Kaplan PSAT Practice Test: Comprehensive Guide and Resources
The Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT) is designed to assess students' logic and reasoning skills while considering their educational level. While the SAT is used by colleges to evaluate a student’s application, the PSAT is used as a practice version of the SAT and primarily used for students to qualify for certain scholarships. Prepare effectively by using PSAT practice tests to identify your strengths and weaknesses, allowing you to focus your study efforts for optimal PSAT test preparation.
Given this is a long, detailed review, we’ve included jump-to links above for quick navigation.
Understanding the PSAT Suite
The PSAT 8/9 and PSAT 10 are part of the SAT suite. Students can progress through the PSAT 8/9, PSAT 10, PSAT NMSQT, and then the SAT. The PSAT 8/9 is typically taken by 8th and 9th graders, while the PSAT 10 is taken by 10th and 11th graders. Unlike the NMSQT, the PSAT 10 does not have a qualifying scholarship associated with it. The PSAT NMSQT is the closest test to the SAT. If students earn a score in the 99th percentile, they may qualify for scholarships.
Importance of PSAT 8/9
The PSAT 8/9 allows students to create a plan for themselves in preparation for the PSAT 10 or PSAT/NMSQT. A good PSAT score is subjective for each student, especially for the PSAT 8/9. It is intended to predict future success on subsequent exams like the PSAT 10 and NMSQT and the SAT.
PSAT Scoring and Interpretation
In general, scores on the PSAT are meant to help identify subjects and topics that students should plan to study more as they move through high school and prepare for the SAT. Your PSAT 8/9 score can be used to recommend AP courses that you might consider taking in high school. Taking an AP course will prove to be more difficult than a regular high school course but the reward is that you will push yourself to become more proficient in that subject, positioning you to be more prepared for a test like the SAT.
Read also: Is Kaplan SAT Prep Worth It?
Key Differences between PSAT 8/9, PSAT 10, and PSAT NMSQT
Both the PSAT 8/9 and the PSAT 10 and NMSQT have different scoring as well as the length of the tests. The reading section of the PSAT 8/9 is less complex, and you’ll need to be able to make conclusions that are for the most part directly incorporated into the text. On the PSAT 10 and NMSQT, the questions are a bit more challenging, so you’ll have to make more challenging inferences that are not as obvious. You can also expect to answer questions from graphs but the answers again will be directly included in the graphs.
When it comes to the writing section, the PSAT 8/9 is going to be at a lower level of difficulty than the PSAT 10 and NMSQT. The PSAT 8/9 math section will present questions for you to solve that might require less steps to solve than what you will experience on the PSAT 10 and NMSQT.
PSAT Structure and Content
You will encounter 3 practice test subjects on any practice test you take, those subjects include reading, writing, and math. The language assessment consists of a reading test, as well as a writing test. These same skills will be utilized within the writing section of the test.
It’s important to know that unlike the SAT, the PSAT 8/9 does not have an essay portion to the test. There are many options students can utilize for assessing and building upon the skills needed for the essay requirement on the SAT, however, the PSAT 8/9 will only assess students via the multiple-choice based section of the test. These questions will require a student’s knowledge on the same various topics within the reading section.
Opposite the language section of the PSAT 8/9, the test will assess students on their math skills. The math section is also divided into two parts, a non-calculator portion and a calculator portion. *Please note that the calculator a student uses must be considered test appropriate and approved for use by the College Board standards. The math section will focus on algebra, problem solving, and data analysis. This section will utilize graphs, charts, and other data visualization methods to assess a student’s understanding and solving of complex equations.
Read also: Kaplan & Kitces Guide
While the non-calculator portion will not assess a student on skills as in depth when a calculator is needed, it is important for students to understand how to complete math problems with and without calculators. The calculator is not meant to substitute understanding, but rather serve a higher purpose of solving for critical thinking. Simultaneously, it will be up to the student to use their time appropriately when a calculator is available, as not all computations require one.
One of the concepts used when designing the math section is the fluency of a student to understand the material and equations in order to properly designate time with a calculator to find a solution. This concept is reinforced with the grid-in answers that students must provide.
PSAT vs. SAT: Key Differences
Many students are familiar with the SATs, or Scholastic Aptitude Test. This college entrance exam is famously known for being extremely long, and a rather difficult logic and reasoning skill-based test. While many options to demonstrate college readiness, the SATs are still widely used for college acceptance. While the SAT can be a very intimidating exam, the PSAT’s are designed to help students track their progress for taking the SATs.
The Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test has been designed to test students on their logic and reasoning skill sets while keeping their educational level in mind. However, it is important to note that “easy” is a general and relative term to describe a standardized test. The level of difficulty of PSAT questions in comparison to SAT questions is easier, simply because it is not practical to test a student’s competency on subject matter that won’t be taught to them until they’ve reached tenth or eleventh grade.
There are several differences between the PSAT and SAT. The first difference is that the PSAT is not considered in the college admissions process and the SAT is. The SAT or ACT is used by colleges to evaluate a student’s application. On the other hand, the PSAT is used as a practice version of the SAT and is primarily used for students to qualify for certain scholarships.
Read also: Early Learning Through Play
The second difference between the PSAT and SAT is the scoring system. The biggest difference between the PSAT and the SAT is the scoring scale. The PSAT is scored on a scale of 320-1520, while the SAT is scored on a scale of 400-1600.
The next difference between the PSAT and SAT is their time allotments and number of questions per subtest. The PSAT is 165 minutes and has 139 questions with no essay. On the other hand, the SAT is 180 minutes and has 155 questions without the optional essay. Students get a similar amount of seconds per question on both the PSAT and SAT. For example, students get 48 seconds per writing question.
Another differentiator between the PSAT and SAT is the essay. There is no essay on the PSAT. The SAT has an optional essay.
Kaplan PSAT Prep Course: An Overview
Kaplan’s complete and comprehensive PSAT course will be delivered to you either by video on-demand or live synchronous, depending on the level of prep you choose. Kaplan knows that high school students are busy with school, extracurricular activities, sports, or even a part time job. If you are a student like me, who performs better with the structure that a live class setting provides, the scheduled live courses will fit the bill perfectly.
Overall, the team found Kaplan’s PSAT prep offerings to be very effective and rated them quite highly. Their video lessons, practice exams, and prep materials ensure that you’ll have everything you need at your fingertips while readying yourself for test day.
Course Options
Kaplan offers several PSAT prep options, including:
- Self-Paced Course: This course offers on-demand access to about 13 hours of video lessons, which you can access at your own pace and on your own schedule. With this personalized plan, you will also get access to a performance tracker where you can follow your progress and track your improvement. The visuals of this tracker are appealing, providing a great feeling of seeing improvement in weaker areas. The Self-Paced course gives you six months of access to your on-demand videos, question library, practice tests and other resources.
- Live Online Course: The Live Online course is a synchronous video class taught in a virtual classroom. The class meets 1 or 2 times a week, depending on which schedule you choose, with each class lasting around 3 hours. The teachers are experts at the PSAT and they make it very easy for you to engage with the class in a real-time environment. Since you will most likely be taking the SAT at some point, this SAT offering adds great value to this course option.
- Unlimited Prep: This course option provides the most robust access. If, however, you feel that you need more of an edge, you can opt for the Unlimited Prep with Tutoring.
Practice Materials
Depending on your selected course option, you’ll have access to between two and eight practice tests. The practice exams are designed to mimic the real PSAT. Kaplan is well-known for its test prep books in print, and every course offering comes with the latest version of the Kaplan PSAT book. Personally, having an actual book as a resource can be beneficial.
Tutoring Options
As mentioned above, the top-level Unlimited Prep package comes with four hours of direct one-on-one tutoring with an expert tutor who knows the PSAT and is matched to your specific needs. Kaplan’s PSAT tutoring options include a 10-hour package with a price tag of approximately $2,000.
You’ll set your schedule either directly with your tutor or by registering for classes, and you’ll have access to the program during the entire course of your study.
Refund Policy
Kaplan offers a refund policy for their PSAT courses in the event you have a change in circumstances or your prep plans change. If you cancel within three days of your original purchase, you can get 100% of your fees back. If you cancel between four and seven days from purchase, you can get 75% of the program fees returned. After eight days no refunds will be given.
If you go for the live tutoring program, and provided you have not started your tutoring sessions, the three- to seven-day refund policy is the same, and after eight days you are entitled to a refund of $75 per hour of tutoring you haven’t used. If you cancel after your first tutoring session your refund will be $75 for each hour that has not been used.
Potential Drawbacks
If there is a downside to the Kaplan course, it’s that their Unlimited Prep option, especially with the tutoring option, can be quite pricey.
Smart Edition PSAT 8/9 and 10 Courses
If you want to give your student the best chance for scoring high then the Smart Edition PSAT 8/9 and 10 courses will provide all the material and resources necessary to succeed on the test, including lesson modules, video lessons, timed practice tests, and flashcards. If you want to give your student the best chance for scoring high then the Smart Edition PSAT 8/9 course will provide all the material and resources necessary to succeed on the test, including lesson modules, video lessons, timed practice tests, and flashcards.
Effective PSAT Preparation Strategies
The best way to prepare for the PSAT is to take a lot of realistic practice tests on each section of the PSAT. Be prepared before taking the test, use PSAT practice tests to measure your strengths, then focus studying on your weaker subjects! Take advantage of free PSAT practice tests to determine your strengths and weakness so you can get the most out of your studying and PSAT test preparation.
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