Bright and early, before most Barstow students are even awake, the sophomores and juniors packed into the gymnasiums to take their favorite standardized test: the PSAT. Despite the college counselors’ push for students to study, it seems the majority of students did not. Luckily for them, the 10th graders only have to take it one more time, and the 11th grade is finished.
Despite a general sense of ambivalence towards the PSAT, some students’ hard work paid off and five Barstow seniors were announced National Merit Semi-Finalists.
Junior Avani Lakireddy believes that the PSAT got easier from sophomore to junior year, saying, “Personally, I think the hardest section on the PSAT was the no calculator math section, although it was much easier than I expected it to be.”
At 7:20 AM on Wednesday, October 12th, the 10th and 11th grades split themselves into the two gyms. While (most of) the students arrived on time, the gyms were not ready until around 7:40. Then, the students packed into the rooms and prepared for the four-hour-long test that they had pushed to the back of their minds until that morning.
Although the test itself is only around three hours, it takes an extravagant amount of time to fill out personal information and go over instructions. Once the test actually commenced, the students started with the “Evidence-Based Reading” section, which is one hour long and is more or less reading comprehension.
Next is the “Writing and Language” section, which contains 44 grammar and word use-based questions, and you have 35 minutes to complete it.
The last two sections are both math, one with a calculator and one without. The section without a calculator is 25 minutes long, followed by the 45-minute section without a calculator. While some questions are easier than others, the time constraints can be stressful.
Despite time constraints, the most important thing is to stay relaxed, which is definitely easier said than done. When in doubt or stressed on time, Hispanic Recognition Program Scholar Allison Orozco (‘23) says, “you can spell out words on the scantron, or even draw a picture.”
While college counselors and teachers may stress over the importance of studying for the PSAT, the reality is, very few people actually study. While they give students study guides to practice, very few people actually open them.
The test takes place at the very end of the 1st quarter of school, which causes students to prioritize their missing assignments over the test. Orozco believes, “You shouldn’t worry too much about the test. When I stopped worrying, my score went up.”
It is difficult for students to prioritize the PSAT over their classes and mental health as students believe the test doesn’t really benefit anyone unless you are in the top 1%. Even National Merit Semi-Finalist Charlotte Park (‘23) says, “I didn’t study much for the PSAT specifically, so I just believed that whatever happens happens, and that’s ok.” Some students may be better off prioritizing their studies overall if the anxiety from worrying about the test inhibits their ability to perform on test day.
