ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Prairie State Achievement Examination

Okay, so the Prairie State Achievement Examination (PSAE) is a big test that students take in the state of Illinois to see how well they understand different subjects. Subjects are things like reading, math, science, and writing. The PSAE is taken by high school students, usually in their junior year, which is when they are about 16-17 years old.

The PSAE is kind of like a report card for the whole state of Illinois. So when you take the test, it helps teachers and other grown-ups figure out how well students in your state are doing when it comes to learning things like math and reading.

The PSAE has different parts, and each part is about a specific subject. For example, the reading section will have questions about different passages and stories that you have to read and answer questions about. The math section will have questions about adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing numbers. The science section will have questions about different scientific topics like physics and biology.

The test may seem long and a bit difficult, but it's important because it helps you understand where you stand in terms of your learning. The results of the PSAE are also used by colleges and universities to determine if you are ready for college-level work. So basically, it's a really big deal!

But don't worry too much. If you don't do well on the test, it doesn't mean that you are not smart or that you won't succeed in the future. Everyone learns at their own pace, and there are many different factors that can affect how well a student does on a test. Just try your best, and that's all anyone can ask for!