At Bishop Manogue, students will be taking the digital PSAT on October 11th, after Fall Break. This will most likely take place in the SCC or the Gym.

The PSAT is usually taken in 10th or 11th grade, however Bishop Manogue allows 9th graders to take it as well. It is a practice version of the SAT, which students take in their junior year. This test consists of 4 sections: reading, writing, math (No calculator), and math (calculator allowed). Each of these sections are meant to test students in the areas they are learning academically.

This year, the PSAT will be digital. This is because College Board, the sponsor of the test, want to make it easily accessible to all students. They have also slightly changed the test’s format. They have made the test shorter, allowing for more time per question, and they have added a built-in calculator, so that students don’t have to worry about bringing their own calculator. However, it is still recommended to bring your own calculator.

The PSAT has a max score of 1520, different from the SAT, which has a max score of 1600. A Sophomore at Manogue said, “I want to get a good grade on the test so I can go to college without paying.” Students who achieve high scores will qualify for the National Merit Scholarship Program, which offers them valuable college opportunities, such as scholarships and financial aid.

Students who plan to take the PSAT, must show up to school with a fully charged computer or tablet with the Bluebook application already installed, as well as a charger for the device. Even though the test is digital, it is recommended that students bring pens or pencils, along with scratch paper for any problems they wish to write down.