PSAT at Poly: The PSAT will be taken by all 9th, 10th, and 11th graders on Wednesday, October 11th.
The PSAT: What You Need to Know
By Sebastian Baylor
Edited by Madison Shanklin and Colin Lilley
So, what are PSATs? The PSATs, or Preliminary SATs, is a test that helps prepare students for the actual SAT test in senior year, and shows a student’s readiness for college. The test focuses on students’ reading, writing, and mathematics capabilities. However, the test is also the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. It does not have an official role in college admissions, however students with high enough test scores can obtain a National Merit Scholarship, which can be helpful for a student’s future in a higher education.
To get some more insight into what’s needed for the exam, I talked to Poly Tech Talk Co-founder Brandon Isbell and writer Miya Mese-Jones.
The test has 2 sections, one for reading and writing and another for math. These sections are separated by a brief intermission. The 2 sections will have 2 modules, each with its own separate timing. To ensure a smooth testing experience, students should bring a fully charged device and a cord to charge their device (if needed), as well as a pen or pencil on testing day.
The PSAT test is meant to introduce students to the SAT format, and so it will be slightly easier. However, College Board still recommends regular studying for the test for multiple weeks to be prepared for it. Although Brandon and Miya did not study very much.
During the test their stress levels were minimal, especially during the math portion. There were few questions with enough time to solve all of them. However, Miya became more stressed during the reading sections. For many people, a big part of the difficulty with tests can be focusing on long readings and remembering everything for the questions. Miya had this problem, but still felt that she answered questions correctly and had enough time to do so. Although since the sections had a short break, there was less time to cool down and refresh, which made things a bit harder.
Their experiences were shared by their friends, although some of Miya’s friends believed that the Math section was more challenging than the reading portion. When they decided to retake the test, they adopted a rigorous preparation routine. Miya dedicated herself to daily practice sections throughout the summer and had already completed her first PSAT before the second attempt. She found the PSAT to be considerably easier, primarily due to the reduced length, which allowed her to maintain better focus. According to her, one of the most effective ways to transition from the PSAT to the SAT is to enhance your attention span, particularly for the reading section.
Additionally, both Miya and Brandon emphasized the significance of the scholarship opportunities available to students who take the test during their junior year. Brandon highlighted the presence of a National Merit section on the front cover of the test, underscoring that neglecting to complete it could jeopardize one’s eligibility for scholarship funds.
Recognize that the PSAT plays a crucial role in preparing for the SAT and potentially securing scholarship opportunities for your future. While it’s essential not to overstress, remember that with diligent studying (and free test preparation resources on Khan Academy), you can excel on the test. What truly matters is ensuring that your time spent studying and taking the test is productive and that you can apply the lessons learned to excel on the SAT in the future.
