The PSAT will be taken by freshmen, sophomores, and juniors this Thursday, October 10th, 2024. Students are to report and be seated in their testing rooms by 7:35 a.m. and are planned to be finished before 11 a.m. Seniors will have an e-learning day and are not expected to attend school.
The PSAT starts off with the Reading and Writing section, followed by the Math section.
The Reading and Writing section tests students with multiple choice problems and no essay-style questions will be on the exam. Types of questions that will be on the exam will include testing knowledge of vocabulary, grammar, comprehension skills, and more.
In the Math section, one new feature that is now available to students since the implementation of the digital format of the exam is the ability to use Desmos, a built-in graphing calculator, on the exam.
Students can familiarize themselves with how the PSAT will feel, take practice exams, and find strategies on how to study through an application made by the College Board, Bluebook. “Students who complete practice exams through Bluebook certainly have a chance at scoring higher on the PSAT,” English teacher Rachele Raloff said. “The simple exposure to the skills in the math and the EBRW sections will help students to know what to expect or to narrow their focus when reviewing.”
While this exam serves mainly as a benchmark for students as well as prepares students for the real SAT, some juniors may have the ability to receive scholarships and/or national recognition if they score high enough. “If students score within the top 4% of all test takers nationally, they have the chance of qualifying to be a National Merit Scholar,” senior Nic Collier said. “This award is one way that students can stand out in the college application process.”
After the PSAT is finished, students will have the ability to leave school early and will be excused for the rest of the day. However, a parent needs to send in an email or make a phone call to the school to let their child out early. The earlier the parent reaches out, the less stressed the attendance office will be with handling requests, and the better and easier the process.
