Around this time of the year, students throughout the entire country are applying to college, and the SAT plays a big part in this process. But it’s never to early to prepare for college applications. In past years and again this year, our school has offered the PSAT for sophomores and juniors. This is a voluntary practice college entry exam for students looking to get a head start.

The SAT is a common requirement for college applications along with the ACT.

“The standardized tests really do matter in college applications,” Pamela Ellis, founder, Compass Education Strategies LLC says. Compass Education Strategies is a private guidance system that helps families and high school students navigate the right path for college. But with another opinion tests do not completely represent you.

“Tests are one puzzle piece of college applications, but they do not define you,” Ralph Figueroa, director of college guidance at Albuquerque Academy says.  Albuquerque Academy is a college prep high school, located in New Mexico.

These standardized tests are seen as a good representation of a student’s success throughout their education, and can (but not always) be a large deciding factor for a student’s future. Where the ACT and the SAT are both tests that colleges take into consideration, their scores can bring out the best and worst for a students possibilities.

The SAT and the ACT are often more common in certain regions. The ACT is commonly looked at more in the Central and West coasts of the country, and the SAT is commonly looked at more by colleges in the East coast.

The PSAT is a pre SAT test that can predict SAT scores for sophomores and juniors. The scores from the PSAT are not submitted to colleges for applications, and are there to help students gain a greater understanding about their potential. Through taking the PSAT juniors are able to earn a Merit scholarship, which can open many doors for the future. A Merit scholarship is a scholarship awarded for academic achievement, and with impressive PSAT scores a junior could be nominated for this scholarship. The PSAT consists of three sections, critical reading, math, and writing. The maximum amount of points for each section is 80, with a total of 240. For each question answered correctly you receive a point, for each question answered incorrectly you lose one quarter of a point, and for every question that is skipped there is a small change in your grade. Based off of the PSAT scores a student receives, he/she can practice the subjects they need to improve on, to then be 100 percent prepared for the SAT.

As AHS has offered, and continues to offer the PSAT to sophomores and juniors, we are improving our school’s representation, and reputation. Through taking the PSAT many sophomores and juniors are opening up many doors for the future, and are showing a great interest in years to come.