What is the SAT? What is it good for? What does it tell us? Why do we have a test like this in the first place? In better understanding both the context and content of the SAT, students (and parents) can cultivate a more relaxed and informed approach to taking the test.

1. Understanding The PSAT
and SAT:
What is it good for?
What does it tell me?
Where do I go from here?
David Taus, M.Ed.

2. I. What is the PSAT?
• P is for “Preliminary”

3. I. What is the PSAT?
• P is for “Preliminary”
• You can also think of it as “Practice”

4. I. What is the PSAT?
• PSAT History
– Sponsored by the College
Board and the National
Merit Scholarship
Corporation
– “Firsthand Practice” for
the SAT
– Gives students a chance
to enter NMSC
scholarship programs and
gain access to college and
career planning tools.

5. I. What is the SAT?
• PSAT History • SAT History
– Sponsored by the College – Scholastic Aptitude Test
Board and the National – First administered 1926
Merit Scholarship – Harvard President, Princeton
Psychologist (Carl Campbell)
Corporation
– To “compare and evaluate”
– “Firsthand Practice” for students
the SAT – Originally based on army IQ
– Gives students a chance tests
to enter NMSC – Now administered by ETS
scholarship programs and
gain access to college and
career planning tools.

6. II. What does the PSAT tell me?
The PSAT is NOT a measure of intelligence!
The PSAT is NOT a direct measure of knowledge!
The PSAT assesses:
• skills in reading, math reasoning, and writing
• critical thinking skills

7. II. What does the PSAT tell me?
The PSAT is a good baseline measure of how you
will do on the SAT.

8. II. What does the PSAT tell me?
The PSAT is a good baseline measure of how you
will do on the SAT.
– This is not a 100% accurate predictor – your SAT
score can change dramatically!

9. II. What does the PSAT tell me?
The PSAT is a good baseline measure of how you
will do on the SAT.
– This is not a 100% accurate predictor – your SAT
score can change dramatically!
– However, the scores for the two tests are strongly
correlated (.86)

10. II. What does the PSAT tell me?
The PSAT is a good baseline measure of how you
will do on the SAT.
– This is not a 100% accurate predictor – your SAT
score can change dramatically!
– However, the scores for the two tests are strongly
correlated (.86)
– Experts say that the SAT is slightly harder than the
PSAT (www.collegeconfidential.com)

11. II. What does the PSAT tell me?
“Students had an 87.6% (83.9%, 78.9%) chance of scoring 1500 (1650,1800) or
above on the combined SAT, if they have scored at least 135 (152,169) on
the combined PSAT, and an 82.0% (87.2%, 91.7%) chance of scoring below
1500 (1650, 1800) on the combined SAT, if they have scored lower than 135
(152, 169) on the combined PSAT.”
(Wang and Milam, AACPS)
If your PSAT Your corresponding SAT If you scored If you scored
higher, will you lower, will you
Score is… score is… Will you score score lower
higher again? again?
135 1500 87.6% 82%
152 1650 83.9% 87.2%
169 1800 78.9% 91.2%

12. Score Report Plus
• Your Scores
– PSAT scores are reported on a scale of 20 to 80 for each category
– 2008 average scores for 10th graders: 42 in critical reading, 44 in
mathematics, and 41 in writing skills.
• Ranges
– This is an estimate of how much your scores would change if you
took the PSAT again.
• Percentile
– This is a measure of how well you did compared to everyone else
who took the PSAT.

13. Score Report Plus
• Improve Your Skills
– You will receive feedback on your academic skills, based on your performance in each
section of the test.
– Pay attention to the suggestions for how to improve specific skills.
– This report is personalized for you, based on your performance on the PSAT.
This is a personalized report that tells you how you’re doing on each specific academic skill tested
by the PSAT. My College Quickstart has hundreds of practice questions for each skill.

14. Score Report Plus
• Review Your Answers
– You are able to see which questions you got wrong, by category!!
– Look for patterns in order to identify points of challenge
– Note that questions are rated by difficulty level

15. III. How can I get ready for the SAT?
My College QuickStart is a free online college planning tool based on the PSAT.
www.collegeboard.com/quickstart
• Online score report – interactive and more detailed than print
version (e.g. problem explanations)
• Personalized SAT study plan
• Personality Test – determine majors and careers that fit your
strengths and interests
• Major and Career matches, based on your interests
• College Match Guidance, based on your PSAT scores, your
interests, and your geographic location

16. III. How can I get ready for the SAT?
My College QuickStart is a free online college planning tool based on the PSAT.
www.collegeboard.com/quickstart
You will need your access code 

17. III. How can I get ready for the SAT?
Register for the SAT!
http://sat.collegeboard.org/register
SAT Registration Deadlines
2013Test Dates Test Postmark/Submit by:
March 9, 2013 SAT only February 8
May 4, 2013 SAT & Subject April 5
Tests
June 1, 2013 SAT & Subject May 2
Regular Registration is $50 Tests
Late Registration is $77
Subject Tests are $23 + $12 per test

18. III. How can I get ready for the SAT?
Register for the SAT!
Subject Tests?!?!
SAT “Reasoning” Test: SAT “Subject” Tests:
Traditional SAT, sometimes Subject-specific
called the SAT I tests, sometimes called the
•3 hr 45 min SAT II
•Multiple Choice: Critical •One hour each
Reading and Math •Multiple choice
•Free Response: Writing •20 different subjects
•Most colleges require •Some colleges require
this test these tests

19. III. How can I get ready for the SAT?
SAT? SAT Subject Tests? ACT?
Which test should I take?!?!?

20. III. How can I get ready for the SAT?
SAT? SAT Subject Tests? ACT?
Which test should I take?!?!?
This is a question you should ask to
the colleges you’re applying to.
It’s different for every college.

21. III. How can I get ready for the SAT?
 Score Choice  Test Optional
◦ www.ETS.com ◦ www.Fairtest.org
◦ Students have ◦ 830 schools now
option to release make the SAT
some or all test and ACT optional!
scores to schools ◦ UC dropped SAT
◦ Some schools II requirement for
still require all sophomores, ie.
scores 2012
(Stanford, Cornell
, Yale)

22. III. How can I get ready for the SAT?
Register for the SAT!
http://sat.collegeboard.org/register
Prepare for the SAT.
• Do your homework!
• Sign up for an SAT prep class
• Sign up for an SAT tutor
• Study with your friends
• Study online (Grockit, eduFire, Brightstorm)
• Read magazines, newspapers, books, blogs

23. SAT Prep with Tutorpedia
• 1-on-1 tutoring
– Pay by the session, or save money with a package of hours

24. SAT Prep with Tutorpedia
• 1-on-1 tutoring
– Pay by the session, or save money with a package of hours
• Small group classes (workshops)
– More cost effective, but not always as effective as 1-on-1

25. SAT Prep with Tutorpedia
• 1-on-1 tutoring
– Pay by the session, or save money with a package of hours
• Small group classes (workshops)
– More cost effective, but not always as effective as 1-on-1
Tutorpedia tutors have worked successfully with OA students for
the past three years!
Last year Tutorpedia offered an SAT prep class at OA

26. SAT Prep with Tutorpedia
Tutorpedia’s SAT Curriculum
•20 hours of instruction (ten 2 hour classes)
•Uses the College Board SAT book
•All aspects of the test are covered
– Question Types
– Content
– Test-Taking Strategies
•Emphasis on Metacognition and Self-Knowledge
•Product is a comprehensive study plan, complete with analysis
of strengths and challenges

27. SAT Prep with Tutorpedia
Rocking the SAT: Day-by-
Day Curriclum Map
DAY 1 DAY 2 DAY 3
Reading & Writing Critical Reading Verbs Essay Writing
Math Numbers and Operations I Nymbers and Operations II Algebra and Functions I
Question Types (optional in-class Passage-based Reading (see
teacher notes for page
Math: Multiple Choice (p. 305- Essay (see teacher notes for
313) page numbers)
work) numbers)
Figure out what the question is
Test Taking Strategies Test Format and Structure Plug In Easy Words/Numbers
testing
Passage-based Reading (p. Math: Student Produced Essay (p. 513), Identifying
Homework 391-395), Math Multiple Choice Responses (p. 416-418, 466- Sentence Errors (p. 409-410,
(p. 396-401) 468), Essay (p. 451) 471-472)
Math: Multiple choice (p. 419-
Improving Paragraphs (p. 411- 424), Essay practice rewriting
Essay (p. 389), Sentence
Suggested Homework Completion (p. 390, 402, 425)
412, Passage-based Reading sentences (p. 112-118),
(403-406, 426-428) Passage-based Reading (p.
459-462)

28. SAT Prep with Tutorpedia
Tutorpedia’s SAT Prep Recommendations
•Start at least 12 weeks ahead of time
•Finish the formal preparation with 2-3 weeks to go before the
test; use the remaining time to target specific areas of challenge
•Regular small doses is better than fewer big doses of studying
•Stay sharp through test day!

29. Questions?
 Test Preparation • David Taus & Emma Bundy
– (415) 948-1585
 Academic Subjects – emma@tutorpedia.com
 Essay Writing – david@tutorpedia.com
– www.tutorpedia.com
 Project-based
• Brochures and Information available
workshops • Customized 20 hour SAT prep
 Talks (like this one) classes AT Orinda Academy this
Spring
 And more! • Thank you for your time!