- Draw Pictures
- Apply Logic
- Answer the Question That They Ask You
- Check the Choices
- Pick Numbers for the Variables
- Skip Around
- Read the Questions Carefully
- Look for "New Operations"
- Arithmetic
- Algebra
- Geometry
- Multiple Choice Versus Student-Produced Response
- Practice Questions
- Answer Explanations
This chapter is from the book
This chapter is from the book
This chapter is from the book
Multiple Choice Versus Student-Produced Response
The PSAT math sections include a total of 28 multiple choice questions, each with five answer choices (A–E). The answer choices correspond to the circles on your answer sheet. The multiple choice questions cover the content previously discussed in this chapter. You may use a calculator to assist you in answering any of the multiple choice questions, but none of the questions actually require the use of a calculator.
You
will
not
receive
credit
for
anything
that
you
write
in your
test
booklet,
but
you
should
work
through
the
problems
in the
available
space
so that
you
can
check
your
work.
Be sure
to do
enough
practice
to determine
just
how
much
space
you
will
need
to solve
various
problems.
You
can
use
whatever
space
is available
in the
section
on which
you
are
working,
but
you
cannot
move
to another
section
in search
of blank
space
to solve
your
math
problems.
As mentioned
earlier,
if you
don't
know
the
answer
to a
question,
mark
it in
your
test
booklet
and
come
back
to it
later
if you
have
time.
If you
are
able
to eliminate
answer
choices,
cross
them
off
in your
test
booklet.
Make
an educated
guess
if you
are
able
to eliminate
at least
one
answer
choice.
Remember
that
you
get
one
point
for
each
correct
answer
and
zero
points
for
answers
that
are
left
blank.
If you
answer
a question
incorrectly,
you
will
lose
an additional 
of
a point.
The PSAT math sections include a total of 10 student-produced response, or grid-in questions. These questions also cover the content previously discussed in this chapter. The only real difference between multiple choice questions and grid-in questions is that the latter do not include any answer choices. You must work out the problems in the space provided in your test booklet and fill in the circles on a special part of the answer sheet. You may use a calculator to assist you in answering any of the math questions, but none of the questions actually require the use of a calculator.
You will not receive credit for anything that you write in your test booklet, but you should work through the problems in the available space so that you can check your work. As mentioned earlier, if you don’t know the answer to a question, mark it in your test booklet and come back to it later if you have time. Each correct answer is worth one point; you will not penalized for marking an incorrect answer in this section, so it is to your advantage to fill in an answer, even if you’re not sure it’s correct.
It is a good idea to practice with the answer sheet, or grid. We have included an answer sheet at the end of this chapter. Tear it out and use it as you work through the student-produced response questions that follow. Only the answers that you actually put in the grid will be scored. The grid has four places and can only accommodate positive numbers and zero. As long as your answer is filled in completely, you can start in any column on the grid. The grid includes both decimal points and fraction lines, so you can grid your answer as either a decimal or a fraction. If your answer is zero, be sure to grid it in column 2, 3, or 4.
We’ve included the directions for the student-produced response questions here (see Figure 3.16).
)
Figure 3.16 Student produced response directions.
Now that you’ve got a good feel for how to approach the questions found in the PSAT Math sections, try these sample questions. Be sure to read the explanations to help you gain a better understanding of why the correct answer is correct.