky, especially if you’re unsure what your major will be or where it will take you. I can help make this process easier and a lot less stressful!

Sign up for my workshop How to Pick the Perfect College on Thursday, April 22nd, from 7 pm to 8 pm. You will learn about what factors are essential when selecting a college, online tools to help you decide, and how your decision can impact your future.

Click here to sign up now!

By the end of the workshop, you will feel more confident about what major you should pursue (this might include Undecided), what aspects of school interest you and why, and ultimately, be that much closer to selecting the school to attend. We want you to feel confident in the school chosen and give you the language and vocabulary to explain your choice.

For a bit more detail on what I will cover:

What type of a college is right for me?

This question can only be answered by you. There is no one perfect college for everyone, and the best way to find that out is by investigating the many types of colleges that there are.

The most important decision in college is to find the college that will best suit your needs. The college selection process can be overwhelming and made more difficult because there is not much time left to decide (and you thought the college application process was tough!). Students like you often agonize over which college to attend. This decision can be challenging because every school is unique, and the perfect college for one student may not be the ideal college for another.

To help you determine if a particular school is the right fit for you, we offer the Picking the Perfect College workshop. This seminar will guide you through assessing your strengths and weaknesses, looking at schools based on what you are good at academically, and consider the future in terms of what career options match up with your interests. If there’s one thing I have learned, it’s that picking the perfect college is hard work! So don’t hesitate to sign up now for this workshop.

Click here to sign up now!

As you know, selecting a school can be a very challenging decision, and you are feeling pressure to make the right choice. Prior to making your decision, you must consider what type of school you want (private or public), where to live, what major you will select, graduation rates, and, of course, any financial concerns (both yours and the colleges you have been accepted to). All of this can be pretty dizzying!

The best way to figure out what kind of college will suit your needs is to make an informed decision using the proper guidelines. With expert advice, this decision doesn’t have to seem impossible! I’ll tell you how to pick the perfect school by taking a few simple steps and evaluating your specific needs and goals.

I have 30+ years of experience helping students find the perfect college and want to share my experience. My students are all over the map when it comes to picking a college (local, small school to distant, large colleges). College selection is always an exciting adventure for me. This year is no different – but maybe a bit more stressful based on the past year we have had. In the end, the process always works out for the better, and I’m happy to you the insight you need to get where you belong.

What critical factors that you should consider when choosing a college?

Here are few factors that I think most important:

Where Do You Want to Go to College?

Location – Where do you want to live? Do you want to stay close enough to visit your family but far enough that you can have your own space? Which part of the country do you want to be in, and what is the climate like there? Do you like to live in the big city, or would you rather live in a small rural area?

What Major in College Do You Want to Study?

Programs – What is the focus of your college? Is it known for specific programs, such as medical sciences or computer technology, or is it more generalized? Does the college offer special programs and advanced degrees in my major of choice? Is there only one degree in your major, or does the department offer several different degrees in that field of study? Does your major require additional classes that will prolong graduation?

Is College Worth the Cost?

Cost – Some schools will cost more than others. Some will be much less expensive than others per year, but not much different by the time you graduate. It’s essential to choose a school that fits your budget. Take a look at the debt load of graduating students from your college? What percent of students receive financial aid, and how much? And, based on the pandemic and the stress that has put on colleges, what is the school’s endowment?

Some people say that picking a college is like finding the perfect pair of shoes, but there’s more to it than just sizing! You want to attend a school where you will be valued for your unique skills and passions. That means not only picking the right size but also the right fit.

To ultimately end up at the right school, you must consider everything, academic, personal, financial, and several other components. In the end, picking the perfect college for you is part science and part instinct. Let me provide you with the proper guidelines so you can ultimately make the best decision for yourself!

Click here to sign up now!