National Merit Semifinalists find PSAT to be stress-optional

An all-time record of 38 seniors, or 12 percent of the class, has qualified for the National Merit Honor program this year, meaning that they were among the top 1 percent of all scorers on the PSAT exam given each fall.

There were also 50 commended students, which meant that they were just below the level required to be named Semifinalists—sometimes falling short by as little as one point on the test.

Saratoga High usually has a 20 or more of National Merit Scholars and commended students, but this year has yielded more than usual with about 27 percent.

“We were surprised to see such a significant jump in the number of National Merit semifinalists,” assistant principal Brian Safine said. “We have seen many high-achieving classes in past years; but most usually produce around 25 or 26 semifinalists. Having 38 semifinalists in one class is truly remarkable.”

The key to their success? Surprisingly, some said it was not stressful studying for the PSAT, but rather a more relaxed approach.

Senior Sophie Kang, one of the National Merit scholars, spent the night before the test relaxing rather than studying.

“I definitely thought of the PSAT much more casually than I should have. The night before the SAT, I’m usually freaking out but the night before the PSAT, I think I was watching a movie or something,” Kang said.

This less intense attitude can be attributed to previous exposure to the SAT. Just by studying for the SAT, students are also adequately prepared for the PSAT, which is a preliminary SAT.

“I felt it was just that—a preliminary SAT. I took the SAT previously, so it felt very comfortable,” senior Alex Chiang, another National Merit Scholar, said.

Like Chiang, senior Isabel McPherson, also a National Merit Scholar, found that the PSAT was comparatively less difficult than the SAT as well. McPherson was able to finish with time to spare for most sections.

“All I remember from taking the PSAT is that it was easier than the SAT and I finished most of the sections early, so I was more focused on building a fort with [my] pencils and name card,” McPherson said.

For some, the National Merit qualification came as a pleasant surprise.

“I definitely wasn’t expecting to get the NMS because I had heard the cutoff would be really high and I at the time I hadn’t thought I did very well,” Kang said.

McPherson also was not positive whether or not she would receive National Merit Scholar.

“I don’t think you can really ‘expect’ it because the cutoffs are always changing,” McPherson said.

Still, students were relieved when they finished the two-hour, 10-minute test.

“After the exam I was just glad it was all over and I hadn’t thought I did very well or very badly on the exam itself,” Kang said.

The school will recognize both National Merit Commended students and semifinalists at a breakfast on Oct. 12.