The sound of Takbeer, clear and strong over the rumble of people chattering, greets friends and neighbors alike, hugging strangers on sight, wishing them a happy Eid. Every year, over 1.5 billion Muslims around the world gather at local masjids to celebrate Eid Al-Adha with their friends and family, according to an article published by CNN. Eid Al-Adha is an Islamic holiday, in remembrance of the ultimate act of sacrifice made by Prophet Abraham, when he was asked by God to sacrifice his son, who was replaced by a goat right before he carried out God’s command. However, this year most sophomores and juniors at St. Paul Academy and Summit School may have to choose between celebrating or taking the Preliminary SAT, a nationwide standardized test that provides “exposure to testing format and environment” and determines “whether or not juniors qualify for National Merit awards and scholarships,” according to Ms. Hill, director of College Counseling and Academic Planning.

This test is given on the second or third Wednesday every October with a makeup date the following Saturday. This year, it fell on Oct. 16th and the following Saturday, Oct. 19th. Even though testing on October 19th is an option for all students, “[they] don’t usually want it on a Saturday, when students have other commitments,” Hill said.

Despite the fact that the date for the PSAT cannot be changed, students celebrating Eid dislike the fact that it could fall on one of their most important holidays. Freshman Heba Sandozi, who will take the PSAT next year, said, “the organizers of the PSAT [in the US, nationwide] have to be more sensitive to the needs of students… they need to become more aware of religions and their holidays. I’m sure some [Muslim students] won’t even opt out of it since it’s so important for academics.”

“They don’t ask Christians to take the PSAT on Christmas or on Hanukkah for Jews.” Sandozi said. “Why should we have to give up our religious holiday?”

“I feel really bad about missing namaaz [prayer] for the PSAT… Eid namaaz is important to me. I wish there was a better solution,” sophomore Madeeha Rizvi said.

Normally, Rizvi would have taken a half day off, coming back to school around lunch time, but now that the PSAT is scheduled on the same day as Eid she missed going to morning prayer, parties, and spending time with family to take her test.

The PSAT didn’t affect senior Bilal Askari as much, although he had a similar experience two years ago “we went to prayers in the morning and then came back to school to take it,” he said. “It didn’t really affect me.”

Junior Aliza Rahman agrees, although she is annoyed with the organizers. “The PSAT testing happens in advance and plus it’s only a practice test… an extra thing to put on your application. I just don’t want it to come on a holiday… no one should have to take a PSAT on a holiday.”

“I personally wish they would be more sensitive..[Upper School test organizers] may have responded, but not to the extent that they should,” K-12 Dean of Diversity Karen Dye said.

Responding to Muslim student’s potential conflict between the PSAT and Eid Al-Adha, Hill sent out an email to SPA students and parents, providing options for students who celebrate it on Oct. 16. Sophomores are given the option of a take home PSAT after Oct. 16th, which can be checked for correct answers later this fall. It won’t be submitted for official scoring but will provide test experience and “a sense of the questions answered correctly or incorrectly,” she wrote in an email.

Although the PSAT is the gateway to the National Merit competition, which decides who is awarded National Merit Scholarships, there is an option to submit testing other than the PSAT for juniors who celebrate Eid Al-Adha on Oct. 16, to qualify for the competition.