On Oct 11, 2017, sophomores and juniors will be taking the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT) at Niles North to prepare for the upcoming Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT). Seniors and freshmen will not have school Oct 11.

PSAT is shorter than the actual test and does not include an essay. The essay is optional on the SAT. Scores on the PSAT are also on a different scale than the SAT. These are the only differences from the actual test. The sections on the PSAT are the same as what sections will be on the SAT. The PSAT will be about three hours long and there will be breaks.

PSAT gives students the ability to get familiar with the test. It also gives students an idea of the score they may get. “It was helpful because personally I really didn’t know the test or format at all,” Abdul Feroz, senior, said. 

Taking the PSAT is a way to practice for the SAT. “It’s really good for practice and it gives you kinda this idea of how it works,” Mercedes Sandu, sophomore, said. 

There are benefits to taking the PSAT because students are able to qualify for the National Merit Scholarship Program (NMSP). Qualification is based on the score students get on the PSAT. Students must be juniors to qualify.

Skokie Public Library provides online classes for the SAT with LearningExpress. To access these classes students must have a library card. LearningExpress also offers help for college applications and even with the ACT.  SAT prep classes are also provided by Niles North High School for all juniors during the second semester. Also, Kahn Academy uses the scores that students receive to create a personalized study plan. “I’m going to plan my studying for the SAT around my (PSAT) score,” Celia Buell, junior, said.