Article Written by: Devishi J.
Cover Design by: Jayant M.
The Scholastic Aptitude Test, or the SATs, are an annual standardized test, globally recognized for college education, and is usually taken by high school juniors and seniors. Established in 1926, the test evaluates students on four main sections: Evidence-Based Reading; Writing and Language: Math (both with and without a calculator); and an optional essay. The test is administered by the College Board, points are assigned to every question, and students receive a score out of 1600.
I believe most students would agree that the SATs are a daunting time of the year that most students dread from the very beginning of their high school career. The nation-wide test has a reputation for providing significant weightage to students’ college applications and therefore, causes students to be very stressed and anxious about it since it is crucial to do well. However, in recent years, many colleges, about one in 4 institutions, have decided to do away with the requirement of SAT scores when applying for admission.
The test was meant to be a common, fair way for colleges to test potential applicants, so everyone has an equal chance to prove themselves. However, because of the importance of the aptitude test, it has become highly competitive. Therefore, every student wants to do the best that they can. To do so, they join expensive out-of-school tutoring programs, buy thick practice books, and spend a lot of their already limited time practicing and preparing for the big exam. These are all efficient and effective ways to prepare, but they’re also straining and not a realistic option for all students. It makes the playing field uneven.
Many students looking to apply to colleges come from low-income families and areas, or have to work part-time jobs. These circumstances put these students at a disadvantage because they don’t have the time or the money to get the same resources as other students who have the luxury to better prepare for the SAT.
After much consideration, more and more colleges and universities, around 41 schools in 2019, are deciding to drop the SAT requirement. In 2018, The University of Chicago made submitting SAT scores optional and saw a huge spike in first-generation, low-income, and rural applicants. This shows how greatly this decision affects many people who had been previously at a disadvantage. Making the submission of scores optional allows willing students to attach their scores to their application, and enriches the diversity of colleges’ applicant pool, since more lower-income students get a fair chance to apply.
Even though the number of universities who are becoming test-optional is greatly increasing by the years, the College Board has been trying to handle the anti-testing pushback. The institution defends the aptitude test by claiming that the SATs are a key segment of the admissions process because by measuring the students’ GPA and test scores, they are able to predict how successful those applicants would be at that school.
However, researchers have found that, at a national level, SAT and ACT scores are worse indicators of a student’s success than other scores, such as their high school GPA. Preston Cooper, a writer for Forbes, explains, “...a student with a high GPA and a middling SAT score has a 62% chance of graduating within six years, while a student with the opposite credentials (high SAT score but mediocre grades) has only a 51% chance of graduation.” This is because GPA measures a student’s useful behaviors that would help them succeed in college, such as attendance and submitting assignments.
On the other hand, standardized tests are designed to measure how well students can quickly study intensively, but not how they can perform long-term. In general, the public believes it is more important for colleges to know about a student’s work ethic and study habits. They also believe that simply making the test optional, without providing any aid to lower income students, does not do any good and is not beneficial. Some schools are also introducing new financial aid programs to these students, as they make the decision about optional tests, such as the University of Chicago and its scholarship and access initiatives.
Overall, as a current high school student who has had some experience with the PSATs, I agree with colleges who have made the decision to go test-optional. It gives every potential applicant the fair opportunity to apply, while still letting students who want to submit their SAT scores along with their application do so.
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