The SAT was held on Monday, Oct. 13 in the big gym at Aliso Niguel High School during the school day.
Mr. Mocnik, the Assistant Principal of Guidance, oversees the guidance office, which is in charge of all the testing that happens at the school, including the SAT. This October, all the schools in the Capostrano Unified School District have decided to hold the SAT on their campuses, available exclusively to each school’s own students.
Typically, if students wanted to take the SAT they would have to take it at one of the testing centers in Southern California which take place on Saturdays, as Aliso Niguel High School wasn’t one of those testing centers.
Mr. Mocnik says, “We wanted to make sure that everybody in our school district had the opportunity to be able to take if they wanted to.”
Over a hundred students, mostly juniors showed up to the big gym to take the SAT offered at the school.
Jayden Tang (11), who took the SAT on campus, says, “Because it was at the school, it’s easier to take it rather than driving like 50 miles to another testing center.”
Harris Yusuf (11), says “I think it’s really nice, you know, so we don’t have to go too far. It’s pretty convenient for all the students.”
Depending on how soon students sign up for the test, they could end up taking it much farther away than practicable. Having the test available to students on campus made it far more likely for students to take it.
Ms. Torres, an AP Language and Honors English 1 teacher says, “You can take it multiple times. So if you’re not happy with your score or even if you don’t feel like you’re really prepared right now, take it to at least get a baseline and see where you’re at, because then you can know or you can figure out what you need to work on for the next time… especially with the test being on campus, there is no reason not to take it.”
Mr. Mosier, who teaches AP Physics and Honors Marine Ecology says, “[Students] are going to take standardized tests in the future, whether they’re hoping to or not, there’s a good chance a lot will, so might as well get a little bit more practice… I think there’s value in it.”
Mrs. Burch, who teaches AP U.S History says, “I think it’s important for students to take it because they don’t know what colleges they’re gonna apply to yet and whether or not they will require it in the future, as more and more colleges are now requiring it.”
The SAT used to be a requirement for many colleges, but it had begun to phase out over the years with not as many colleges requiring it. However, recently many colleges have begun requiring it again. Depending on what colleges the students apply to will often determine whether they take the test or not.
Sabrina Corral-Rzepka (11), who also took the SAT on campus says, “The colleges I need don’t require it, but I took it for fun and just in case.”
Pragya Singhal (11) says, “I think our school administered the SAT really well…and having the testing location nearby made everything so much more convenient and less stressful”
Singhal also mentions that having it held so early in the year, “gives me more time to understand my weaknesses and improve.”
Mr. Mocnik says, “It doesn’t hurt to take it. So even if you take it, you don’t have to report the score to the school if you don’t want to…I’d recommend students take it just so they kind of have an idea of where they stand.”
Having the SAT on campus this year has given many students the opportunity to take this test whether they were planning on attending a college that required it or not. Additionally, having it held so early in the school year gives students the chance to retake it at a later date if they aren’t satisfied with their scores.
