On Wednesday, Oct. 16, South Salem students will take the SAT, PSAT or ASVAB. The tests begin at 7:30 a.m., in designated testing classrooms at South, and the day will conclude with an early release. The PSAT is free for Freshman and Sophomores, while Juniors must pay $17 to take the PSAT or can take the ASVAB for free. Seniors can pay $47.50 for the SAT or $64.50 for the SAT with essay.
“Students should come with approved calculators, snacks and water, and lots of pencils,” Assistant Principal Sarah Bucholz said.
Though many students are apprehensive about whether they should take these tests, standardized test scores are usually a requirement for college applications.
“Seniors can use the essay to determine essential skills, and colleges can use them when for class placement,” Bucholz said.
She also encouraged 11th graders to take the PSAT.
“Junior year is the year when the National Merit Scholarship becomes available. Juniors should be taking that opportunity,” Bucholz said.
The National Merit Scholarship is a program which selects the top PSAT scores throughout the country and awards finalists money to acknowledge their achievements.
For many, the stress surrounding college applications can make the experience daunting. To help combat this anxiety, South offers a variety of resources to aid students taking standardized tests.
“Students can connect their PSAT scores to Khan Academy. Through Khan Academy they help students find areas where they can improve and then provides them with study sessions,” Bucholz said.
Additionally, students can participate in prep courses through Sylvan Learning Center. Sylvan offers specialized assistance and tutoring to help improve SAT test scores.
“I took an SAT prep course, which was very helpful,” Becca Bingham ‘20 dsid, “By the time it came to take the test, a lot of the problems I saw on the SAT I had already done in practice and I knew exactly how to do them. A big part of standardized tests is not letting them get to your head. Also, make sure not to get caught up on a single question because it can really slow you down and lower your confidence.”
