For 50 years freshman, sophomores, and juniors have taken the PSAT exam. This exam helps students prepare for the SAT, an exam that will help colleges understand the students academic ability.

The PSAT has been the subject of many controversial opinions in the school. Some students may believe that there is no point behind the administration of these exams, while others may believe that it will help them in the future. 

For Kaavya Vassa, sophomore, there were some mixed feelings about the test.

“[I thought it was] very hard,” Vassa said. “I felt okay about the math and grammar section, but I feel like I might’ve missed many questions on the reading section.”

The PSAT is split up into four sections; reading, grammar, math (with and without a calculator). It is structured in the same format as the SAT, and designed as a way to prepare students for that exam. 

“I would prefer that we didn’t take [the PSAT], but then I feel like it is really helpful,” Vassa said. “It’s helpful for the SAT, especially in junior and senior year, it really helps to experience the SAT before we take it.”

Ava Malin, junior, believes in the importance of the PSAT, similar to Vassa, even though there was a delay in taking the exam for juniors.

“I was happy to finally take [the PSAT] because it had been put off twice for the juniors this year,” Malin said. “I think it was a good way for me to gage what the SAT would be like in a low risk, comfortable environment.”

While Malin believes in the importance of taking such standardized tests, she believes that it “may not benefit everyone”.

“I recognize that some people just aren’t ‘good test-takers’,” Malin said. “I think that looking at test scores is still a good way for some students to display their intelligence even though it may not be good for others.”

Students like Vassa and Malin may believe in the benefits of taking the PSAT in the future, but others who have experienced the SAT, such as Mary Boehm, senior, can attest to this fact.

“[The PSAT] is definitely worth it because it’s important to start figuring out how to focus in the testing environment and to plan out how much time you need on each section to be successful.” Boehm said. 

However, when it comes to the content the PSAT is assessing, Boehm believes it “did not help me feel more prepared during the SAT”.

“I took the PSAT only a couple of times and I felt that it prepared me for the structure of the test but not the test itself.”

While the content may not have helped Boehm with the SAT, she still encourages students to take the PSAT.

“I would tell [students who don’t want to take the PSAT] that if they are planning on taking the ACT or SAT, it’s important to start practicing as soon as they can to make junior year less stressful.”