Studying and Practicing for the PSAT/NMSQT
The keys to successful preparation include making a plan to get the most out of your study time, setting realistic goals, targeting the areas where you have room for improvement, and practicing. The easiest way to do all this: free Official SAT Practice on Khan Academy®, which gives you daily practice that’s personalized for you.
Instructions
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Make a study plan.
Know when you’re taking the PSAT/NMSQT and build a study plan to make the most of your time before the test. Set aside specific times to practice, watch instructional videos, and focus on the areas you need to work on. Set concrete, manageable goals.
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Discover your strengths and weaknesses.
The easiest way to do this is through Official SAT Practice at Khan Academy.
If you took one of the PSAT-related assessments, you can link your College Board and Khan Academy accounts. Khan Academy will analyze your strengths and weaknesses based on your score report.
You can also take a series of short diagnostic tests on Khan Academy or a full-length practice test to get your diagnostic analysis and a personalized study plan.
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Set concrete goals to level up your skills.
The best goals are specific, concrete, and manageable. Getting a higher score on the Math section is an OK goal, but trying to answer more Heart of Algebra questions correctly by practicing for an hour is a better goal. Official SAT Practice on Khan Academy will customize practice for you, identifying specific goals, recommending an amount of time to practice, and giving you practice questions with full explanations.
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Take full-length practice tests.
The PSAT/NMSQT is a long test, so you need practice to build stamina and feel confident in your abilities on test day. Practice tests will also tell you how close you are to your target goal and help you pinpoint the areas you need to focus on.