Students prepare for standardized testing

Senior+Abby+Widjanarko+helps+sophomore+Madison+Kwan+study+for+the+PSAT.+Freshmen%2C+sophomores+and+juniors+will+take+the+exam+on+Oct.+16.

Senior Abby Widjanarko helps sophomore Madison Kwan study for the PSAT. Freshmen, sophomores and juniors will take the exam on Oct. 16.

Alina Kushner, Reporter

WEB EXCLUSIVE With the Preliminary SAT exam approaching on Oct. 16, students were able to attend review sessions to discuss helpful strategies and tips with teachers to prepare for the exam. 

The meetings were held both Tuesday and Wednesday during ColLab before A and E Periods. Students had the opportunity to review language and reading skills or math skills.

“The English meeting helped me because now I know what I should be looking for in a passage and what to focus on,“ sophomore Donnalie Yap said. 

Students looked over example problems in their College Board PSAT Student Guides which were distributed during advisory meetings on Monday and received advice on how they should approach each section of the exam.

“The meeting significantly helped me calm my test anxiety because I knew I was setting aside some time to prepare,” sophomore Sloane Riley said. “I’m going to do some practice tests and review my scores from last year.”

“It’s a way to offer as much support, not just strategically, but psychologically,” Julia Arce, who led the English review, said. “It is a small group setting where you can ask questions or we can give you a bit of strategy. I think it also bolsters people’s confidence a little bit.”

Freshmen, sophomores, and juniors will all be taking the PSAT next week. Students who score high enough on the exam have a chance to be admitted into the National Merit Scholarship Program. 

“Make sure to get a good night’s sleep and go into the exam rested with an open mind,” Arce said. “It’s also very important to do a few practice tests so that you know what the PSAT is like.“