By Gabriella Halpern
On Thursday, October 22nd, the freshmen, sophomores, and juniors at Fischer High School took the PSAT. The PSAT is an adaptive standardized test designed to help students prepare for the SAT, which is widely used for college admissions. The test is divided into two sections, with two modules each that assess student performance. The first section consists of 2 reading and writing modules, while the second section consists of 2 math modules. Students who perform well on the first module of each section may receive a more challenging second module. After completing the test, students shared their thoughts about its difficulty.
Many students shared similar impressions of the test, particularly regarding the difference in difficulty between the first and second modules. For instance, multiple freshmen agreed that the first modules of both English and math were easy. However, many found the questions in the second modules more challenging. Some even reported having to guess multiple answers because of the difficulty level of the test. Similarly, most juniors found the first modules relatively easy, with only one or two confusing questions.
However, their experiences with the second modules were mixed. Some juniors felt that the score math module was fair, and although there were more difficult questions, it was manageable. Others thought that the second math module was extremely challenging, just like the freshmen. Clearly, the second module of these standardized tests tends to be more complex than the first module.
Overall, students had similar reactions to this year’s PSAT, although some had differing opinions about the second math module. Many students did feel confident after the first modules of both sections, yet struggled with the second modules. Still, some students did find that the second math module was doable, even though there were more arduous questions. Despite these differences, the PSAT provides students with an opportunity to strengthen their test-taking skills and prepare for the SAT.
