Princeton Review PSAT/NMSQT Prep 2022 3 Practice Tests + Review and Techniques. (2022)

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Acknowledgments
Special thanks to Sara Kuperstein, Amy Minster, and Cynthia Ward for
their contributions to this edition.
Thanks also to Anne Bader, Kevin Baldwin, Gabby Budzon, Grace
Cannon, Nicole Cosme, April Davis, Gina Donegan, Anne Goldberg-
Baldwin, Brian Hong, Brad Kelly, Jomil London, Dave MacKenzie,
Jason Morgan, Amanda Nowotny, Scott O’Neal, Danielle Perrini,
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The Princeton Review would also like to thank Jennifer Chapman, Liz
Dacey, and Emily Epstein White 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
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Part I: Orientation
1 What Is the PSAT/NMSQT?
2 All About the National Merit Scholarships
3 General Strategies
Part II: Practice Test 1
4 Practice Test 1
5 Practice Test 1: Answers and Explanations
Part III: PSAT/NMSQT Prep
6 Reading Comprehension
7 Introduction to Writing and Language Strategy
8 Punctuation
9 Words
10 Questions
11 Math Basics
12 Math Techniques
13 Advanced Math
14 Additional Math Topics
Part IV: Drill Answers and Explanations
Part V: Practice Test 2

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full title of the book
full title of the book
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Access and print out one more full-length practice test as well as
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Get valuable advice about the college application process
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Chapter 1
What Is the PSAT/NMSQT?
The PSAT/NMSQT—from now on, we’ll just call it the PSAT—is a
standardized test given primarily to high school juniors to give them a
“preliminary” idea of how well they could do on SAT question types. The
test is also used to determine which students are eligible for National Merit
Scholar recognition. This chapter will give you a general overview of the test
and how it is used, along with the basics to start your preparation. First, a
glimpse at the other tests in the College Board’s Suite of Assessments: the
PSAT 8/9 and the PSAT 10.

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PSAT 8/9
Just like the SAT and PSAT, 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. The content of each subject is comparable to the content on the
PSAT and SAT.
Psst…
There’s the PSAT 8/9, the PSAT 10, and
PSAT/NMSQT. But when we refer to just the plain
old “PSAT” in this book, we’re referring to the
PSAT/NMSQT.
According to the 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.
The 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 II, some Geometry, as
well as questions that have charts, graphs, data tables, scatterplots, or other
form of data display 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 a benefit in solving a question. According to the 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
most likely will not be necessary to solve a majority of the questions.

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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-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!
PSAT 10
Though this test is called the PSAT 10, it is identical to the structure of the
PSAT/NMSQT in terms of both number of questions and time limits per
section. The major differences are who takes the test and when: 10th-graders
and schools choose a date in the spring. Additionally, this test does not
qualify you for National Merit Scholarship consideration.
Just as with the SAT and the PSAT, the PSAT 10 includes an Evidence-
Based Reading and Writing section and a Math Test. The Evidence-Based
Reading and Writing section tests the ability to select, among the choices
provided, the answer that is best evidenced in the provided passage and/or
informational graphics that accompany select passages. The Math Test is
divided into two sections: one in which a calculator may be used and one in
which it may not be used. Even though the calculator is allowed in one
section, it is up to the test-taker to determine whether or not the calculator
will prove necessary.
WHAT’S WITH ALL THESE SCORES?
The PSAT (and the PSAT 8/9, PSAT 10, and SAT) is designed (according to
College Board) to reflect how prepared you are for college and 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.
How Do You Pronounce PSAT/NMSQT, Anyway?

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Ah, yes—first things first. Well, to be honest, we’re
not really sure. You can pronounce it pee-sat-nim-
squit if you want. However, we think it’s easier just
to call it the PSAT.
The 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 wanted a more “well-rounded” picture of the
applicant, so the College Board did its best to meet the demand. The test
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 three Math Subscores (Heart of
Algebra, Problem Solving and Data Analysis, and Passport to Advanced
Math).
In addition to the seven subscores reported, the College Board 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
appropriate subject matter and are not actual entire test sections. We will go
into PSAT scoring in more detail later.
When Is the PSAT Given?
The PSAT is officially administered twice each year, typically on a
Wednesday and Saturday of the same week in October. There may also be an
alternate testing date available following the Saturday administration. Your
school will announce the exact dates at the beginning of the school year, or
you can find out at PrincetonReview.com, or through the College Board at
CollegeBoard.org.

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Keep on Schedule
You’ll officially take the PSAT in the fall of your
junior year. Plan to take the SAT anytime between
the winter of your junior year and the fall of your
senior year.
How Do I Sign Up for the PSAT?
You don’t have to do anything to sign up for the PSAT; 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 will cost you.
What About Students with Special Needs?
If you have a diagnosed learning difference, you will probably qualify for
accommodations on the PSAT. However, it’s important that you get the
process started early. The first step is to speak to your school counselor who
handles learning differences. 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, SAT, 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 Play a Role in College Admissions?
No! The PSAT plays no role in college admissions. It’s really just a practice
test for the SAT.
The one exception is for that very small group of students, about 4 percent of
all students nationwide, whose PSAT scores qualify them for National Merit
recognition. (We’ll tell you more than you ever wanted to know about that in
the next chapter.) Recognition as a commended scholar, semifinalist, or

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finalist for National Merit is a fairly impressive addition to your college
admissions portfolio, and is something that you should certainly pursue if you
are seriously in contention for it.
What Happens to the Score Report from the PSAT?
Only you, your high school, and the National Merit Scholarship Corporation
(which co-sponsors the PSAT) will receive copies of your score reports. They
won’t be sent to colleges.
WHAT DOES THE PSAT TEST?
As you begin your prep, it’s useful to remember that the PSAT is not a test of
aptitude, how good of a person you are, or how successful you will be in life.
The PSAT simply tests how well you take the PSAT. That’s it. And
performing well on the PSAT is a skill that can be learned like any other. The
Princeton Review was founded 40 years ago on this very simple idea, and—
as our students’ test scores show—our approach is the one that works.
All of these changes to tests that you hear could heavily influence your
college admission strategy can be extremely daunting. However, remember
that any standardized test is a coachable test. A beatable test.
Just remember:
The PSAT doesn’t measure the stuff that matters. It
measures neither intelligence nor the depth and breadth of
what you’re learning in high school. It doesn’t predict college
grades as well as your high school grades do. Colleges know
there is more to you as a student—and as a person—than
what you do on a single test.

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Who Writes the PSAT?
The PSAT is written and administered by the College Board and used for
scholarships by National Merit Scholarship Corporation. You might think
that the people at the 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 the College Board aren’t really paid to educate; they’re paid to
write and administer tests. And even though you’ll be paying them to take the
PSAT, you’re not their customer. The actual customers the College Board
caters to are the colleges, which get the information they want at no cost. This
means that you should take everything that the College Board says with a
grain of salt and realize that its testing “advice” isn’t always the best advice.
(Getting testing advice from the College Board is a bit like getting baseball
advice from the opposing 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.
Shortcuts
The Princeton Review’s techniques are the closest
thing there is to a shortcut to the PSAT. However,
there is no shortcut to learning these techniques.

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HOW TO USE THIS BOOK
This book is divided into five parts. The first three parts of the book contain
Practice Test 1 and 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 when you read through the content
chapters. The last two parts of the book contain Practice Test 2 and 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 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. For additional practice, you can download one more practice
test online by registering your book on our website and following the steps to
access your online resources. (See “Get More (Free) Content on this page.)
Use our online proctor to correctly time your practice
tests. Then, enter your answers in our online bubble
sheet to receive an approximate scaled score! See
this page for more info.
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 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

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time working on it and remember that it’s something you should either put
off until you’ve completed easier things or skip it 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 in each section appear first in the corresponding
section of this book. For example, if you’re shaky on critical reading, you
know you’ll need to devote some time to Reading questions because there are
a total of 47 such questions on the test. And if you’re not so confident when it
comes to geometry, don’t panic: geometry 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 preparation, make use of the study guide on the
following pages. This guide will break down the seemingly daunting task of
PSAT 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
three 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 you try to do
so at 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

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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 a break, so it’s
important not to skip it 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 tests in the book, use the
answer sheets provided at the back of this book. You need to be
comfortable transferring answers to the separate sheet because you will
be skipping around a bit.
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 involved in 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 the book. This step probably
won’t take you long, so if you have about three hours 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 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 Chapters 2 and 3 of the Orientation and
Chapter 6, Reading Comprehension.

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Session Three Read Chapter 7, Introduction to Writing and Language
Strategy, along with Chapter 8, Punctuation.
Session Four Work through the Math Basics in Chapter 11 and the
corresponding drills.
Session Five Work through the Math Techniques section in Chapter 12
and associated drills. Take a look at Chapter 9, Words.
Session Six Review Advanced Math, Chapter 13. As you work through
this chapter, be sure to apply techniques like Plugging In that you learned in
Chapter 12. Since these techniques are central to doing well on the math
sections, you can never practice them too much. If there’s time, start Chapter
14.
Session Seven Work through the Additional Math Topics in Chapter 14.
When you finish, read through Chapter 10, 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.
Session Nine (Optional)
Want even more practice? Download Practice Test
3 from your online Student Tools. See this page for
instructions.

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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. Don’t forget to
download Practice Test 3 from your online student tools for more prep!
One important note: In this book, some 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 PSAT, a
higher question number generally indicates a higher level of difficulty (this is
not the case with Reading or Writing and Language). Chapter 3 has great
advice on how to crack some of the most difficult questions.
HOW IS THE PSAT STRUCTURED AND
SCORED?
Category PSAT/NMSQT
Time 2 hours and 45 minutes
Components Evidence-Based Reading and Writing:
– Reading
– Writing and Language
Math (Calculator and No Calculator)
Number of
Questions, Time by
Section
Reading: 47 questions over 5 passages, 60
minutes
Writing and Language: 44 questions over 4
passages, 35 minutes
Math (No Calculator): 17 questions (13
multiple-choice, 4 grid-in), 25 minutes
Math (Calculator): 31 questions (27 multiple-
choice, 4 grid-in), 45 minutes
Important Features Emphasis on reasoning and a strong focus on
the knowledge, skills, and understandings
important to college and career readiness and
success

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Emphasis on the meaning of words in extended
contexts and on how word choice shapes
meaning, tone, and impact
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 320–1520 that will be the
sum of the two section scores (Evidence-Based
Reading and Writing and Math) that range from
160–760
Subscore Reporting Subscores for every test, providing added
insight for students, parents, educators, and
counselors
Answer Choices 4 answer choices for multiple-choice questions
According to the 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. Additionally, there are no longer any fill-in-the-blank sentence
completion questions or stand-alone sentence-editing questions. Instead, the
PSAT tests your ability to demonstrate a full understanding of a source’s
ideas.
Moreover, the scope of math content focuses on a specific set of problem-
solving and analytical topics, and it includes high-level content like
trigonometry. You will also encounter more grid-in questions, and you will
face topics that are both specifically geared to test your ability to use a
calculator and for which calculators are not permitted.

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The Math Test is divided into two sections, one without a calculator, with 17
questions over the course of 25 minutes, followed by one with a calculator,
with 31 questions administered in 45 minutes. Because of the tight time limit,
particularly in the No Calculator section, 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 questions 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.
Scoring on the PSAT
The PSAT is scored on a scale of 320–1520, which is the sum of the two
section scores that range from 160–760. The two sections are the Evidence-
Based Reading and Writing section and the Mathematics section. 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.
Scoring Your Practice Tests
As you can see, scoring is a little tricky. That’s why
we provide scoring tables in this book as well as on
online tool (see this page) 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’s scale from test to test. For example, if you
miss 10 Math questions and get a 680 on a practice
test, that does not necessarily mean that 10 missed

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Math questions on the actual exam will result in a
680 as well; you may get that score from missing 8
questions or 12 questions.
In addition to the overall total score and the section scores, you’ll find several
subscores on your PSAT 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.
Additionally, the Math Test is broken into several categories, as we’ve done
in this book. 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 the question is asking will come in handy here.
Passport to Advanced Mathematics questions showcase the higher-level
math that’s been added to the test, from quadratics and their graphs to the
creation and translation of functions. Finally, there is an Additional Topics
domain that’s filled with what you might consider wild-card material.
Although these questions might not correlate directly to a subscore, two of
these miscellaneous types will show up on the redesigned 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

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and Language Test additionally measures Expression of Ideas, which deals
with revising language in order to make more logical and cohesive
arguments, and Standard English Conventions, which assesses your ability
to conform to the basic rules of English structure, punctuation, and usage.
HOW DOES THE SAT DIFFER FROM THE
PSAT?
The SAT does not differ significantly from the PSAT in structure and timing!
Indeed, the PSAT’s Reading Test, which contains 5 fewer questions, is only 5
minutes shorter than the SAT’s Reading Test. The Writing and Language
Test is the same in terms of length and timing for both tests. The PSAT’s
Math Test has only 10 fewer total questions as compared to those of the
SAT’s Math Test. The tables below summarize the differences—or actually,
the similarities!—of the two tests.
Here’s a breakdown of how the tests differ:
SAT PSAT
Structure 4 sections 4 sections
Length 3 hours 2 hours 45 minutes
Purpose College admissions NMSQT
Scoring 400–1600 320–1520
Are You Ready for the SAT?
If you want to start preparing for the SAT, pick up a
copy of our SAT Premium Prep, which is chock full

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of content review, strategy, and realistic practice!
What Does the PSAT Score Mean for My SAT Score?
The SAT is scored on a 1600 scale, whereas the PSAT is scored on a 1520
scale. However, because the PSAT and SAT are aligned by the College
Board to be scored on the same scale, your PSAT score indicates the
approximate SAT score you would earn were you to have taken the SAT on
that same day.
How Much Should I Prepare for the PSAT?
If you’re in that very small percentage of students who are in contention for
National Merit recognition, it may be worth your while to put in a good deal
of time to prepare for this test. After all, your extra hard work may well put
you in a better position for National Merit recognition. Otherwise, you should
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 feeling like you don’t know what you’re being tested on or
what to expect—except perhaps dental surgery.) The other reason to prepare
for the PSAT is that it will give you some testing skills that will help you
begin to prepare for the test that actually counts: the SAT.
The bottom line is this: the best reason to prepare for the PSAT 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 (and eventually the
SAT), study the PSAT. The PSAT can’t test
everything, so concentrate on learning what it does
test.

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Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test

Princeton Review PSAT/NMSQT Prep 2022 3 Practice Tests + Review and Techniques. (2022)

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