High school standardized assessments have taken a leap into the digital realm. Starting this year, students will have the opportunity to take the PSAT and other exams online. This shift brings with it a host of benefits and changes to the testing experience for many students.

One of the key advantages of the online PSAT is the increased accessibility it offers for certain interactive elements. With the digital format, students can now engage with dynamic content, such as graphs, charts, and multimedia elements. 

Not only does the digital format provide technical features, but the test itself has been shortened. Junior Genevieve Dellacona has taken both the paper and digital versions of the exam. She said, “The reading passages have definitely shortened, which makes our lives so much easier!”

Additionally, the online PSAT provides faster results. The days of waiting weeks for scores are gone. With the digital format, students can expect to receive their scores in a much shorter time frame, allowing for quicker feedback and the ability to plan and make informed decisions in preparation for the SAT.

However, with benefits come challenges. Transitioning to an online format may come with technical issues and distractions that can potentially impact the testing experience. Sophomore Payton Stalter experienced technical issues during the test. “Many students in my classroom have faced challenges, which only [detracted from] the time we had for the test,” she said. Other students complained that the math section had numerous ways to express a mathematical symbol, and only one way was the accepted answer. Dellacona explained, “The math section was my least favorite part about the digital test. The math section had different ways to express the answer by using fractions and decimals, and only one way would be accepted as the right answer.” 

LHS students received their scores through their CollegeBoard accounts on November 6. Based on the score of the student, personalized college and career options were available. First-time PSAT test taker and sophomore Charles Horton said, “The scores were organized in a neat form. Each section scored up to 760, which helped me calculate my score.”

The transition to an online PSAT represents an exciting step forward in the world of standardized testing. It offers students greater accessibility, interactive features, and faster results. The SAT is also scheduled to become entirely digital beginning in 2024. Digital testing may be the future’s approach to tests beyond just the PSAT and SAT.