These upcoming months for students will be filled with anxiety and stress as the SAT lurks around the corner. Our parents’ potential college careers could depend on these scores, but I’ve observed that students this year aren’t as fixated on this nerve-wracking test. So is the P/SAT really worth it? It really is for most students.
The PSAT is a test that can result in Merit scholarships if the score is high enough, which is over $2,000 saved according to the College Board. Although only about 3.6 percent of people get merit scholarships through the PSAT, it could be a great opportunity for students who put in the time and effort. There is a reason that the PSAT used to be required for high schoolers to complete.
Many people are convinced that colleges don’t want to see test scores and are uninterested in results. However, this is false in most cases. There are some universities that refuse to let test scores affect their decision on whether or not you get in. The majority of schools are test-optional, which in other words means that your test cannot harm you if you don’t get the score you were hoping for. It is harmless to try your best and end up not submitting the score you received. If you end up with a satisfactory score, you can then use it to your advantage when applying for universities.
Now, what if you don’t want to apply for college? What then? In my opinion, the PSAT and SAT are both meaningless if you aren’t on a path to go to university. The only reason to go through the time-consuming process is to let your admissions officer know of your academic rigor or lack thereof.
The ACT is an alternative way to give colleges an idea of what type of test taker you are. According to ACT, this test is quite extensive but includes sections that include science and reading. The SAT, on the other hand, consists of only the math and reading sections. It is important to play by your strengths and weaknesses, and allow that to determine your decision on which test to take. Many people decide to take both and use their higher score, which is the wisest decision in my opinion. This way, there is no need to retake either test because both are already on your record. You will be able to show your admissions officer the test that makes you look as academically rigorous as possible.
Although many schools are test-optional, I truly believe that a good test score can boost your application immensely. It is well known that the SAT and PSAT are inaccurate methods of measuring students’ academic performance and capabilities. However, in the world we live in, an exceptional test score can really boost your chances of getting into dozens of schools according to the College Board. There are schools that are “test blind,” but schools that require an SAT or ACT score still remain. It would be naive to not take the SAT when planning on attending college in the future.
