CVHS Trojans are not in favor for mandatory PSAT testing
Every year, CVHS students from grades 9 to 11 take the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT) for three hours and 22 minutes, not including the preparation period from the day before, which takes 30 minutes. With lost class time, mixed feelings regarding the PSAT begin to stir, and the main question begins to arise: Should CVHS continue to offer the PSAT?
The PSAT is a standardized test administered by the College Board that assesses reading, writing, and math skills, serving as a mock version of the SAT in preparation for it.
“Since the CSU and UC system no longer accept SAT scores, and most of our students who go to college go to CA public colleges and universities, I now think the administration of the PSAT to students is a terrible misuse of time, a gross misuse of tens of thousands of dollars that CVUSD pays to the College Board for the tests, and that it is an unnecessary trigger for test anxiety for students, most of whom will never go on to take the SAT,” stated social studies teacher Carmelina Frasca.
The PSAT provides students with experience in standardized testing and may convince more to take the SAT. However, most colleges no longer take SAT scores. Additionally, as Frasca mentioned, the expense of the PSAT and its disruption to class time are some of the con outlooks held by CVHS members.
A recent Olympian survey suggests Trojans are not in favor of CVHS disrupting class time to hold the school-wide PSAT. Seventy-seven percent of Trojans collectively agree that CVHS should continue to offer the PSAT to students. However, the majority of Trojans would rather have regular instructional time seeing that many have no intention of taking the SAT.
“The PSAT is a great choice for students who want to further their education by receiving scholarship options for high PSAT scores,” stated junior Marwa Seckandary.
The PSAT still holds its perks though. In fact, the PSAT rewards high-scoring recipients, making them eligible to qualify for the National Merit Scholarship Program (NMSP) as well as other organizations partnered with the College Board.
“CVHS should continue to offer the PSAT especially due to our eleventh graders,” stated Assistant Principal Pam Wolf, who noted that the test “offers awards and scholarships even if they’re not taking the SAT. As for our ninth and tenth graders, it allows them to practice the PSAT for when they’re in eleventh grade.”
CVHS held this year’s test on Oct. 9, and the College Board released scores on Oct. 24.