by: Srishti Sawant

It’s that time of year again—PSAT and SAT day is almost here. On Wednesday, October 8th, all 9th–11th
graders will take the PSAT, while seniors who registered in advance will have the option to take the SAT.
Testing will begin promptly at 8:55 a.m., so students are encouraged to arrive early with their FCS device
and charger. Although October 8th isn’t a half day, students can check out after testing—keep an eye on
Outlook and the IA Students Canvas for more details. Additionally, regular bus service will run on
schedule. Ahead of test day, IA will conduct a required Device and Bluebook check on September 29th.

Counselor Ms. Butler emphasized the importance of using past scores for targeted preparation. “For 10th
and 11th graders, linking your PSAT score reports from previous years to Khan Academy can give you a
customized study plan,” she explained. She also reminded freshmen that the PSAT is a practice run: “For
9th graders, it’s totally fine to go in not knowing everything as this test is meant to prepare you for the
SAT.” Students can also take advantage of the College Board’s SAT question bank, public library
resources (e.g., Peterson test prep), and the new SchoolLinks tool in ClassLink for goal-setting and
college planning.

AP Literature teacher Ms. Scenna highlighted reading strategies as an often-overlooked part of test prep.
“One of the best things you can do is practice with SAT questions, because they get you used to the test
format and timing,” she said. And since vocabulary can be tough, simply “looking up words that you don’t know while you’re reading is a good way to expose yourself to the meanings of more words.” For juniors especially, the PSAT also serves as the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (NMSQT), making preparation all the more important.

Remember: If you totally procrastinate on preparation for October 8th, don’t panic—just reading, paying attention in class, and relying on what you have already learned can still take you a long way.