Please take the SAT/ACT away!
- My cousin had a 3.89 GPA, was an all-honors student, all AP class taker in high school and you know what? SHE FAILED THE SAT AND THE ACT! She didn't get to go to Baylor Medical (or something like that) like she'd wanted. She ended up having to go to the University of Texas at Brownsville (which doesn't require scores) Not that there's anything wrong with that, but...she should've gone to Baylor. Period. The SAT/ACT tests should be banned. They don't measure how much you know. They just make you crack under pressure (especially since the damn thing is timed)
- —Guest Dahlia
Not fair
- I am a senior at my high school and studied every single day from July the 1st to last night (September 11th) to do well on the ACT. Some of my friends called me obssessed, but I didn't care because I knew that my hard work would pay off. I took the ACT today and did HORRIBLY. This may have been because I was sick. But I do believe that colleges should exempt these tests because they do not measure a student's intelligence AT ALL. I have been taking honors and AP classes in high school and did not even get the score I should have on the ACT. These exams show that either the schools should stop having different level or rigor courses, because let's face it, students who are in regular level classes honestly do not do well on these tests. However, most students who take AP courses do well. This maybe misleading, but as I commented I am even taking AP courses and still did not do well on my college examinations. I prepared and sacrificed A LOT of time for it, and still did not do well.
- —lalalandlove
SAT SUBJECT TESTS SHOULD BE WEIGHED MORE
- SEVERAL OF MY HIGHLY INTELLIGENT STUDENTS DID NOT DO WELL ON THEIR SAT EXAMS AND THEY COULD NOT GET ACCEPTED TO THE COLLEGE OF THEIR CHOICE. COLLEGES SHOULD LOOK AT THE SATII AND AP SCORES AND MAKE A BETTER JUDGEMENT. I ALSO FEEL CLEP TESTS COULD BE USED TO SEE THE LEVEL OF EXPERTISE OF OUR STUDENTS IN CERTAIN SUBJECTS. PLEASE TAKE OUR ADVICE AND DO NOT MAKE EDUCATION A BUSINESS AFFAIR.
- —Guest TEACHER
ACT/SAT bad example of ability
- My sister had a continous 4.0 GPA and when she took the ACT she got a 19 or 20. This was mysterious because she paid for classes on how to get a better score for the ACT; now it's my turn to take it, and i can personally say that the ACT is a very bad example of knowledge... the ACT gives material not yet taught to most students so it is almost imposible to get some questions right. I know this because when we take the PACT (practice ACT) in school I got an estimated 20 score yet have a 3.5 GPA. Also I take a lot of honors classes and when I took the PACT some of the questions were what we just learned in my advanced class, so I knew there was no possible way the rest of the people that dont know the material could have gotten that question right. Bottom line, ACT/SAT = bad example of a student's knowledge!
- —Guest AV
not a fair playing field/otherwise OK
- As the tests stand now they are not fair.These tests should be given ONE time only so that kids with more money cannot go out and get tutors to increase their scores.
- —momofthreee
How else can schools measure quality?
- How else can schools equally measure students across the nation? Yes, SATs are not completely indicative of intelligence, but they are a necessary standard. GPA can be misleading as some students may take easier or harder classes. I studied over a year for the SAT and worked my *** off for it, so I have no sympathy for somebody who complains about the test but did not put enough work in. Hey, if you don't like the SAT, you can always go to the University of Phoenix (online college.)
- —Guest Oz
SAT/ACT don't prove anything
- These tests are very unreasonable. They don't prove anything. Since it is not an all year thing, anyone could be studying the day before or take test prep classes and do well on the test just because they studied that one time. What about next time or when they are in college? There are really a lot of students out there who aren't good test takers but very bright people. These tests don't even show what kind of person a student really is. Maybe they just had a bad day while taking their sat/ act tests. My point is that these tests don't predict the future for a student or prove anything, especially since it is a one day event. That one day could be serious, but what about the next test day in college? Colleges like to pick n choose, but how do they know that they can rely on the student with the high sat/act scores to do well in college? They ought to be more open minded and not set their thoughts on tests because they don't prove what kind of success their chosen one is going to end.
- —Guest samglobal23
Yes to opitional SAT scores.
- It's eminently simple and offers little explanation. The SAT's are not designed to determine how intelligent you are, how well you will do under pressure, and how hard you are going to work in college. That's that.
- —Guest NY High School Junior
Depends on the School
- At large state schools or in some technical fields I think these sorts of tests can be a good predictor of college success -- probably more so than grades, and certainly more than extracurriculars. At a school with smaller classes, or in a degree program where success is going to be based more on diligence or creativity than the ability to process a lot of information quickly, personal interviews and portfolios and academic background should probably be weighted more. I suspect most admissions offices have figured out whether test scores are highly correlated with retention and weight them accordingly in the admissions process.
- —Guest Beth
Concerned about SAT's
- SAT scores are not what they would project. Many friends who did not do well in school scored high on their SAT's. They believed that scoring high on one score pulled them out of a mediocre high school average. I would rather hire someone who is going to show up daily to class to someone who can score one time out of 4 years. I had above average SAT scores and did not score "high" but I am now a physician. If you want someone to operate on you is someone who knows their "stuff" and not who can answer A,B,C, D question
- —Guest concerned
Eh....
- I agree that standardized tests do not fully measure a person's intelligence, however, if a person cannot achieve a reasonablely high score on an exam over material learned previously, how would they survive well in college? I think that the SAT/ACT as its pros and cons,but overall, it hasn't done such a bad job.
- —Guest Unknown
mandatory
- Being a good test taker is part of life. You must be able to perform under pressure and when it matters. People can always point out an exception to the test where somebody got a 17 and now is a millionaire, but, in general, people who do well on tests succeed in college. There is a strong correlation between test scores and success. Graduates of Harvard and Yale had very high test scores, and now most are making six figure salaries. Test scores put everyone on an equal playing field. GPA's and class rank can vary widely, depending on what high school you attend, yet test scores are consistent. People who say they are "a bad test taker", need to learn to come through in the clutch. The questions on the test are relatively simple, there are just a lot of them and they are in succession. These same type of tests are used to determine who becomes Physicians. Do you want somebody who scored a 15 to operate on your heart, or somebody who can think clearly and concisely when it matters.
- —pefro123
No on Optional Admissions Tests
- The SAT Reasoning Test & ACT are given for a reason. They are STANDARDIZED tests. They measure the performance of 1 student, which can be compared with other students. They determine each student's potential to succeed academically on the university level. 87% of 4-year colleges require the SAT/ACT. Standardized tests are objective and easy to grade/administer. Every question is reviewed by the College Board to ensure that no certain group has a disadvantage. Since these tests are graded by machines, scores can be sent back to the students quickly. Standardized testing is fair. Let's say we have a student from the west coast vs. a student from the east coast. 2 different curriculums. SAT/ACT is a fair way to compare students with different curriculums. Yes, students may feel pressure from taking the test (Hey, I have to take it), but this proves that students will learn important test-taking strategies required in the basic classes that everybody has to take the 1st 2 years.
- —Guest Y.H.
Father of child about to go to college
- The SAT and ACT have been difficult. We are trying to get a state scholarship but my daughter needs a 20 ACT or 970 SAT. She has a 3.8 GPA and got a 19 ACT 960 SAT. The kicker is a student with a 3.0 GPA and a 20 ACT or 970 SAT will get the scholarship. They are saying one day of testing is more important than 4 years of grinding it out.
- —Guest bob
I want to go to college!
- I am currently a junior in high school and took my very first SAT today. It was long, draining, and I felt rushed throughout the whole thing, especially the math portions which I didn't finish. I think the SAT is basically torture to do to any kid. We have to put through enough in school itself. I realize that it's something used to determine who should get accepted, but I feel like it should be easier than taking a test that really isn't relevant to what we've learned or will learn. It seemed like a test to see if you're a genius, which I for one am not. I try hard in school, I want to go to college and get a job. But the whole competitive thing and stress overload might just kill me. I don't think life was supposed to be this way:/ P.S. The SAT in 6th grade? Pretty sure I didn't even know what it was at that age.
- —Guest Junior
