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The truth about standardized tests
The truth about standardized tests
The truth about standardized tests
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Over time, the SAT’s format has changed to better measure a student’s ability and potential. Excessive stress is put on students to do well on the SAT’s, and causes them unnecessary strain. As college admissions become more and more competitive, the need for higher test scores has increased, despite fatal flaws in the SAT test itself. Although the SAT is used by thousands of colleges and taken by millions of students, many students' scores do not reflect their true abilities, and therefore the SAT test is useless.
But has the SAT ever truly been a good way to evaluate student’s academic abilities? Many teens do not test well, SAT questions are written in a way confusing to students, and the test is taken in high school, before they are exposed to college material. The number of teens taking the SAT has increased significantly in the past few years, further invalidating the statement that overall scores are
SAT was introduced to give everyone equal opportunity to study in the colleges of one’s choice. In today’s world, there still exists test bias, and SAT has helped to maintain this by separating
The SAT has become biased towards wealthy families and those who have money readily available. Money determines success in many things in life unfortunately, wealth also has an effect on how well one scores on the SAT. The SAT was designed to indicate which students are able to retain more knowledge while making sure that everyone was on a level playing field. However, this idea of equality for all who take the test has now disappeared. All around the country, people are coming up with tips and tricks on how to score higher on the SAT.
In 1942, the SAT was used for all applicants. “In 1948, the SAT was becoming the basic college admission device for millions” (“A Brief History of the SAT”). 80% of schools still require a standardized test score for acceptance (Blaf). However, this percentage is going down and as it does colleges will rely more a grades, which are more precise calculations of
This is certainly an important factor: because high schools have differing grade scales, plus some amount of grade deflation or inflation, having a nationally consistent test is useful. However, while the SAT may be standardized, it is far from equitable. It has been found to have significant bias, particularly income-wise: as Biamonte (2013) found, the difference in average SAT scores between the lowest and highest income groups is nearly 130 points per section, adding up to a hefty difference across the test’s three sections. This disparity is partially explained by the use of aforementioned coaching methods; test prep classes and tutoring services are often pricey, a score-boosting luxury only available to those in higher income brackets.
SATS and ACTS have been used for numerous years as a way to gauge a student’s academic success while in college. Students have the choice which test they would prefer to take and most colleges do not prefer one test over the other. There are a few key differences between the SAT and ACT, which may make one test more suitable than the other for those taking the tests. Many studies have proven that the SAT and ACT are not the best judge of future success, and that colleges should focus their applications more on past grades and accomplishments to decide which students should be accepted to their university. SATs and ACTs are not an effective measure of college readiness and future academic success.
The SAT or ACT exam is not an accurate measure of a student's aptitude for college. Not all students can take the SAT or ACT and make a high enough score to get into the college they want to get into. “Teens across the U.S. are standing by their mailboxes, waiting anxiously for the envelopes that will seal their academic fate. It’s college admissions season and for many students a lot hinges on how well they performed in standardized testing.” Some students just can not perform well taking the SAT or ACT in an environment that they feel stressed in.
Throughout the college admission process, one indicator of admittance stands above all, the SAT. The SAT stands for the Scholastic Achievement Test, which serves as the standard of assessment for colleges throughout the United States. Known for its pervasiveness, the SAT provides a comparative standard for students’ abilities. Although the SAT provides such a benefit, the SAT unexpectedly poses as a problem for college admission officers throughout the nation due to its inherent negative aspects, which stir a controversy among the nation. The question arises, should we keep using the SAT for admitting students into college?
The first attempt and success to climb Mt. Everest occured in 1953. Since then, almost 4,000 people have been able to scale the mountain, but over 230 people have not been able to climb it successfully. There is a chance of accident or death when climbing this mountain or any dangerous activity. All people should should have the right to rescue services even if they knowingly put themselves at risk because there is always a chance of an accident happening, rangers are there to save people in danger, and there are rescue vehicles being produced to be used in case of an emergency.
The silence in the room, with only the sound a pencil makes with the paper, produces the heart-thumping atmosphere standardized testing gives to students. Most students experience the overwhelming stress that is brought upon their academic life from SAT, ACT, or any standardized tests. They see them as one of the most important factors for college acceptance. The constant worry that sits on their shoulders will not disappear until testing is over, and there is nothing they can do about it until they hopefully get a letter from their dream college.
For years, standardized testing has been colleges’ favorite way to consider a high school student for admission. One of these tests, and possibly the most commonly known and taken, is the SAT. This school year, the College Board has decided to change the format of the SAT and administered the first round of the new SAT on March 5, 2016. When asked about whether the changes are really necessary, coordinator Olga Henderson stated that “it is difficult to say because this has been the second time that it [the SAT] has been changed.
For many years, there has been a great deal of controversies on whether standardized tests should be used for college admissions. Standardized testing started in America over 50 years ago and are today, more pressure-packed and ubiquitous than ever before. The first standardized test was developed in 1959 by Professor Everett Franklin Lindquist. Many admissions counselors depend on a student’s ACT and SAT scores a great deal when determining if they should accept the student or not. Though many feel that these tests are a good thing and should continue to be used, others disagree due to the numerous problems that have been discovered when reviewing students SAT and ACT scores.
No one enjoys taking the SAT/ACT test, but students hope it will all pay off in the end. There are many things students can do to help themselves prepare for both of these huge tests in order for the results to pay off. Some sources say to get a good nights sleep the night before and eat a good breakfast the morning of. Jeramy Powers, teaches Integrated Chemistry and Physics (ICP), has taken the SAT/ACT test before in his life time and said, “Try to do well in classes and look back at old things to help yourself. Start studying a week before testing.
Standardized tests are very common in today’s modern society. They are used as a tool to measure a person’s performance and indicate how their estimated performance will be in a college class. Every year hundreds of students take the ACT or SAT in order to get accepted into their college of choice and to receive scholarships, but they fail to see the problems with these standardized tests. As more and more people take these tests, the national average score falls causing doubt in the extremely important system. This is leading people to question whether or not the ACT and SATs are accomplishing what they were created to do.