The PSAT Returns

  Every year, twice a year, Susquehannock High hosts one of the most horrifying, brain melting tests of all time: the PSAT’s.

  OK, so they aren’t that bad. In fact, with nothing truly riding on them, they might not be as stressful as they seem. The PSAT’s are for students planning on taking the SAT to get a feel for them. It allows them to find out exactly what they need to work on and what they don’t.

  The PSAT’s truly are there only to help you. They do not count for anything, and no one will see them except for you. On top of that, they give you a feel for how you can prepare for the SAT. Both sophomores and juniors should take the test, even if you already took it as a sophomore, because scores are submitted to the National Merit Scholarship database in your junior year, where the top percentage, which changes yearly, become semi-finalists and can go on to be finalists.

  Even as a semi-finalist, you can win almost a full ride in scholarship money, and as a finalist, it is a near guarantee. Even if it is not a full ride, it can still earn you enough money to put you most of the way through.

  If you are not a junior, you should still take it for the experience. It is a test unlike any other you have taken before, and it is important to get a feel for it. The stress of the ticking timer can send you over the edge if you are not prepared for it, so it is important to get some experience before diving in.

  When you sign up for the test, you will be given a practice booklet. At the very least, you should complete this mini-test. It takes a short amount of time, and it exposes you to some of the kinds of questions you will see. It also will show you what areas you need to study to prepare for the test, which, if you use this knowledge, will be incredibly beneficial. If you are someone who doesn’t study, well, at least you got something out of the practice test.

  So, whether you are taking it because your parents are forcing you, you just want to see what the SAT will be like, or if you just want to try for the scholarship money, good luck.