On Monday, April 11, when I walked into the upper media center for lunch, it was much louder than any normal day. As I approached my table, I was eager to discover what had caused such a buzz. 

When I was told what had happened, my heart began to pound and I eagerly logged into my College Board account, which I only recently set up. 

The Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT) scores had been released and a feeling of angst spread through the cafeteria and among the sophomore class. 

“I felt stressed [during the PSAT]. I didn’t know how to manage my time because we started with English and there were a lot of articles,” sophomore Lily Friedman told The Fanscotian. “It just felt like a lot of work all at once.” 

Time management was an aspect of the PSAT that many students struggled with. It is difficult to determine how much time to spend on each question when you have never seen a test like it before. 

The purpose of the PSAT is to expose students to what the real SAT will be like. It gives students a feel for the format of the test and the types of questions that will be asked on it. While it was not at all required, some students looked over test questions prior to the PSAT. 

“I felt pretty good [during the PSAT]. I had gotten a good night’s sleep before and I tried to be well prepared,” sophomore Abi Elliot said. “I also knew that it didn’t really count for anything, [but] I knew I should just try my best.” 

The PSAT also serves as a beneficial way for students to understand what they need to do to study and prepare for the SAT. After receiving her score, Friedman noted that she felt confident, but that she was still looking into different study options. Many students at Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School take SAT classes or get tutors. 

“I will definitely use a class [to prepare] for [the SAT] to get ready and find some techniques to do better on [the test],” Elliot said.