Nose deep in books, junior Ari Mansour has already started studying for the SAT. While students begin stressing out about this test, others try to get ahead.

“I have been studying a lot for the SAT,” Mansour said. “From what I have been told is that the SAT is a lot like IB classes, so I’m hoping that will help get me into the mindset. Last night I cried thinking about it.”

Students who sign up for the October PSAT find out about the National Merit scholarship. Those who do well on the test have a chance of earning the scholarship or $2,500.

“They take the highest scoring students from around the nation,¨ SAT coordinator Michelle Pietraszkiewicz said. ¨They have the students take another test where they can qualify for a National Merit scholarship.”

Studying for the PSAT and SAT can occur in many forms, and as students prepare they are using anyway they can.

“I have a prep book and I’m taking a class online,” Mansour said. “I have apps on my phone, like Word of the Day.”

Besides using study books or online classes to study, there are various online resources that students have access to such as Chegg.com, a free online practice test, and Khan Academy.

“The number one way to study is to use Khan Academy,” Pietraszkiewicz said. “It was a website created by the SAT and they work in conjunction with Khan Academy, so we are getting first hand information on what is going to be on the test.”

Students who signed up for the PSAT will be taking it on Oct. 19 and the SAT will be given to all juniors on April 11.