The Student News Site of Neshaminy High School

The Playwickian

The Student News Site of Neshaminy High School

The Playwickian

The Student News Site of Neshaminy High School

The Playwickian

New PSAT, SAT on Horizon for Students

By Shannon O’Grady
Staff Writer

The class of 2017 is being greatly impacted by new graduation and college requirements. One of the biggest changes they will have to deal with is the change in the PSAT and SAT format. These changes are supposedly making it easier for students to get higher scores.

The new PSAT is now be used as the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (NMSQT), an academic and university scholarship administered to those who qualify. Not only do students have a chance at a scholarship, students do not have to worry about coming in on weekends to take the test. Instead there is a day during the school week designated to only those taking the PSAT. Another good addition to the test is that there will no longer be points taken off for wrong answers. The only downside is that the test is said to take slightly longer than the previous version of the test.

In March of 2016, the new SAT is to be released. It is said to be similar to the ACT’s, another national college examination that test four subjects- English, science, math, and reading. The new SAT’s have a different scoring system, points will not be taken off for wrong answers, and the writing section is now optional. The down side of the test is the section where calculators are not allowed. “It’s hard to say because I haven’t taken it [the new SAT], but I like the idea that you won’t get points deducted if you get a question wrong. However, I heard there’s a section we can’t use our calculators for- that’s terrifying,” said Sarah Kelly, a junior at Neshaminy.
The makers have taken a whole new approach to testing in attempt to make it easier for the students taking it. Along with new test, colleges are rethinking the impact of the writing section SAT scores on admission requirements. Some colleges are even dropping the requirement all together.

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The new PSAT and SAT is meant to have a good impact on the Class of 2017. The majority of the test is designed to be easier for students to receive higher scores and the optional writing, as of now, is leading colleges to drop some of their admission requirements in hope to help students become more successful.

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New PSAT, SAT on Horizon for Students