The PSAT is a practice SAT test in which high school juniors take as preparation for other standardized tests and to be considered for Merit Scholarships. Not all juniors take the test because they are not aware of what the PSAT is or how it can benefit them.
This test usually takes place in the fall and is offered to sophomore and juniors. The PSAT lasts just under three hours and tests students skills on reading, writing and math. Many students use this test to prepare themselves for the possible information that may be presented on the ACT and SAT.
Senior Maggie Muszalski comments on her intentions when taking the PSAT her junior year. She stated, “I took the PSAT last year to better prepare myself for the ACT. I feel like it helped give me an understanding of what the test format was going to be like.”
For many students, the PSAT is much more than just a trial run because it also determines who will become a National Merit Scholar. The tests are automatically sent to the National Merit Scholarship Corporation where they will commend 50,000 students for their high scores.
Out of those students, 16,000 are chosen to be semi-finalists. In order to qualify as one of the 15,000 finalists, applicants must follow specific requirements. The corporation then continues to make cuts until they reach their list of winners for the scholarship.
Pleasant Valley had six seniors named as National Merit commended students: Mallory LaFever, Aman Manazir, Jacob Bandy, Sujay Marisetty, Shashank Inampudi and Alexander Haack. PV also had four students recognized as semi-finalists in the 2019 National Merit Scholarship Program: Regan Breen, Kaitlyn Ryan, Justin Sehlin and Sarah Warner.
Junior Maya Johnson took the PSAT this past fall, and was recently named a semi-finalist for the 2020 National Merit Scholarship. “I am very excited and grateful for the opportunity to be a semi-finalist and I will continue to work hard in school to achieve greater things.” In the future, Johnson plans to continue working hard in and outside of school to achieve greater things.
