Every year, sophomores and juniors have the opportunity to take the PSAT/NMSQT test, paying a registration fee and giving up approximately half of a school day.

“The PSAT stands for the Preliminary SAT,” guidance counselor Suellyn Stenger said. “The official name of the test is the PSAT/NMSQT, National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.”

Stenger said the test is a good opportunity for students to receive information from colleges, universities and scholarship programs and other programs like My College Quickstart, which helps students plan for college and careers.

“As a junior, it is a qualifying test for major scholarship possibilities,” Stenger said. “It also helps prepare students if they plan to take the SAT. The test provides students with feedback on critical thinking skills.”

Stenger said 59 juniors, 62 sophomores, and 21 students from the Kansas Academy of Math and Science were tested this year.

Some students opted to not take the test.

“I took it my sophomore year, but I thought I’d be gone for golf this year,” junior Elissa Jensen said. “Otherwise, I would have taken it.”

Sophomore Alexis Gonzalez had a different perspective.

“My mom took it and didn’t get any scholarships for it, so she said it was a waste of time,” Gonzalez said.

Parental involvement influenced another student’s choice.

“My mom made me take it,” sophomore Braydon Delzeit said. “I think I did terrible on it.”

Others wanted the practice for later tests.

“I wanted to get a feel for what it would be like to take standardized tests this year,” junior Drew Kingsbury said. “I think I did decently.”

Sophomore Madelyn Norris had a different experience.

“I wanted to see what the SAT would be like,” Norris said. “I don’t think I did very well. It was hard.”

Stenger said she encouraged students to take tests seriously.

“Test prep is important for standardized tests like the PSAT, SAT, and the ACT,” Stenger said. “Preparing through these tests throughout high school on a regular basis can produce higher scores, which translates into scholarship money.”

14nfeyerherm@usd489.com