Juniors' PSAT results released

Scores by Blazers on October's Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT) improved from last year's results.

According to Karen Hunt, Blair's Resource Counselor, students' overall scores improved from last year's PSAT results. Out of 422 juniors in 2003, the mean score for the verbal section (known this year as the critical reading section) was 53.8 out of a possible 80. The mean math score was 54.5 while the mean writing mean score was 55.8. Out of this year's 393 juniors that took the test, the mean critical reading score was 53.5, the mean math score was 56.6 and the mean writing score was 58.3.

This year's sophomores also showed an improvement in scores from those of last year. Out of 697 students who took the exam in 2003 the mean verbal score was 43.7, the mean math score was 44.5 and the mean writing score was 47.7; this year, out of 676 sophomores, the mean critical reading score was 45.1, the mean math score was 47.7 and the mean writing score was 49.9.

Hunt believes the scores rose because there is "more emphasis on getting kids prepared for the test," as teachers work on building their students' vocabulary and math skills.

Student scores were also better this year because there is a "heightened awareness" of the importance of the test, according to Hunt.

Hunt attributes the difference in the scores between sophomores and juniors to the fact that the latter are more familiar with the format.

Juniors received their PSAT scores last Friday, Dec. 17. Sophomores will receive their score reports on Jan. 6 and 7 after their results are sorted by English classes, according to 10th grade Assistant Principal Suzanne Harvey.