For some seniors, the most stressful part of the year is coming to a close, and with it comes a small perk that marks the culmination of months of essays, recommendation letters and deadlines: the PSAT test October 16th, when seniors get to have the day off.
“Last year I was in their place, stressing about this test,” said senior Aya Bardawil. “Now I get the day off, but it’s weird knowing they’re just starting what we’re almost done with.”
The day off will be a big relief for seniors as they begin their descent into the spring when academic rigor and college application seasons come to a close. But for juniors, it marks a new beginning. The PSAT is an important gauge for juniors, one where they know where they stand when the real SAT tests come in spring.
“I’m not trying to stress,” said junior Jala Tabraue, “but I do want to know what I need to work on before the SAT actually counts.”
The test includes sections of reading, writing, and math, and many students see it as a benchmarking tool more than a high-pressure event. Still, the quiet testing rooms and timed sections make it feel serious.
Teachers and counselors remind students that PSAT scores are indicators, meant to highlight strengths and weaknesses ahead of the SAT and not final judgements. However, for juniors, it marks a turning point, and for many it can feel very serious. It’s less about numbers and more about entering a new phase of high school.
“College has always felt far away, but walking into a testing room makes it feel real.”
By the end of the day, the test will be over, and life will go back to normal. Still, today marked a quiet turning point for one class, as it steps into the process, and a different one for another that steps out.
