Cougars Take on College Board PSAT

Fall is here, which means cool brisk air, changing leaves, and shorter days have arrived. This change in season brings with it the annual Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test– the PSAT. This assessment takes place on Wednesday, October 16th, lasts 2 hours and 14 minutes and evaluates a student’s skills in math, reading, and writing. All students, with the exception of seniors, will be required to take either the PSAT 8/9 or the PSAT/NMSQT on Bluebook, a CollegeBoard-affiliated application for online testing. 

Assistant principal Dr. Reid is in charge of administering the PSAT and expressed her thoughts regarding the purpose and benefits of the test. First and foremost, she believes the PSAT to be “a great opportunity for students to gauge their potential SAT score and identify areas for improvement.” Additionally, a high score could mean scholarships and grants for college. Juniors who take the PSAT/NMSQT have the opportunity to qualify for the National Merit Scholarship Program, which Dr. Reid claims to be “a valuable asset for their future.”

Sophomores and juniors know what to expect for this year’s PSAT. However, the exam will be a new experience for freshmen. Dr. Reid wants to encourage these new students by reminding them that they will be able to familiarize themselves with certain tools and features available to them in Bluebook, such as a digital graphing calculator and tools for annotation, before test day. She hopes this will “help everyone get comfortable with the test and its format.”

The PSAT is not only great practice for the SAT but can also help to place a student in more Advanced, Honors, and AP classes. The administration hopes that students will remember to take the PSAT seriously and try their absolute best.