The PSAT, or the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test, is a standardized test taken around October each year. This test takes around four to five hours to complete and will cover the subjects of math, evidence-base reading, and writing and grammar. The PSAT is a practice standardized test to help students prepare for major standardized tests like the SAT and ACT. The major inconvenience with the PSAT is that it has just about nothing to do with college admissions, and its only purposes are to draft students into the National Merit Scholarship Competition and to help students prepare for the SAT if they choose to take that. The PSAT will benefit students in test-taking skills and give them the opportunity to enroll in a scholarship program, but other than that, this test does not affect college admissions.

Ascension students took the PSAT test on Wednesday, October 10th before fall break. The experience was not fun for anyone, but is it ever? Students sat still in the same class for about four hours taking test after test. We asked junior Alyssa Wilson her opinion on the PSAT and she responded, “I only showed up for the memes.” We asked another junior Emery Doga what she had to say about her experience with the PSAT and she stated, “The worst part about the PSAT  was signing the contract that forbids memes.” The PSAT was not enjoyable and was practically a waste of time, but at least students got practice and left with a possibility of a scholarship.

All in all, the PSAT standardized test is a nation-wide test that helps students prepare for further and more major tests while also providing a possibility of acceptance for scholarships. No test is enjoyable, but at least the ACT and SAT count for something, unlike this one. Students dislike the testing itself and the whole setup of sitting for four hours straight while attempting to answer random questions that have nothing to do with your future. Another junior Emmie Gage brought up the idea that the PSAT “could be optional for the students that would like to participate in the National Merit Scholar Program.” Adding on to this quote, being that this test’s main purpose is for the opportunity to receive a scholarship, students who wish to hopefully be granted into the program could choose to take the test.