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SAT Argument Essay

1683 Words7 Pages

We say we should never judge a book by its cover, a motto that all colleges should follow since their admission process is solely based on a swing vote of a test score (SAT). The SAT also known as the scholastic aptitude test is the most highly regarded test which thousands of students all across the country will have to take once in their high school lifetime. A determinate factor that Colleges use, to determine if a student is a good fit for their university. But how can colleges determine if a student will excel and be successful from their university based on their SAT scores? This very question has posed many arguments saying that colleges should diminished this test as it plays a big role in college application process and gives those who live in economically comfortable families a greater edge over others who aren’t well off. Others who support the SAT say that it is a progress report for students and colleges who see this progress report can determine if the student is …show more content…

The test was created to identify talented students from underprivileged backgrounds and this was why these test were originally developed. But today, the SAT now does not measure any innate ability according to College Board, which now administrates the SAT (PBS Frontline). The test is to provide colleges a criteria to compare applicants. The test is a 4-5 hour test that is made up of 3 sections: Math, critical thinking/ reading, and writing questions. The writing section requires students to write an essay, while the math and critical thinking and reading question are multiple choice. The test is out of 2400, the highest possible score you can get on a test. According to PBS Frontline “it stats that a psychologist Claude Steele found that the correlation between SAT scores and first-year students was only 18 percent of students doing

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A students ACT and SAT score is just one portion of many college applications. Colleges and Universities look at GPA, an essay, and letter of recommendations to determine a student’s admission. Many people believe that the importance of the ACT or SAT score depends on the college and what other things the student has to offer (Drinkworth, 2015). The ACT and SAT tests can be an important factor in college admissions because they tests are on all subject areas, math, reading, writing, and science. Since each area is graded separately and the score is later averaged out it shows how the students does overall in the general

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Standardize test are not flawless instruments for precisely pinpointing what level of prior knowledge and learning a student has acquired without first considering other elements that may or may not be connected to what was cultivated. Information on admission test should correlate with educational experiences acquired from school and home; however, that is not always the case considering: (1) socioeconomic background ;( 2) overall mental and physical health ;( 3) sampling variability from other assessments; (4) unidentified error variance; and (5) motivation and drive. These are just some of the essential components require in order to proclaim the SAT and other forms of assessments as sole heir to the thrown of admissions in terms of validity, reliability and

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Students that take the SAT/ACT are young, nervous and anxiety ridden. They know this test determines their future, and that scares them (Raines). There is definitely too much weight on standardized test scores, but some families are able to handle it with test preparation. Because there is so much stress on the SAT/ACT, there is now an industry of test training that takes time and money out of the lives of students and their families (Tiefenthaler 25). This time could be going towards studying for classes and doing well in school, but because students are so worried about their test scores, preparation for the tests are a large part of many people’s lives.

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1417 Words | 6 Pages

Aptitude is defined as readiness and quickness in learning, or, general intelligence. Colleges have attempted to measure aptitude, in order to be more selective in the pool of students that apply, through various means, such as Grade Point Average, or Standardized Tests. The two main tests for aptitude in the United States are the ACT, and the SAT. Although the tests have been used for decades, the SAT in particular has been the subject of heated debate over the validity, reliability, and overall honesty of its ability to measure aptitude. The fact is, the SAT is a fundamentally unfair system, as the test significantly lowers the chances of high-quality students being admitted into a college; in actuality, it rewards basic knowledge of many subjects, rather than an actual understanding of the area of study a student will major in, which, in turn, results in racial and socioeconomic disadvantages, through differential scores and cost of the test.

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1336 Words | 6 Pages

Most students in the United States are being intellectually scored based on a three-hour test that determines their future for further education; this system is infamously known as the SAT. The SAT and ACT not only require a child to sit in a classroom for hours writing and answering questions, it requires the mental strength of a genius to score a perfect grade. These assessments are thought to determine students academic success on a 0-1600 and 1-36 point scale. More and more colleges and universities are becoming test optional meaning that they do not require applicants to attach their test scores with their application. Over eight hundred public and private colleges are now test optional.

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1502 Words | 7 Pages

Another reason the SAT was chosen is, the amount of students that take the entrance exam, “a record 1.7 million students from the class of 2015 took the SAT, while 1.67 million did the same from the class of 2014” (Klein, 2015). The math portion of the SAT was chosen to be studied instead of reading or writing because mathematics is required by all college degrees while certain vocabulary based classes and writing classes are not(southern state college, N.D). The reason the researcher used the SAT over the ACT was due to the College Board having more students on average take their SAT than those that people take the ACT. To gather the most precise measurement of college readiness for the entire country, the more participants means the more

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610 Words | 3 Pages

Some people believe that we should not cut the funding for standardized testing and still included standardized testing on college applications. Universities use these test scores to,”...help compare students from different high schools. Your scores show your strengths and readiness for college work” (College Board). This is a really efficient way for colleges to differ between students in their acceptance processes, if schools take away this testing, than colleges will have a hard time telling difference in students, and it will make their acceptance process harder. Therefore, many colleges will not want these standardized tests eliminated, although, it will benefit many

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1888 Words | 8 Pages

The ACT stands for American College Testing; the test measures the students’ abilities to preform well on four subjects: Math, Reading, Science, and English. Similarly, the SAT stands for Scholastic Aptitude Test; it measures students’ abilities to perform well Reading, English, and Math. However, how accurately do these tests measure student’s performance in college? Are they good predictors of student’s future? Some researchers argue that these assessments do not measure the capability of a student.

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509 Words | 3 Pages

The validity of the test isn’t totally true because the score can’t always predict what students are going to make for their first year of college. From a personal experience, the test being so long I start to not fully understand the questions anymore. I remember when I took my SAT my senior year of school. The test was held at a college classroom nearby. The room wasn’t that big, it could fit about 20 people.

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1495 Words | 6 Pages

Standardized tests have played a large role in the education system over the past few years, serving as a way for schools to determine a student’s academic progress and skill levels. Since the 1960s, standardized tests have been a requirement for school curriculums. Students are instructed to answer a set of questions based on skills that have been taught previously throughout the year. The recorded scores are then considered by schools, colleges, and universities to observe the academic levels of a student and their individual progress. Many of these tests such as the ACT, SAT, and others are weighted as a graduation requirement and viewed by colleges across the nation.

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1338 Words | 6 Pages

This is not unlike many other students across the country. Because of the stress put on mastering the ACT nowadays, there should be no need for the SAT. The ACT’s use of a time limit for time management skills and non-penalization for wrong answers is simply the best form of standardized testing. The ACT should be the only standardized test at all universities, not just the University of

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627 Words | 3 Pages

Scores on SAT and ACT can help determine a student's entire future. Some colleges won't even look at an applicant's paperwork if the test scores aren't at least average. They depend on test scores to tell them if the student is ready for college. The issue with relying on these test is that the test do not take in the student's personality, discipline and motivation. Some students just can't take test and become ill with the amount of pressure they're given.

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571 Words | 3 Pages

The SAT’s is a word no teenager is ever happy to hear. They are standardized tests that a highschool student must take to apply to colleges. These tests help a college see what a student is capable of in math, english, and reading. The test gives the same opportunity to all students. That is the only positive I see with the SATs.

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556 Words | 3 Pages

In the United States there are generally two standardized tests that can be used to assess students for college readiness. One of these tests is the SAT. The SAT is governed and created by a company called, College Board. College board recently announced major changes to the SAT test. The SAT format change is a result of only 42% percent of high school students being deemed college ready.

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By the end of World War II it became a standard test for seniors to take and remained unchanged until 2005 until it was changed yet again to the test it is today. The scale for the SAT is 0-1600 and the test is geared towards logic, it is commonly accepted on the east and west coasts, but just like the ACT can be used on any college application. (Fletcher) The intention of these tests is most likely good, however the tests have adverse effects and the pressure to get good scores has turned these tests into a nightmare. Most would think the standardized are strictly measuring students, however the tests also evaluate teachers.

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