This Wednesday, Oct. 14, students across the country underwent a long morning of testing for the PSAT. The PSAT is proctored as a “trial run” to prepare students for the SAT, which is weighted highly in college admission decisions, according to Princeton Review.

Most high schools only administer the test to sophomores and juniors. But CHS sophomores and juniors were not the only ones to take the PSAT. Freshmen also are administered the PSAT at CHS unlike most high schools in the area.

Freshman Bridget Woodrow of Belmar said her first PSAT experience was similar to other standardized tests but much harder. Woodrow said she also expects the extra year of testing to prove profitable.

“I think it’s good, so you’re more ready for [the SAT] when it really matters,” Woodrow said.

Sophomore Abby Coneeny of Wall, who just underwent her second go-around of the PSAT, said she sees the extra year as helpful practice.

“Honestly, I kind of think it does [give an advantage] just because you get a lot more practice with it,” Coneeny said. “You get to see how the questions are, like the layout and what you have to study.”

Still, Coneeny said that although she didn’t particularly enjoy taking the test freshman year, it proved to be an advantage in the long run.

Junior Ghillian Ferraiola of Colts Neck said she considers the test only mildly advantageous.

“I think it did help in a way … not a whole lot, but it did get me familiar with the test,” Ferraiola said.

Senior Lauryn Masciana of Middletown said she believes that taking the PSATs an extra year gave her the preparation necessary to go into her SATs confidently.

“In the grand scheme of things, I do think that having the PSATs as a freshman helped me with my SATs,” Masciana said. “While I may not have realized it at the time, it gave me more exposure to that kind of standardized test, and I was more comfortable with SATs when my time came.”