PSAT 10 case studies
PSAT 10 · Put your knowledge to work in context.
The PSAT 10 is one of the in-school assessments in the College Board's SAT Suite, which the source describes as "an integrated system of tests including the SAT, PSAT/NMSQT, PSAT 10, and PSAT 8/9." It is a preliminary, practice-oriented assessment taken by students in school rather than a credential you register for or pass on your own; the source directs students to "Ask your principal or counselor which assessments your school offers." According to the source, "The PSAT 10 includes a Reading and Writing Section and a Math Section," and College Board publishes a structure page describing the Reading and Writing Section and the Math Section, including question and passage types and the math content tested. The source does not state section timing, question counts, scoring, or fees on the pages provided, so treat those details as unconfirmed until your school or College Board's structure page supplies them. The PSAT 10 case studies are 5 cases and about 2,014 words.
1Tree Canopy Op-Ed: Evidence and Concession
Marisol is drafting an op-ed for her school newspaper arguing that the city should expand tree planting in the Eastside neighborhood. Her notes include: Eastside has 12% tree canopy, compared with 31% citywide; summer afternoon surface temperatures on Eastside asphalt average 9°F higher than in neighborhoods with more canopy; a 2022 city pilot planted 400 trees along two blocks and measured a 4°F drop in afternoon surface temperature at 3 p.m.; a resident survey found 68% support and 22% concern about roots damaging sidewalks; and the city has 150,000 available, with each tree costing 250 including three years of maintenance.
431 words, about 2 min2Later Start Time Letter: Grammar and Source Choice
Devon is revising a letter to the principal asking the school day to start at 8:30 instead of 7:45. His draft includes this sentence: 'The research on adolescent sleep is clear, students need more sleep, and our school should start later.' He has three sources: a health report stating that most teenagers need 8-10 hours of sleep per night; a school survey in which 62% of students reported getting less than 7 hours on school nights; and a neighboring district's report that tardies fell by 18% in the year after it moved its start time to 8:30.
431 words, about 2 min3Fitness Center Plans: Linear Cost Comparison
Two fitness centers advertise different payment plans. Center A charges a 40 joining fee and 25 per month.
417 words, about 2 min4Breakfast and Quiz Scores: Confounding Variable
A school wellness committee wants to know whether eating breakfast is associated with higher math quiz scores. They surveyed 60 students: 30 who reported eating breakfast on the morning of the quiz and 30 who did not.
370 words, about 2 min5Barn-Side Garden: Quadratic Area Maximization
A landscape club is building a rectangular vegetable garden against the straight side of a barn. The barn forms one side of the garden and needs no fencing.
365 words, about 2 min