“Sometimes the most brilliant and intelligent minds do not shine in standardized tests because they do not have standardized minds.” This quotation by Diane Ravitch nearly perfectly describes the ludicrosity of modern standardized tests. Students may achieve elite grades, volunteer, and participate in a variety of extracurriculars throughout high school, but all of these elements may be for naught if their ACT or SAT score is deemed unsatisfactory. The college application process is demanding enough without the added burden of inessential and unfair standardized tests. The ACT and SAT may put unnecessary stress on high schoolers, because they are an unfair representation of intelligence and education and are a large element of the college admission process.
Even though standardized tests have their flaws, they are an element of the college application process for a reason. The ACT and SAT do offer insight into a student’s abilities and give a general overview of their potential. Such tests should remain part of the college admission process, but should not be placed above elements such as grade point average, leadership positions, and community service.
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Anxiety, the environment of the testing center, and numerous other factors come into play when determining an ACT or SAT score. Such tests do not measure intelligence. Instead, they measure how well a student does on one test on one day of their high school career. William Hiss, former dean of Bates College, said, “The human mind is simply so complex and so multifaceted and fluid, that trying to find a single measurement tool that will be reliable across the numerous populations of American students is simply a trip up a blind alley” (Hiss). This quotation simply means that it is impossible for one test to accurately represent the intelligence and education of every student in the United