The PSAT, or the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test is arriving soon. Students are lining up to get an opportunity to take the test. Although, some students are not as eager as the others to take it.

The PSAT is historically used to practice for the real threat, the SAT, as it is typically used as a gauge by most students for what they need to re-learn before the real thing. Most students prepare for the PSAT like any other test, but everybody prepares differently. Junior Joshua Hsu, likes to take a more strategic plan that most.  

¨I review over the things I need to study. More specifically I focus on the hard concepts, ¨ Hsu said.

Another student, senior Ian Francisco, prepares for tests like the SAT similarly, although the two students have different ideas about cramming.

¨I typically study by reading my notes and looking over topics or units I struggle in, although the most effective way [for me] to get good grades is to cram last minute,¨ Francisco said.

When asked about cramming, Hsu said that he thought it was ineffective for learning.  He spoke out about how cramming was meaningless for long term information retention.

“Cramming is not a good way to learn because most people don’t have that good of a memory, and can lead to forgetting key concepts,¨ Hsu said.

Although cramming for a test is certainly better than not studying at all, actually learning the material is better in the long run. It also needs to be taken into consideration that not everyone has the same learning style. Knowing the style that works for each individual is vital for learning and taking in information. These skills carry over through one’s whole life, an not just on things like the PSAT. 

“More or less I am a visual learner, so it is easier for me to see it happen compared to listening how it happens,¨ Francisco said.

All students feel certain ways about tests, everyone reacts to things differently. Junior, Ryan Sandoval thinks that tests are a formality that could be done away with.

“[Tests] are overrated and shouldn’t be a thing. Numbers don’t define my smarts,¨ Sandoval said.

Even if you aren’t planning on taking the PSAT, studying and having the ability to learn are still very important skills. Studying isn’t the easiest thing for everybody, so Hsu left a tip.

“Practice problems on the things you need to study for, I personally study by doing homework, then continue researching, when I am stuck on something.”