How to Use This Book vii Part 1 The PSAT and You 1 Chapter 1 Inside the PSAT 3 PSAT Structure 3 Part 2 PSAT Math 9 Chapter 2 Prerequisite Skills and Calculator Use 11 Math Fundamentals 11 Calculator Use 20 Chapter 3 The Method for PSAT Math Questions 23 How to Do PSAT Math 23 A Note about Grid-ins 29 Reflect 30 Part 2A The Heart of Algebra 35 Chapter 4 Linear Equations and Graphs 37 How Much Do You Know? 38 Solving Equations 41 Word Problems 44 Linear Graphs 48 On Test Day 52 How Much Have You Learned? 53 Reflect 56 Chapter 5 Systems of Linear Equations 65 How Much Do You Know? 66 Substitution 70 Combination 72 Number of Possible Solutions 75 On Test Day 78 How Much Have You Learned? 79 Reflect 81 Part 2B Data Analysis 91 Chapter 6 Ratios, Proportions, and Percents 93 How Much Do You Know? 94 Ratios and Proportions 97 Unit Conversion 101 Percents 103 Percent Change 107 On Test Day 111 How Much Have You Learned? 112 Reflect 114 Chapter 7 Tables, Statistics, and Probability 123 How Much Do You Know? 124 Tables and Graphs 129 Statistics 135 Surveys and Data Samples 139 Probability 143 On Test Day 147 How Much Have You Learned? 148 Reflect 152 Part 2C Passport to Advanced Math 161 Chapter 8 Functions 163 How Much Do You Know? 164 Function Notation 167 Graphs of Functions 170 Describing Real-Life Situations with Functions 174 On Test Day 178 How Much Have You Learned? 179 Reflect 182 Chapter 9 Quadratics 189 How Much Do You Know? 190 Solving Quadratics by Factoring 194 Classic Quadratics 197 Completing the Square 199 The Quadratic Formula 202 Graphs of Quadratics 205 Systems of Quadratic and Linear Equations 210 On Test Day 213 How Much Have You Learned? 214 Reflect 216 Part 3 PSAT Reading 229 Chapter 10 The Method for PSAT Reading Questions 231 How to Do PSAT Reading 231 How Much Have You Learned? 249 Reflect 252 Chapter 11 PSAT Reading Passage Strategies 259 How Much Do You Know? 260 PSAT Reading Strategies-Keywords, Margin Notes, and the Big Picture Summary 265 How Much Have You Learned? 276 Reflect 278 Chapter 12 PSAT Reading Question Types 287 How Much Do You Know? 288 How to Unpack PSAT Reading Question Stems 291 How Much Have You Learned? 297 Reflect 298 Chapter 13 Answering PSAT Reading Questions 303 How Much Do You Know? 304 How to Answer PSAT Reading Questions 311 How Much Have You Learned? 326 Reflect 329 Part 4 PSAT Writing and Language 337 Chapter 14 The Method for PSAT Writing and Language Questions 339 How to Do PSAT Writing and Language 339 Chapter 15 Spotting and Fixing Errors: Sentence Structures Punctuation, and Agreement 345 How Much Do You Know? 346 Sentence Structure: The Basics 350 Sentence Structure: Commas, Dashes, and Colons 355 Agreement: Verbs 361 Agreement: Pronouns 367 Agreement: Modifiers 372 Agreement: Idioms 378 How Much Have You Learned? 384 Reflect 386 Part 5 Countdown to Test Day 397 Chapter 16 Countdown to Test Day 399 Part 6 Practice Tests 401 PSAT Practice Test 1 403 Answer Key 449 Answers and Explanations 451 PSAT Practice Test 2 477 Answer Key 519 Answers and Explanations 521