The SAT exam has been administered in the U.S. for almost a century, but the true value of a high SAT score continues to be hotly debated. Some doubt that a student’s performance on one day indicates how he or she will perform during the next few years, while others argue the test is unfair. These claims have been applied to other tests as well, such as the ACT and AP’s. Though they are respectable concerns, both are unfounded, in my opinion.
Being nervous on the day of a test is understandable. However, in the academic world, stakes are often high. For example, journalists must usually write articles under pressure of a looming deadline, professors work under duress to “publish or perish,” and I imagine there are scientists who feel immense pressure from society to cure cancer or accomplish a similar groundbreaking feat. Given these real-life demands, it doesn’t seem so ridiculous that one day should play such a major role in shaping a person’s academic future. There is a quality inherently academic about pushing feelings aside and focusing totally on the passage or math problem at hand. The inability to do so is a liability, and the SAT ensures that is recognized.
Another popular claim is that the SAT is biased because only a handful of people can afford tutors and test prep classes. However, anyone with access to the internet and a bookstore has the opportunity to overcome this disparity in wealth. Those who have internet can utilize the College Board’s problem of the day or read SparkNotes’ online guide, while most major bookstores sell prep books for less than 40 dollars, and they might even be purchased for cheaper online. These students who take the initiative and study from what resources they can find embody important academic traits such as inquisitiveness and determination to solve a problem. Although it is unjust that some students must work harder than others to attain the same test score, I believe that the positive aspect of these exams – emphasis on the importance of determination and focus to achieve academic success – outweigh the negative aspect of wealthier people having a competitive advantage.
Like anything in life, standardized tests are flawed, but I still believe they are necessary for proving a student’s academic merit. Aside from providing a basis for comparison between students in different regions, standardized test material suggests the bare minimum of what American teenagers should be able to achieve, and indicates whether or not it is being met. Despite what SAT critics might say, the established standard is not unachievable. Perhaps it would become a greater reality if we focused more time and energy on reaching it together as a country, not simply as individuals.