SAT Testing

Frightening. Nerve-racking. Powerful. These are all words that are often used to describe the SAT and the process of SAT testing. High school students across the U.S. and across the world are traumatized, exhausted, and stressed by this exam. Often, a person’s SAT score has the power to dictate where they’ll end up attending college, and may even shape the rest of their personal and professional lives. Unfortunately, though the SAT seems to hold so much significance in the college aplication process, in actuality, it is utterly useless.

For starters, the SAT only focuses on two academic areas. This includes math and reading/writing (English). Even though SAT subject tests are available, that cover other material, main admission’s focus is placed on the standard SAT. Because of this factor, students with talents in other subjects are not able to shine, while students with better math and English skills have an unfair advantage.

Additionally, the SAT greatly stresses students and in turn, takes focus away from schoolwork and other junior year endeavors. For most high school students, junior year is their most important academic year, in regards to set up for a college plan. By being so blatantly distracted by preparing for the SAT, students cannot put all of their energy into classes. This could greatly harm students, because it has the potential to lower grades, GPA’s, and possibly even AP test scores.

But most importantly, the SAT is one singular exam, and a student cannot be accurately depicted by their score. Basically, colleges are given an “easy way out” in the admissions process and are unfairly judging students for their scores. A student is more than one specialized test. Unfortunately, their score on the SAT, if too low, has the potential to diminish an otherwise perfect academic record, and take away a well deserved opportunity for acceptance into a top school.

For these reasons, SAT scores should not so heavily dictate a student’s chances of admission to their school of choice. One singular exam, focusing on only two academic areas, that stresses students, distracts them from their general studies, and improperly represents their abilities, should not greatly impact college acceptance. In all honestly, the SAT truly shouldn’t even exist. The abilities of students would be better depicted to colleges, if SAT scores were taken out of the equations, and only grades, extracurriculars, work experience, internships, AP scores, and other similar factors were only included instead.