BY JESS COONEY AND KACEY CIELECKI – The fluorescent lights are blinding like the sun itself. The pungent smell of ink and freshly sharpened pencils envelope the participants. The sound of gum chewing and tapping pencils fills the room along with the tension that could be cut with a knife. As you’ve probably guessed by now, this is the PSATs.

The Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test is a standardized test cosponsored by the College Board and National Merit Scholarship Corporation and helps educators at every level promote college readiness, according to the College Board website. Freshmen, sophomores and juniors take the PSAT.

Guidance Counselor Sandra Gidos said the test is beneficial to underclassmen as “an excellent resource and practice for the SAT.”

She explained that you receive not only your scores from the PSAT but also the questions, your answers and the correct answers.

“You will also find out what areas you need to focus on,” said Gidos.

Principal James Gleason agreed.

“It gives you practice on the test in a standardized format on questions that you’re going to see on a test that really counts later on,” Gleason said. “So getting a benchmark in 9th grade and then following through in 10th grade and 11th grade I think is a really critical path for the students here.”

Freshman Shannon Damiano of Spring Lake Heights studied before in preparation for the PSAT due to her nerves.

“It is a big test, so naturally I would be nervous for it,” Damiano said.

Freshman Abigail Fessel of Middletown was more relaxed.

“It’s only a practice test, so I have nothing to be nervous about,” she said.

Junior Mike Hom of Manalapan took the PSAT and has already taken the SAT.

“Compared to SAT, the PSAT was a lot easier to take. Not only was it shorter in time, but the questions were in my opinion easier,” Hom said.