On Wednesday, 272 MHS students took the PSAT, a national standardized test offered by Collegeboard in addition to its trademarked SAT tests. The number of test-takers was a school record, with 75 sophomores and 143 juniors taking the exam this year, according to Julia Rust, testing coordinator.

The PSAT is taken by 1.6 million students nationwide, testing students on reading, writing, and math skills and adds up to a cumulative 2 hours and 45 minutes of testing, according to Collegeboard.

Andris Zonies, junior, took the test Wednesday morning with many other juniors in the large and small gyms. If Zonies scores in the top 1%, he will become a National Merit Semi-finalist, giving him an opportunity to potentially receive scholarships.

“The test wasn’t very stressful,” Zonies said. “The amount of sophomores and juniors taking it was what I expected. I’m really hoping to get National Merit.”

The PSAT is offered once annually and will be offered next in October of 2017.