Though there are many standardized tests that students must take during their school career, the SAT can have the most impact on the future. Preparation for this test can cause anxiety and fear for high school students because of how influential the score is when trying to get into colleges. This is why the PSAT is very popular among juniors. The PSAT is also available to sophomores, but because of how distant the SAT feels, many wonder if it’s worth the trouble.
Some sophomores took the PSAT because they wanted to find out what they were up against. “I thought [it] would be a good idea to see what I will be doing next year, and to see how much work that I will need to put into studying,” said Alona Henig, sophomore at Community. Max Mihaylov, also a sophomore similarly stated, “I wanted to get a head start because I really don’t like standardized tests and I thought that I could maybe learn something from this one.”
The test itself is said to be similar to any normal standardized test that you would take, such as the MEAP. The difficulty level depends on how good you are at each subject and your comfort level with standardized tests. “The writing part and some of the reading was difficult, but the math part was easy because I’m good at math,” remarked Mihaylov. Unlike the MEAP, there is a time contraint that could make the test more of a challenge. If you want to learn what to expect from the test, taking the PSAT could help you.
When asked if the PSAT actually helped prepare her, Henig replied “Um, slightly. I don’t remember certain things about it I just remember going in and doing some math problems and some English. I think I am a little bit more prepared but I still have a lot of preparation to do.” Mihaylov’s response was “Yeah, I feel like I know a little bit more now.” Both Henig and Mihaylov said that the test was not too hard, just boring and time consuming.
Overall, taking the PSAT as a sophomore is a good choice if you have any inclination to do it at all. Henig and Mihaylov are both convinced that it was a beneficial experience. “I’d say if you were nervous about the SAT junior year, which I am, I would take it just to see what it was like. Plus it is a free test so I don’t see why you wouldn’t,” said Henig. Mihaylov also replied, “It’s a good idea because there is no negative outcome and you get prepared for the real SAT.”
