We studied PSAT note synthesis questions . I addressed and highlighted how each note summary question contains a specific focus : eg, which note summary "emphasizes a quality, or emphasizes a difference, or simply explains." We then reviewed a series of practice questions, and eliminated responses that, while relevant, were outside the narrow scope of the question. We last reviewed the proper use of transitional phrases such as "for instance, in comparison, and instead" and then answered practice questions applying the proper use of transition phrases. .