As the leaves change and fall comes into view, many juniors are starting to think about the upcoming standardized tests that they will take during the year.

Every junior has to take either the practice ACT or the Preliminary SAT (PSAT). If they score in the top three percent on the PSAT, they are recognized as a semifinalist for the National Merit Scholarship Program.

This year, eight HHS seniors were recognized as semifinalists of this award. They are Estelle Bayer, Matthew Carter, Samuel Greenwald, Simran Mishra, Bo Peng, Katherine Swenson, Benjamin Vaaler, and Gannon Youakim. Compared to previous years, this is an unusually high number.

One of the semifinalists, Bo Peng, senior, prepared for the test by taking a course and learning about the test format.

“The test has more to do with how you take the test than the actual knowledge of it,” Peng said.

In February, the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) will notify the semifinalists if they have become finalists.