Chyanne Villasenor, Features Editor
On Wednesday October 14, all Hubbard sophomores and juniors took the PSAT. For the first time, CPS gave all schools the option to give the PSAT. Last year only a select few students were given the opportunity to take the test. According to Assistant Principal Ms. Isaiah Phillips, CPS covered the cost for test takers who did not qualify for a waiver. The PSAT is not a college entry exam; students will still have to take the SAT or ACT during their junior year. Many students thought the test was difficult and didn’t have enough time to prepare and also had test anxiety. Students were given PSAT informational and practice test booklets. “I felt very nervous, like the test was rushed because we didn’t really have any time to get ready for it, so I wasn’t prepared. I only had about two days to prepare in my college prep because my teacher gave me tips for the test that were very useful, but I still didn’t feel certain that I was ready for it,” said Alicia Mercado (Div. 710). Some students were not happy about having to take yet another test in addition to REACH, PARCC, and ACT tests. “When I was first told of the test, I was upset since we took the PARCC test last year, and I didn't want to deal with another test again since it wouldn't really count against us as a grade,” said Giselle Garcia (Div. 805). Hubbard decided to opt in because the EXPLORE and PLAN tests has been phased out as of last year. The PSAT also gives students an opportunity for college readiness and scholarships. “We thought it would be a good idea to give the exam so that we could have some base line data to know where our students are. We will then use that data to make improvements to ensure that our students are ready for college,” said Ms. Phillips. Good scores can lead to National Merit Scholarships and will help determine which AP courses students can take as well as prepare them for the SAT. The National Merit program provides a monetary award and can often be leveraged to secure additional scholarships. Students should take all tests seriously, even if it is not connected to a grade, because it may open doors to college.
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