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How to Prepare for the PSAT

The Practice Scholastic Aptitude Test, or PSAT, is the practice version of the standardized SAT exam that is required for high school students applying to four-year colleges. The best way to prepare for the PSAT is to take challenging coursework that will help you develop critical reading, math and writing skills. The PSAT will measure your knowledge of words and sentence structure, your ability to identify sentence errors and improve sentences and paragraphs, and your basic knowledge of number operation, geometry, algebraic functions, data analysis, statistics and probability.

Instructions

- 1
  Purchase one of the SAT study guides offered by many different publishers, available online and in bookstores. For example, the College Board produces "The Official SAT Study Guide," and as of 2011, the cost for the guide is $21.99. Buy used study guides for around $6, download an electronic version to your e-reader, or check out study materials for free at the library.
- 2
  Practice for the PSAT using an online course. College Board, OnlineTestPrep and Kaplan offer online courses and strategies, some of which are interactive lessons. College Board offers 10 separate tests, essay scoring and interactive lessons for $69.95 (as of 2011). OnlineTestPrep provides a free comprehensive strategy guide that offers test-taking strategies for all categories of the PSAT. Kaplan offers a nine-hour long, live online class in which pupils can ask questions and interact with a tutor, two practice tests, 2000 practice questions and online study guides. The price for Kaplan's is between $999 as of 2011.
- 3
  Take a full SAT practice test online. Both College Board and Kaplan offer free online practice tests. Answer all of the questions and complete the essay, and the program will give you an immediate score and display the correct answers.

PSAT Study Requirements

How to Get Your PSAT Scores