By Justin Kang

As students around the world geared up to take the renowned standardized test known as the PSAT back in October, Garnet Valley had pushed the testing date to January 26th, 2021. All benefits the same as the exam administered in October, students were sent a form to sign up for the optional PSAT administration. Given to both 10th and 11th grade students, only the scores from the Class of ‘22 would count this time around for the National Merit Scholarship Program. Scoring exceptionally on this exam qualifies students for more benefits than you may think. 

Being a junior and signing up for the optional PSAT essentially means you believe in yourself, or you want some practice on a College Board exam. There are two outcomes of the test, one being you qualify for National Merit, and the other being you don’t. A vast majority of PSAT test takers experience the latter. I walked into the building with pencil, calculator, and most importantly, mask in hand. With the school limiting the number of test takers to seven per classroom, I had a lot more legroom than usual. Testing across the classrooms began promptly at 7:35 AM, and the pressure was on. Virtual schooling had changed the ways tests was given across the country, but the PSAT was just as standardized as ever. Four test sections and two five minute breaks later, the weight was lifted from my shoulders.