No, the title is not a word jumble! On Wednesday October 16th, sophomore and junior students across the country took the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test – a “practice” standardized test that prepares students for taking college entrance exams, gives students to receive feedback regarding their writing skills and allows students to qualify for scholarship programs based on their results on the test.

While freshman and senior students have the morning off of school, sophomores and juniors arrive to school at 8am to receive test information, find their testing rooms, sharpen their pencils and take the PSAT test during the morning hours.  The test itself is not used in college admissions, and is meant only to give students a better understanding of their option when it comes to choosing colleges, and gaining financial assistance early on in their decision making process.

Last year at Wakefield, two students were selected to advance to the semifinalist stage for an opportunity to receive a National Merit Scholarship – a $2500 scholarship.  8000 finalists receive this scholarship on an annual basis, while individual universities and private corporations often award students additional scholarships based on students’ scores.

We hope that our students at Wakefield had a successful PSAT today!