More students get early start

In today‘s economy, any advantage over other applicants for colleges — and eventually jobs — is welcome. The PSAT test provides students one way to excel, and the test that was originally intended for juniors is now frequently taken by younger students as well.

The PSAT/NMSQT test is essentially practice for the SAT college admissions test. It is recommended that juniors take the PSAT in preparation for the SAT, as well as for the added benefit of a chance at a $2,500 scholarship. Many sophomores, and even a few freshmen, will also take the test this year as a practice run. For those who take it seriously, or whose parents have high expectations, summers may be spent practicing and reviewing to take a practice run of the practice test. Highly ambitious achievers like these will likely end up spending a total of $200 on materials and fees for College Board tests throughout high school, although costs vary from year to year.

All of this preparation for, and the inevitable amounts of money spent on, exams like the PSAT are not without reward, however. Once the tests are scored, an individual’s results are presented in a comprehensive packet that includes comparisons of the individual’s results against the rest of the sophomore or junior class and areas to improve upon for the next test. The test is formatted similarly to the SAT for students to become familiar with this particular form of test. Even without taking into consideration all the other benefits, simply taking the test at least once before the required time can improve scores significantly. According to a College Board study in 2003 and 2004, 69 percent of students taking it a second time improved scores on the critical reading section, 76 percent improved on the math portion, and 71 percent scored higher on the writing skills section

Mrs. Kelly Thaler, an English teacher at Colony High School, is an advocate for early testing.

“I encourage my sophomore students to take it because it is excellent exposure for college-bound sophomores.”

Once scores are handed out, students will have the rest of the year to study and improve in the areas where they were weakest the first time around. Despite Mrs. Thaler’s approval of sophomores taking the PSAT, she does not feel there is a need for freshmen to take the test too.

“They are already learning all of the information in school, and taking other, similar tests,” she said. “It is not as necessary to take the PSAT as a freshman.”

Although the test is only required of juniors, even eighth-graders are permitted to take it. If one wishes to have additional preparation, the ACT also has a pre-test called the PLAN. Unlike the PSAT, there are no set nation-wide testing days and the test is not as commonly heard of, but the concept is the same, with the only other exception being the PLAN is intended for sophomores. As with the PSAT, freshmen may take the test to gain extra experience.

An early start may not be necessary, but it does provide an additional sense of security. As Colony High School freshman Molly Sullivan puts it, she is taking the PSAT for her first time as a freshman because, “I want to be prepared for my junior year, and eventually, the SAT. I want to have an edge on the competition when I’m an upperclassman for the scholarship, too.”

Competition for the National Merit Scholarship can become fierce. Out of the 1.5 million nationwide contestants, only about 50,000 of the highest scorers earn recognition by the program. Out of those 50,000, about one third of them will become semifinalists, and the group is narrowed down further into the finalists. Various criteria are taken into consideration, and the 8,200 winners are finally revealed. Just receiving recognition from the program can boost a résumé’s appearance, but the more prestigious monetary award is desirable.

As society’s expectations of academic excellence rise, so do students’ ambitions. The PSAT test is a way for students to advance their education and add to their achievements and a way for younger students to practice for the major exams like the SAT.

Eva Colberg is a sophomore at Colony High School.