At this time of the year many students are stressed. Most of these students are juniors. The SAT, ACT, and M-Step are right around the corner and every junior has to take these tests. These tests can determine where students go to college which can be stressful for most juniors. They have been preparing for the SAT for months and even years. They took the PSAT in 8th grade, freshman, and sophomore year. They also have been working on math problems that will help them solve problems on the math portion of the SAT. Juniors have even been writing practice essays in their English classes. Yes, the school helps prepare students for the SAT but it is still stressful for the majority of students who have to take it.
On the SAT there is a math portion and an English portion. There is also an essay students have to write in 50 minutes. Juniors Trenton Rupert and Derek Buterakos feel the most prepared for the math portion. They both can agree that they are better at math than English so the math portion seems easier. Rupert mentioned Mrs. Malmquist has been giving her English classes practice tests that are similar to the actual SAT to help them prepare. Buterakos also agrees his English teacher Mrs. Knoll has been doing a good job at helping her students prepare for the SAT. Junior Nevaeh Pierce feels the most prepared for the reading portion. She mentioned her teachers have been preparing her and her classmates well and the school has been having SAT practices after school.
Although they all think their teachers have been helping them prepare they are still nervous. The SAT is very stressful so having teachers help by giving practice tests and practice essays to students to help them feel prepared is great for them. Every Junior has to take the SAT, ACT, and the M-Step. The seniors have already been through all this testing and a few of them stated what portion of the SAT they wish they were more prepared for and gave advice to the juniors.
Seniors Kylee Kopek and Caleb O’Neal both wish they were more prepared for the math portion of the SAT. They both agree that the math portion was harder than they thought. O’Neal stated “I wish the school would have prepared me more for the math section and the second section on both portions of the SAT, you don’t realize how difficult it will be until you are in the moment.” Senior Ramona Sanchez said she wishes that she was more prepared for the English portion of the SAT and said it would have been helpful if she studied a little bit more.
When asked what advice she would give to the juniors about managing stress the week of the SAT and ACT Kopek commented “Make sure to take time for yourself, take breaks when you need. Don’t over exhaust yourself.” To go along with this, O’Neal mentioned “Don’t stress about it too much your entire life does not depend on the SAT, just try your best and do not overthink it.” Sanchez said “I would recommend studying so you know you’re prepared and taking time to relax instead of being so stressed about one little thing.”
These next few weeks can be very stressful for juniors because there is so much testing and they put so much pressure on themselves. They have been taking numerous practice tests and have been attending SAT prep classes after school to help them prepare. The SAT is stressful but it is very important to manage this stress and several seniors gave advice to this year’s juniors and underclassmen about how to manage the stress and pressures they will be under.
