Princeton Review PSAT 8/9 Prep (2021)

Name: Princeton Review PSAT 8/9 Prep (2021)
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ISBN 9780525570165
Ebook ISBN 9780525570264
PSATTM is a trademark of the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not
endorse, this product.
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Acknowledgments
Special thanks to Amy Minster, Sara Kuperstein, and Cynthia Ward for
their contributions to this edition, as well as Aaron Lindh for his expert
guidance.
Thanks also to Anne Bader, Kevin Baldwin, Gabby Budzon, Nicole
Cosme, Lori DesRochers, Anne Goldberg-Baldwin, Cat Healey, Brad
Kelly, Jomil London, Dave McKenzie, Danielle Perrini, Benjamin
Tallon, Jess Thomas, and Jimmy Williams.
The Princeton Review would also like to thank Gabriel Berlin, Emma
Parker, and Liz Dacey for their time and attention to each page.
Special thanks to Adam Robinson, who conceived of and perfected
the Joe Bloggs approach to standardized tests, and many other
techniques in this book.

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Contents
Cover
Title Page
Copyright
Acknowledgments
Get More (Free) Content
Part I: Orientation
1 What Is the PSAT 8/9?
2 General Strategies
Part II: Practice Test 1
3 Practice Test 1
4 Practice Test 1: Answers and Explanations
Part III: PSAT 8/9 Prep
5 Reading Comprehension
6 Introduction to the Writing and Language Strategy
7 Punctuation
8 Words
9 Questions
10 Math Basics
11 Math Techniques
12 Advanced Math
Part IV: Drill Answers and Explanations

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ISBN
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Get our take on any recent or pending updates to the PSAT 8/9
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including tips for writing a great essay and where to apply for
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If you’re still choosing between colleges, use our searchable
rankings of The Best 386 Colleges to find out more information
about your dream school.
Access comprehensive study guides and a variety of printable
resources, including: an additional practice test, explanations, and
a bubble sheet.
Check to see if there have been any corrections or updates to this
edition

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Chapter 1
What Is the PSAT 8/9?
The PSAT 8/9 is a standardized test given to eighth and ninth graders
to give them a “preliminary” idea of how well they could do on SAT
question types. This chapter will give you a general overview of the test
and how it is used, along with the basics to start your preparation.
Finally, we’ll take a glimpse at the other tests in College Board’s Suite
of Assessments: the PSAT 10, PSAT/NMSQT, and the SAT.

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PSAT 8/9
Just like the SAT and the other PSAT tests, the PSAT 8/9, which is
designed for eighth and ninth graders, contains a Reading Test, a
Writing and Language Test, and a Math Test. In terms of the main
areas of focus, the content of each section is comparable among the
different versions of the PSAT and the SAT.
Although Reading and Writing and Language are two separate
sections and two different sets of skills, College Board uses both
sections to produce a single Evidence-Based Reading and Writing
score. According to College Board, the Evidence-Based Reading and
Writing section asks you to “interpret, synthesize, and use evidence
found in a wide range of sources.” The bottom line: be prepared to
justify your selected answer with evidence from the passage and/or
graph provided. This test is still not about making up anything, but
finding the correct answer based on the text.
College Board also claims that the Math Test “focuses in-depth on two
essential areas of math: Problem Solving and Data Analysis, and Heart
of Algebra.” The bottom line: expect to see Algebra I (and maybe some
Algebra II) and questions with charts, graphs, data tables, scatter-
plots, or other forms of data representation provided.
The Math Test is split into two sections: one in which a calculator may
be used and one in which it may not be used. Even though a calculator
is allowed in one section, it is up to the test-taker to determine
whether the calculator will be helpful in solving a question. According
to College Board, “students who make use of structure or their ability
to reason will probably finish before students who use a calculator.”
The bottom line: show your work and use the calculator for tedious
calculations, but a calculator will not be necessary to solve a majority
of the questions.
All questions in the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing section are
multiple choice. Most of the Math Test questions are multiple choice,
with 18 percent of all Math Test questions in the Grid-In, or student-

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produced, format. For each question answered correctly, one raw
point is earned, and there is no penalty for an incorrect response or a
question left blank. The bottom line: don’t leave anything blank!
What’s with All These Scores?
The PSAT 8/9 (and the PSAT 10, PSAT/NMSQT, and SAT) are
designed (according to College Board) to reflect how prepared you are
for college and for the working world. While we at The Princeton
Review may take issue with that claim, this idea does inform both how
College Board recommends you prepare and why there are so many
different scores on your score report.
College Board maintains that the best way to prepare for the test is to:
take challenging courses
do your homework
prepare for tests and quizzes
ask and answer lots of questions
College admissions advisors want a “well-rounded” picture of the
applicant, so College Board has done its best to meet the demand with
its suite of tests. The PSAT 8/9 is more for schools to determine how
well-prepared eighth- and ninth-graders are for the other PSATs and
the SAT. The PSAT 8/9 provides a measurement of four Evidence-
Based Reading and Writing subscores (Command of Evidence, Words
in Context, Standard English Conventions, and Expression of Ideas),
and two Math subscores (Heart of Algebra as well as Problem Solving
and Data Analysis).
In addition to the six subscores reported, College Board now provides
two cross-test scores to offer more insight: one score for Analysis in
History/Social Studies and another for Analysis in Science. Remain
calm; these scores are gathered only from select questions that deal
with relevant subject matter and are not actual entire test sections. We
will go into PSAT 8/9 scoring in more detail later.

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When Is the PSAT 8/9 Given?
The PSAT 8/9 is offered by schools. Schools choose the date to offer
the test; this date can be anytime between late September and the end
of April, excluding the first two weeks of April.
How Do I Sign Up for the PSAT 8/9?
You don’t have to do anything to sign up for the PSAT 8/9; your school
will do all the work for you. Test registration fees can vary from school
to school, so be sure to check with your school counselor if you have
questions about how much the PSAT 8/9 will cost you.
What About Students with Special Needs?
If you have a diagnosed learning, physical, or cognitive disability, you
will probably qualify for accommodations on the PSAT 8/9. However,
it’s important that you get the process started early. The first step is to
speak to your school counselor who handles accessibility and
accommodations. Only he or she can file the appropriate paperwork.
You’ll also need to gather some information (documentation of your
condition) from a licensed practitioner and some other information
from your school. Then your school counselor will file the application
for you.
You will need to apply for accommodations only once; with that single
application you’ll qualify for accommodations on the PSAT 8/9, PSAT
10, PSAT/NMSQT, SAT, SAT Subject Tests, and AP Exams. The one
exception to this rule is that if you change school districts, you’ll need
to have a counselor at the new school refile your paperwork.
Does the PSAT 8/9 Play a Role in College Admissions?
No! The PSAT 8/9 plays no role in college admissions. It’s really just a
practice test for the SAT.
What Happens to the Score Report from the PSAT 8/9?
Only you and your school will receive copies of your score report. It
won’t be sent to colleges.

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What Does the PSAT 8/9 Test?
As you begin your prep, it’s useful to remember that the PSAT 8/9 is
not a test of aptitude, how good of a person you are, or how successful
you will be in life. The PSAT 8/9 simply tests how well you take the
PSAT 8/9 (and, by extension, how well you would have performed on
the PSAT 10, PSAT/NMSQT, or SAT, if you had taken one of those
tests instead). That’s it. And performing well on the PSAT 8/9 is a skill
that can be learned like any other. The Princeton Review was founded
more than 40 years ago on this very simple idea, and—as our students’
test scores show—our approach is the one that works.
These tests can be extremely daunting. However, remember that any
standardized test is a coachable test. A beatable test. Just remember:
The PSAT 8/9 doesn’t measure the stuff that matters. It
measures neither intelligence nor the depth and breadth of what
you’re learning in school. The PSAT 8/9 is an opportunity to start
preparing for the tests that do matter: the PSAT/NMSQT and the SAT.
Who Writes the PSAT 8/9?
The PSAT is created by College Board. You might think that the people
at College Board are educators, professors of education, or teachers.
They’re not. They are people who just happen to make a living writing
tests. In fact, they write hundreds of tests, for all kinds of
organizations.
The folks at College Board aren’t really paid to educate; they’re paid to
make and administer tests. And even though you may pay them to take
the PSAT 8/9, you’re not their customer. The actual customers College
Board caters to are the colleges, which get the information they want
at no cost, and the middle and high schools, which are often judged
based on how well their students do on these tests. Because you, the
student, are not College Board’s customer, you should take everything
that College Board says with a grain of salt and realize that its testing
“advice” isn’t always the best advice. (Getting testing advice from
College Board is a bit like getting baseball advice from the opposing

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team.)
Every test reflects the interests of the people who write it. If you know
who writes the test, you will know a lot more about what kinds of
answers will be considered “correct” answers on that test.
WHAT IS THE PRINCETON REVIEW?
The Princeton Review is the nation’s leading test-preparation
company. In just a few years, we became the nation’s leader in SAT
preparation, primarily because our techniques work. We offer courses
and private tutoring for all of the major standardized tests, and we
publish a series of books to help in your search for the right school. If
you’d like more information about our programs or books, give us a
call at 800-2-Review, or check out our website at
PrincetonReview.com.
HOW TO USE THIS BOOK
This book is divided into five parts. The first three parts of the book
contain Practice Test 1, general testing strategies, and question-
specific problem-solving instruction. Use the first practice test as a
diagnostic to see which sections of the test you need to work on when
you read through the content chapters. The last part of the book
contains drill answers and explanations. After working through the
content chapters and checking your answers and the explanations to
the chapter drills, take Practice Test 2 (downloadable in your online
Student Tools) and apply everything you’ve learned to improve your
score. The Session-by-Session Study Guide starting on this page will
give you a plan of attack for these tests and the rest of the book. There
is no single plan that will fit everyone, so be prepared to adapt the plan
and use it according to your own needs.
Practice Test 1 will give you an idea of your strengths and weaknesses,
both of which can be sources of improvement. If you’re already good at
something, additional practice can make you great at it; if you’re not
so good at something, what you should do about it depends on how

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important it is. If the concept is one that frequently appears on the
test, you should spend a lot of time on it; if it comes up only once in a
while, you should spend very little time working on it and remember
that it’s something you should either put off until you’ve completed
easier things or skip entirely.
How do you know what’s important? We’ll tell you throughout this
book when we discuss techniques like Plugging In and so forth, but
you can also get an idea of what to focus on simply by observing how
this book is laid out. The most important concepts appear first in each
section of the book. For example, if you’re shaky on reading
comprehension, you know you’ll need to devote some time to Reading
questions because there are 42 such questions on the test. But if you’re
not so confident when it comes to Growth and Decay, don’t panic:
Growth and Decay questions appear only in the Advanced Math
chapter, which tells you that this topic isn’t as much of a priority as
Plugging In or Math Basics.
Time Management
To manage your PSAT 8/9 preparation, make use of the study guide
on the following pages. This guide will break down the seemingly
daunting task of PSAT 8/9 prep into bite-sized pieces we call
“sessions.” We have mapped out tasks for each session to be sure you
get the most out of this book. The tests will be the first and last
sessions, so you should be sure to plan to have about two and a half
hours for these sessions. Most other sessions will last between an hour
and two hours, so plan to take a short break in the middle, and if it
looks like the session is going to exceed two hours, feel free to stop and
pick up where you left off on the next day.
When You Take a Practice Test
You’ll see when to take practice tests in the session outlines. Here are
some guidelines for taking these tests:
Time yourself strictly. Use a timer, watch, or stopwatch that will
ring, and do not allow yourself to go over time for any section. If

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you try to do so on the real test, your scores will probably be
canceled.
Take a practice test in one sitting, allowing yourself breaks of no
more than two minutes between sections. You need to build up
your endurance for the real test, and you also need an accurate
picture of how you will do. However, do take 5-minute breaks after
the Reading and Math (No Calculator) sections. On the real test
you will have these breaks, so it’s important not to skip them on
the practice tests.
Always take a practice test using an answer sheet with bubbles to
fill in, just as you will for the real test. For the practice test in this
book and the one online, use the answer sheets provided in your
online Student Tools, which you can feel free to print. You need to
be comfortable transferring answers to the separate sheet because
that’s another skill that will be required on test day.
Each bubble you choose should be filled in thoroughly, and no
other marks should be made in the answer area.
As you fill in the bubble for a question, check to be sure you are on
the correct number on the answer sheet. If you fill in the wrong
bubble on the answer sheet, it won’t matter if you’ve worked out
the problem correctly in the test booklet. All that matters to the
machine scoring the test is the No. 2 pencil mark.
Session-by-Session Study Guide
Session Zero You’re doing this session right now. Finish reading the
first chapter, so you’ll know what the test is about, why it is important
for you to take, and what to expect from the rest of this book. This step
probably won’t take you long, so if you have two-and-a-half hours free
after you complete Chapter 1, you can go on to Session One and take
the first practice test.
Session One Take Practice Test 1 and score it. You’ll use this result to
get an idea of how many questions on each section you should attempt
before guessing strategically, and the parts of each section you should

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concentrate on. Note that our explanations refer to concepts discussed
elsewhere in this book, so you may want to wait until after Session
Four before reviewing this test.
Session Two Work through Chapter 2 of the Orientation and
Chapter 5, Reading Comprehension.
Session Three Read Chapter 6, Introduction to the Writing and
Language Strategy, along with Chapter 7, Punctuation.
Session Four Work through the Math Basics in Chapter 10 and the
corresponding drills.
Session Five Work through the Math Techniques section in Chapter
11 and associated drills. Take a look at Chapter 8, Words.
Session Six Review Advanced Math, Chapter 12. As you work
through this chapter, be sure to apply techniques like Plugging In that
you learned in Chapter 11. Since these techniques are central to doing
well on the math sections, you can never practice them too much.
Session Seven Work through Chapter 9, Questions. This will give
you a good idea of how the PSAT will put together all the things you’ve
gone over for the Writing and Language section of the test.
Session Eight Take Practice Test 2. Use the techniques you’ve been
practicing throughout the book. Score your test and go through the
explanations, focusing on where you may have missed the opportunity
to use a technique and your decisions about whether you should have
attempted a question or not, given your pacing goals and Personal
Order of Difficulty.
Some of the terminology in the study guide may be unfamiliar to you
now, but don’t worry, you’ll get to know it soon. Also, you’ll want to
refer back to this study guide at each session to keep yourself on track.
One important note: In the Math chapters of this book, some

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sample questions do not appear in numerical order within a chapter.
For example, you might see a question 4 followed by a question 14.
This is because on the Math sections of the PSAT 8/9, a higher
question number generally indicates a higher level of difficulty (this is
not the case with Reading or Writing and Language). Chapter 2 has
great advice on how to crack some of the most difficult questions.
How Is the PSAT 8/9 Structured and Scored?
Category PSAT 8/9
Components Evidence-Based Reading and Writing:
Reading
Writing and Language
Math
Calculator
No Calculator
Number of
Questions,
Time by
Section
Reading
42 questions over 5 passages
55 minutes
Writing and Language
40 questions over 4 passages
30 minutes
Math (No Calculator)
13 questions (10 Multiple-Choice, 3 Grid-In)
20 minutes
Math (Calculator)
25 questions (21 Multiple-Choice, 4 Grid-In)

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40 minutes
Scoring Rights-only scoring (a point for a correct answer
but no deduction for an incorrect answer; blank
responses have no impact on score)
Score
Reporting
Scored on a scale of 240–1440 that will be the sum
of the two section scores (Evidence-Based Reading
and Writing as well as Math) that range from 120–
720
Subscore
Reporting
Subscores for every test, providing added insight
for students, parents, educators, and counselors
Answer
Choices
4 answer choices for multiple-choice questions
The PSAT 8/9 was created in the wake of major changes to both the
SAT and PSAT in the 2015–2016 school year. As we will discuss below,
the PSAT 8/9, PSAT, and SAT are more similar than different.
According to College Board, the PSAT redesign of 2015 raised the
complexity of questions across the board. For the Reading and Writing
and Language Tests, this refers in part to the way in which all
questions are now connected to full passages, which are written at the
same level as writing expected in introductory college and vocational
training programs. This means that there will be a good amount of
history- and science-based reading material. Further, the PSAT claims
to test your ability to demonstrate a full understanding of a source’s
ideas. On the PSAT 8/9, the texts are slightly less complex and the
questions slightly more straightforward, but the test overall gives an
accurate preview of what you’ll see on the PSAT and the SAT.
Moreover, the scope of math content tests a specific set of problem-
solving and analytical topics, focusing on algebra and data analysis in
the PSAT 8/9. You will also encounter Grid-In questions, and you will

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face topics that are specifically geared to test your ability to use a
calculator as well as those for which calculators are not permitted.
The Math Test is divided into two sections, one without a calculator,
with 13 questions over the course of 20 minutes, followed by one with
a calculator, with 25 questions administered in 40 minutes. Because of
the tight time limits, you should work as efficiently as possible. To help
you do this, even if you answer a question correctly, we recommend
that you review the explanations for the problems in the drills and the
practice tests. You may discover techniques that help to shave seconds
from your solutions. A large part of what’s being tested is your ability
to use the appropriate tools in a strategic fashion, and while there may
be multiple ways to solve a given problem, you’ll want to focus on the
most efficient approach.
Scoring Your Practice Tests
As you can see, scoring is a little tricky. That’s why
we provide scoring tables to help you determine
your approximate score. When we say that the
score is “approximate,” we mean that the score is
accurate for that particular test. However, the
number of questions you need to get right or wrong
to earn a certain score can vary depending on the
PSAT 8/9’s scale from test to test. For example, if
you miss 10 Math questions and get a 620 on a
practice test, that does not necessarily mean that 10
missed Math questions on an actual exam will result
in a 620 as well; you may get that score from
missing 8 questions or 12 questions.
Scoring on the PSAT 8/9
The PSAT 8/9 is scored on a scale of 240–1440, which is the sum of
the two area scores that range from 120–720. The two areas are the
Evidence-Based Reading and Writing portion and the Mathematics
portion. Wrong answers to multiple-choice questions are not
penalized, so you’re advised never to leave a question blank—even if
that means blindly picking a letter and bubbling it in for any
uncompleted questions before time runs out.

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In addition to the overall total score and the section scores, you’ll find
several subscores on your PSAT 8/9 score report.
Analysis in History/Social Studies and Analysis in Science
cross-test scores are generated based on questions from all three of the
subject tests (Math included!). These cross-test scores assess the
cross-curricular application of the tested skills to other contexts.
Relax! This doesn’t mean that you have to start cramming dates and
anatomy—every question can be answered from the context of a given
reading passage or the data included in a table or figure. The only
changes have to do with the content of the passages and questions
themselves. For example, Reading questions on a passage about a
historical event or a Math question that describes a science experiment
(but is ultimately still testing math skills) would fall into these cross-
test scores.
Additionally, the Math Test is broken into two categories. The Heart
of Algebra subscore looks specifically at how well students
understand how to handle algebraic expressions, work with a variety
of algebraic equations, and relate real-world scenarios to algebraic
principles. Problem Solving and Data Analysis focuses more on
interpretation of mathematical expressions, graphical analysis, and
data interpretation. Your ability to understand what a question is
asking will come in handy here. Finally, there are few questions that
showcase the higher-level math that’s been added to the test, from
quadratics and their graphs to the creation of functions. Although
these questions might not correlate directly to a subscore, 6 of these
miscellaneous types will show up on the test.
In the Verbal portions of the test, the Command of Evidence
subscore measures how well you can translate and cite specific lines
that back up your interpretation, while the Words in Context
subscore ensures that you can select the best definition for how a word
is used in a passage. The Writing and Language Test additionally
measures Expression of Ideas, which deals with revising language
in order to make more logical and cohesive arguments, and Standard

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English Conventions, which assesses your ability to conform to the
basic rules of English grammar, punctuation, and usage.
HOW DOES THE PSAT 8/9 DIFFER FROM THE
PSAT AND SAT?
College Board has created what they call a “Suite of Assessments” that
starts with the PSAT 8/9. One of the ideas behind these tests is that
each test prepares you for the next. To that end, the tests are more
similar than different.
The tests do get longer as you move from test to test, but the
differences are relatively slight. Reading on the PSAT 8/9 has 42
questions in 55 minutes; the PSAT has 47 questions in 60 minutes;
and the SAT has 52 questions in 65 minutes. In other words, as you
move from test to test, you’ll see 5 more questions (one more question
per passage) and have 5 more minutes to answer those questions.
Writing and Language has 40 questions in 30 minutes on the PSAT
8/9, whereas both the PSAT and SAT have 44 questions and 35
minutes. Finally, Math has a total of 38 questions in 60 minutes on the
PSAT 8/9, 48 questions in 70 minutes on the PSAT, and 58 questions
in 80 minutes on the SAT. Each test has 10 more questions and 10
more minutes than the previous level.
Here’s a breakdown of how the tests differ:

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What Does the PSAT 8/9 Score Mean for My PSAT and
SAT Scores?
The PSAT 8/9 is scored on a 1440 scale, whereas the PSAT is scored
on a 1520 scale and the SAT on a 1600 scale. However, because the
PSAT 8/9, PSAT, and SAT are aligned by College Board to be scored
on the same scale, your PSAT 8/9 score indicates the approximate
PSAT or SAT score you would earn were you to have taken the PSAT or
SAT on that same day.
How Much Should I Prepare for the PSAT 8/9?
The PSAT 8/9 gives you insight into the PSAT and SAT. Your goal
should be to prepare enough so that you feel more in control of the test
and have a better testing experience. (Nothing feels quite as awful as
being dragged through a testing experience unsure of what you’re
being tested on or what to expect—except perhaps dental surgery.) The
other reason to prepare for the PSAT 8/9 is that it will give you some
testing skills that will help you begin to prepare for the tests that
actually count, namely the SAT and SAT Subject Tests.
The bottom line is this: the best reason to prepare for the PSAT 8/9 is
that it will help you get an early start on your preparation for the SAT.
Study
If you were getting ready to take a biology test,
you’d study biology. If you were preparing for a
basketball game, you’d practice basketball. So, if
you’re preparing for the PSAT 8/9 (and eventually
the PSAT and SAT), study the PSAT 8/9. The PSAT
8/9 can’t test everything, so concentrate on learning
what it does test.
PSAT 10 AND PSAT/NMSQT
Though these tests go by different names, they are identical in terms of
both number of questions and time limits per section. The major
differences are who takes the test and when: the PSAT 10 is taken by
10th-graders and schools choose a date in the spring, whereas the

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PSAT/NMSQT is taken by 11th-graders on one of two or three
specified dates in October. Additionally, the PSAT 10 does not qualify
you for National Merit Scholarship consideration, but the
PSAT/NMSQT does.
Just as with the PSAT 8/9 and the SAT, the PSAT 10 and
PSAT/NMSQT include Evidence-Based Reading and Writing sections
and Math Tests. As you progress through College Board’s “Suite of
Assessments,” the passages become more complex, and the Math
content expands to include more nonlinear equations, some geometry,
and even complex numbers. However, the core skills you learn in
preparing for the PSAT 8/9 will apply directly to these tests.

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Chapter 2
General Strategies
The first step to cracking the PSAT 8/9 is to know how best to
approach the test. The PSAT 8/9 is not like the tests you’ve taken in
school, so you need to learn to look at it in a different way. This
chapter will show test-taking strategies that immediately improve your
score. Make sure you fully understand these concepts before moving
on to the following chapters. Good luck!

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BASIC PRINCIPLES OF CRACKING THE TEST
What the College Board Is Good At
The folks at the College Board have been writing standardized tests for
more than 80 years, and they write tests for all sorts of programs.
They have administered the test so many times that they know exactly
how you will approach it. They know how you’ll attack certain
questions, what sort of mistakes you’ll probably make, and even what
answer you’ll be most likely to pick. Freaky, isn’t it?
However, the College Board’s strength is also a weakness. Because the
test is standardized, the PSAT 8/9 has to ask the same type of
questions over and over again. Sure, the numbers or the words might
change, but the basics don’t. With enough practice, you can learn to
think like the test-writers. But try to use your powers for good, okay?
The PSAT 8/9 Isn’t School
Our job isn’t to teach you math or English—leave that to your
supersmart school teachers. Instead, we’re going to teach you what the
PSAT 8/9 is and how to crack the PSAT 8/9. You’ll soon see that the
PSAT 8/9 involves a very different skill set.
Be warned that some of the approaches we’re going to show you may
seem counterintuitive or unnatural. Some of these strategies may be
very different from the way you learned to approach similar questions
in school, but trust us! Try tackling the problems using our techniques,
and keep practicing until they become easier. You’ll see a real
improvement in your score.
No Penalty for Incorrect Answers!
You will NOT be penalized on the PSAT 8/9 for any
wrong answers. This means you should always guess,
even if this means choosing an answer at random.

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Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test

Princeton Review PSAT 8/9 Prep (2021)

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