Untitled Document

Discuss the upcoming PSAT/SAT
Review test-taking strategies for the PSAT/SAT
Complete the math sections of a PSAT/SAT
Find out where you can get more help preparing for the PSAT and the SA

The SAT is usually taken by college-bound juniors (usually in the spring) and seniors (usually in the fall). Most students take it more than once - so it really is a good idea to take it first, in the spring of your junior year. Unless you had incredible scores, (scores that will get you into the college of your choice – go online and check your target college’s website – find the range of their 25 to 75 percentile SAT scores),…plan to take it in the fall of your senior year.

The PSAT is given in October. Many 9 th and 10 th graders take it as a great practice tool to improve their future scores.
When juniors take the PSAT, it is also the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.
This means if you score exceptionally well on the PSAT as a junior, you could receive recognition from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.
This recognition can translate into scholarships and acceptance into college.

Test-taking Strategies for the PSAT and SAT
Make the most of your time!!!!
•

Decide when to do a problem and when to skip a problem

Most problems range form easy to medium to hard (usually in that order).

If you just did the easy and medium problems correctly and skipped the hard problems, you could potentially get a score of 600 (SAT) or 60 (PSAT). 600 is the score that opens college doors.

Note: If you guess incorrectly for a multiple choice question, you will lose a ¼ point.

There is no penalty for skipping a question
AND

There is no penalty for an incorrect student-produced response question (grid-ins).
This is not a classroom test. Unless you were targeting a score of 700 (sat) or 70 (PSAT) you should not finish the test!!!
Spend your time on the questions that you can get correct.
If you are able to cross out 1 or 2 of the multiple choice answers that you know are wrong, it is worth it to guess!

Skip the ones you have absolutely no idea how to figure out.
This is not a classroom test – no one is asking you to show your work.

Use the test booklet as scratch paper

Cross out the problem in the booklet when know it is correct, so you don’t waste time coming back to it

If you have time left in a section, go back to any problems that you did not get cross out and see if you can get one or two more questions correct.

After you’ve read a problem – look for the main idea – the “big picture.” you are looking for the overall math concept.

Don’t get bogged down in long computations. If your calculations are becoming too complicated or if you are running out of the space provided for the problem:

You are most likely missing the point!!

Where to get more PSAT and SAT help:

Free: SAT semester prep course (1/2 credit) at Overlea

Free: SAT Crunch sessions offered to students who are signed up for the next SAT. These are held the day before the test.

Free: SAT afternoon sessions on Tuesdays sponsored by the Math and English Dept.

Free: Go to www.collegeboard.com for practice problems, tests, etc. An online course is available, free of charge; see the English Dept. for more details.

More SAT help – but it will cost you!

Reasonably priced: SAT prep books, published by the College Board, Princeton Review, Kaplan… These books offer practice tests, solutions, and strategies. They are only an effective tool if you actually open the book and use it.

Expensive: Princeton Review, Kaplan, Cambridge, Studyworks, and many other places offer SAT prep classes. They are usually very effective – especially if you know that you are unwilling or unable to do this “on your own.”

College Prep Steps

AUGUST:

1. Choose the first fall SAT test date (probably late September or early October)
This will give you about eight weeks to prepare for the SAT.
2. Select two test prep study aids for the SAT. Make sure you have at least 4 complete sample tests.

SEPTEMBER:

1. Take a sample test as close to September 1 as you can and record your score. This is your benchmark.
2. Compare your score in each section with the requirements for the college of your choice and identify the areas where you need the most work.
3. Starting mid-September, plan to spend 4 one-hour sessions a week on SAT study.
4. Write a sample essay in the last week of September. Let someone you trust give you feedback on your essay.

OCTOBER:

1. Continue your one-hour sessions. Make sure you're getting in at least two per week.
2. Around October 15th take a second sample test with the essay. Compare your scores to the requirements of the college of your choice.
3. Spend the rest of October concentrating on the area where you need the most improvement.
4. The week before the test, make sure you know all the test instructions by heart. Make sure you know exactly where to go and when you need to be there.
5. Drive to the testing center a few days before the test and note how long it took you to get there.
6. Take the test. Get there on time.

NOVEMBER:

1. Apply to the colleges of your choice.
2. Recover from the SAT prep and test.

DECEMBER:

1. Happy Holidays!

Financial Aid Timeline

Senior Year:

1. Fill out an applicatin for the Scholarship Resource Network (SRN). These are available in the high school student services office. Get online to complete a scholarship search; links are available through the OHS website.

Continue to check the scholarship drawer in the student services office for opportunities throughout your senior year. Read your senior mailings and bulletins.

SEPTEMBER:

1. Call financial aid office at your prospective colleges.
2. Learn what is required of financial aid applicants.
3. Ask financial aid counselors about the scholarships available at the college of your choice.

OCTOBER-NOVEMBER:

1. Early decision applicants complete the PROFILE application packet and submit it according to the instructions distributed by the college financial aid office.
2. Early decision applicants submit institution financial aid application if required.
3. Obtain Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) from your high school counselor.

DECEMBER:

1. Regular decision applicants should fill out the PROFILE Registration Form.
2. Begin working on the FAFSA.
(Be aware of deadlines for institutional financial aid applications if they are required at the colleges of your choice)

JANUARY:

1. Attend financial aid workshop at Overlea High School.
2. File the FAFSA as soon as possible but NOT BEFORE JANUARY 1st!
Use estimated family income and taxes.
(Be aware of deadlines for institutional financial aid applications if they are required at the colleges of your choice)
3. Regular decision applicants complete the PROFILE appication packet and submit it according to the instructions by the colleges of your choice.
5. Complete the institutional fincancial aid forms required by the colleges of your choice.

FEBRUARY:

1. For State Student Aid, the deadline to mail the FAFSA is March 1st.
Do not wait until this deadline to apply. Send the FAFSA as soon as possible.

REMEMBER...

Some colleges have additional financial aid forms and deadlines.

Check with the individual school's financial aid office.

You must reapply for federal aid every year.

If you changed schools your aid does not go with you.
Check with your new school to see what you need to do to continue receiving financial aid.

	REGISTRATION DEADLINES
Test Dates	Regular	Late