Colleges’ test-optional policies lack benefits to applicants

May 3, 2020

As News broke that many colleges are becoming test optional. While many students are celebrating the change, arguing that it will relieve pressure and increase their chances of getting into their dream schools, others are less enthusiastic.  These test-optional policies will ultimately work agai...

Colleges become test-optional, relieving students of excess stress

Rebecca Kanfer '21, Paper Sports Editor

April 20, 2020

As the 2020 college admissions year comes to a close, aspiring juniors look onward to their upcoming year of the Common Application and the College Board with one noticeable change. Standardized test scores have become unnecessary and furthermore optional with an application for numerous schools due...

PSAT provides inefficient preparation for freshman

Maria Krug '22, Staff Writer

March 14, 2020

The SAT: a standardized test juniors take in October measuring their knowledge and skill in school subjects. The score received will then be used to help you succeed in college and your career after that. At Staples High School, freshmen and sophomores are required to take the PSAT around March to...

ACT individual section retakes allow students to improve test scores

Tierney Kugel '22, Paper Arts Editor

October 23, 2019

Many high schoolers know the feeling of suffering through a long ACT test session, only to find out weeks later that they scored lower than expected. American College Testing, or the “ACT” is a three hour long test, consisting of four seprate sections, each focusing on a specific subject or skill ...

Freshmen participate in first mandatory PSAT9

Roxy Augeri ’20 and Allie D’Angelo ’20

April 2, 2019

Dozens of people arrested in alleged college admissions scam

March 13, 2019

Emily Stone '20 Over four dozen people, including actresses Lori Loughlin and Felicity Huffman, have been charged in a nationwide college admission cheating scandal based off of evidence released by the FBI and US Attorney’s office. According to court records released on March 12, wealthy parents...

Test scores should not define future

Mia Daignault '20

November 27, 2018

2020 is the year I graduate, the year I pack up all my bags, and the year I begin my journey elsewhere. But 2018 is the year I prepare myself to choose where I want to begin that journey. This is the year I visit college counselors, guidance counselors and potential schools. But it’s hard to enjoy th...

Stop shoving tests down our throats

September 18, 2018

By Maya Brodows ’20   It’s early Saturday morning. Many people of the town remain blissfully asleep, whilst others enjoy the start to a great weekend. Some are playing with their young children, others are flipping pancakes. Yet, for juniors across the country, Saturdays have beco...

Answers for August SAT leaked online

September 14, 2018

By Lucy Arrow '21 Months before students all around the country started preparing for the SAT on Aug. 25, test answers were floating around online, exposed to everyone. The answers were from a previous standardized test taken overseas in October 2017, and it is unsure how many students viewed the an...

The PSAT is important

October 23, 2017

By Isabella Bullock '19 The PSAT is known to help prepare students for the SAT, and all high school students who are looking to improve their scores should take it. It’s main purpose is to give students an idea of what their test scores will be like, with minimum to no studying, so that student...

Juniors left clueless about standardized testing

November 11, 2016

Junior year equals the year of standardized testing and preparing for college. Basically, it equals a year of stress on top of stress on top of stress. And unless you have older siblings or particularly involved parents, it’s common for students to have no clue what they’re in for. Coming from...

Preconceived notions manifest a stigma against junior year

Emma Greenberg, Opinions editor

June 10, 2016

Though junior year seems fun considering the dances, driver's licenses, class options and freedoms. I’ve heard many things contradicting the “perks” that are to come as a sophomore about to enter her junior year. All I hear about prom is that it’s a nightmare when it comes to getting everyone...

Juniors to take SAT in school, without optional essay

Sophie Call, Staff Writer

February 9, 2016

On March 2, juniors will sit down and take the SAT as their standardized test graduation requirement. However, if they’re planning on applying to a number of colleges, this SAT sitting won’t be valid. The new SAT functions much like the ACT always has –– a set of required sections, with ...