The Pros And Cons Of Standardized Test Scores

In a study performed by William Hiss, former Dean of Admissions at Bates College (B.A., M.T.S., M.A., and Ph.D.), it was found that out of 123,000 students at 33 public and private institutions, 30% of students were admitted to college without SAT/ACT scores. Of those students, there was no difference in Grade Point Average (GPA) or graduation rates between students that did or did not submit scores (Hiss 23). Standardized tests are stressful assessments that can potentially determine the rest of a nervous, anxiety-ridden student’s life. The tests were originally created in the 1930’s, and their sole purpose was to determine scholarship applicability for students at Ivy League schools (Sheffer). The tests had no weight in determining acceptance

Hiss stated “high school grades, not test scores, are the best predictors of college success. Regardless of their income level or race, students with strong high school grades in tough courses generally perform well in college, even if they had average or even poor SAT or ACT scores” (23). A student’s success in high school can directly correlate with their success in college. Good grades and a strong GPA are not only important when applying to college; they can also help colleges determine how successful a student may be (Rogers). GPA is the most important factor in determining a student’s college success, because it shows the students hard work and dedication to education over four years. Good predictors of academic achievement in college are “high school grades adjusted to account for the curriculum in the high school from which a student graduates” (Hambrick). GPA shows growth, hard work, and the ability to perform well in a classroom setting. Kate Rogers, a reporter for Fox Business, explained “’high test scores and low high-school GPAs mean a student may have the aptitude and capability, but the higher GPA is just a better indicator of how they would fare in college’”. Colleges should look more at GPA and high school grades than test scores. Hiss stated “it’s more important to show what

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. Some believe the tests are not a test of cognitive skill, but of socio-economic status (Hambrick). Some students have the means for study groups and tutors, while others cannot afford such luxuries. There are advanced study options on the Internet that are very expensive, but often help students perform well. Some families pay up to tens of thousands of dollars for a child to perform well on a test so that they can get into college (Tiefenthaler 25). These students may perform well on the test, but once they get into the college they were striving for, they may struggle because they do not have the means to hire a tutor. There is