The SAT, or Scholastic Aptitude Test, is one of the most feared tests of high school students. It has been a big deal in college admissions for decades — since 1926. Its purpose is to measure a student’s ability to succeed in college. But is it fair, or even necessary? Some colleges have already stopped requiring it. Others are debating if they should. So, do SAT scores really matter? Or is it time to move on?
The SATs were created on June 23, 1926 and has been a staple of education ever since. Supporters of the SAT say it helps colleges compare students from different schools. High school grading can be inconsistent, as some schools and states have different curriculums, grading systems, and testing protocols. In addition, some schools are tougher than others. A student with a 4.0 GPA at one school may not be as strong as a student with a 3.5 GPA at a school that requires more from students. Therefore, the SAT is seen as a common measure to compare students.
Another argument is that the SAT can help students from lower-income backgrounds. A student who didn’t have access to private schools or who struggle in low-income schools with fewer resources can prove themselves with a high SAT score. However, though these benefits do seem great, the SATs also come with negatives.
The biggest argument against the SAT is that it favors wealthier students. Test prep courses, private tutoring, and multiple attempts at the exam all cost money. Wealthy families can afford these advantages, while lower-income students often cannot. This means the SAT doesn’t always measure intelligence or potential, but it measures who had the real resources to prepare for it.
Another flaw is that the SAT doesn’t mean automatic college success. Education researchers Richard C. Atkinson and Saul Geiser from the University of California state that high school GPA is a better predictor of college grades than the SAT. A student who works hard for four years in high school and gets good grades has a better chance to succeed in college, even if they don’t score well on a single test.
There are also things like test anxiety, students who are simply bad test-takers, or a student simply having an off-day on SAT day. They may understand the material, but freeze under pressure. One test on one day shouldn’t determine a student’s future.
The Shift Away from SATs
Due to the SATs being so unreliable, many colleges are going “test-optional.” That means students can choose whether or not to submit SAT scores. Some schools have even gone “test-blind,” meaning they won’t look at scores at all. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many schools dropped the SAT requirement, and many haven’t brought it back.
Instead of relying on SAT scores, colleges are requiring other things like: GPA, extracurricular activities, essays, and letters of recommendation. This allows them to see a more complete picture of a student and not just a test score.
Personally, I believe that a person’s success shouldn’t be determined by one, simple test. The SATs seems more of an outdated tradition than an actual measure to find potentially gifted students. While the SAT exam can still be helpful in some cases, it’s clear that it has flaws. It doesn’t measure everything that makes a student successful, and it often favors those with more resources. Colleges should continue to move away from making it a requirement and focus on better ways to evaluate students.
