Jackie Gouris
Staff Writer
A few weeks ago, the sophomores and juniors took the PSATs during the first half of the day. Although it was met with complaints by various students, it was a great opportunity for students to test their abilities and effectively gauge their strengths and weaknesses when it comes to standardized testing.
The PSAT stands for Preliminary SAT, and its purpose is to prepare students for college admissions tests and become familiar with the testing style. The PSAT questions cover math problem solving, critical reading skills, and writing skills. It was a great way to assess a student’s capability before the test is counts as your SAT grade that is submitted to colleges.
Although the PSAT grade does not affect someones SAT grade, students can earn scholarships from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. The PSAT also gives students important information regarding colleges and planning tools.
While some students were complaining about having to take the PSAT and then be in school for the second half of the day, many schools in the area do not even offer the PSAT. Those students take it on Saturday, just like the SATs. Kerry Leonardi compared the SATs with the PSATs saying “They have very similar content, but the actual situation is so much more stressful. The environment is completely different because you know that the SATs count so much more.” Although there are mixed opinions on the PSAT, it is still an effective form of assessment for the SATs.
