Leah Samaras Mrs.

Chernin AP Lit 3/5/13 SAT: The Injustice of it All I personally believe that the SAT should not be used by college administrators as a reflection of your academic potential which determines your acceptance to their college or University. I do not believe one test can determine your academic excellence nor do I believe you can show how much information you understand in only four hours. It has been proven that Plenty of people make movies and play in the major leagues and run companies and write for magazines without high SATs (Time), which shows that your SAT scores do not determine whether or not you are going to be successful. This being said, SAT scores should not be a factor in determining whether we receive acceptance into a University or not. One of the benefits of the SAT are two SAT takers can be compared, instead of being compared through their school curricula, which could differ greatly in levels of difficulty (ESL), and can help the University pick a more eligible candidate or the idea that it is the simpler means of comparison that a standardized test provides. One school may offer a curriculum that is exceptionally harder to succeed in than another schools easy A type of curriculum (ESL), which can be seen as a reasonable approach such as the example of a child receiving a college preparatory education compared with a child being educated at a public

school. Of course there are bare minimums necessary for a student to be considered competent in the world today ( ESL), but that does not mean a child with a lower SAT score is any less smart than a child with scores exceeding what is deemed acceptable. Throughout many college admissions buildings whenever a college suggests dropping its SAT requirement, traditionalists on campus inevitably say doing so would lower standards (Time), this can be disclaimed. In a recent study, Roger Studley analyzed the relationship among high school grades, SAT scores, achievement test scores, and freshman grades in college. Here is what they found: the SATs independent role in predicting freshman grade point turned out to be so small that knowing the SAT score added next to nothing to an admissions officers ability to forecast how an applicant will do in collegethe reason to give the test in the first place (American), showing the SAT is not beneficial to the students who are taking them. The real issue I have with the SAT is that SAT scores are placed on a level of utmost value (ESL), which I find most alarming. The SAT is said to show a students skills in vocabulary, grammar, and mathematics, but there are different types of skills and intelligence levels that the highly valued SAT simply doesnt allow for, thus making it harder than necessary for children of such skills to thrive (ESL), which I can personally relate to, seeing that I excel greater as a history student rather than a math student. Also, the SAT does not make room for multiple intelligences. It idealizes only a very specific set of skills (ESL), further emphasizing it diminishes students chances of good scores based on their struggle within those realms, especially for me, considering my skills lie outside of the traditional SAT requirements. Math has always been a challenge, as well as test taking, and I do not believe that makes me any less smart, it has only pushed me to be a more diligent and conscientious student.

As stated in a magazine, Originally, the point of the SATwhose initials, after all, stood for Scholastic Aptitude Testwas to measure aptitude, defined by the dictionary as inherent ability, rather than to measure academic achievement (American), the SAT today is not measuring aptitude, it is measuring the academic achievement of an individual. I believe my academic achievement is shown throughout my work within my GPA. Each year of my high school experience I have improved my work ethic, which has reflected in my grades. With each successive year I have chosen to challenge myself with Advanced Placement courses to prepare me for the college classroom experience. I would think Universities would want to see success as the curriculum becomes more challenging. This demonstrates I would be able to handle the work load and excel academically at their University, rather than showing what I knew on one test on a solitary day. I think it is patently unjust that my academic career path will be determined by my success on one particular test on one particular day in my life. One college Dean said he did not want to do away with the SAT because he did not want a bunch of idiots attending his University. I find that extremely insulting, hurtful, and myopic. I am one of many that have not excelled on one portion of the SAT, but that does not reflect my intelligence. I am a bright individual and I do not believe the SAT is going to define whether or not I am smart; smart enough to be accepted into their University, or smart enough on what the standardized test deems average or above average based on every other child in the country. I do not test well. I am not good at math. That does not mean I am incompetent or that I should be made to feel like I am less worthy than others students vying for the same goal. The SAT does not reflect the kind of student I am. It is extremely disheartening to know that these Universities would much rather see stellar SAT scores than academic excellence in the classroom.

Works Cited The Pros and Cons (But Mostly Cons) of the SAT: The Standardized Testing Debate | Everysilverlining." Everysilverlining. N.p., 28 Jan. 2011. Web. 05 Mar. 2013. Jaschik, Scott. "The Impact of Dropping the SAT | Inside Higher Ed." The Impact of Dropping the SAT | Inside Higher Ed. N.p., 26 Mar. 2009. Web. 05 Mar. 2013. Murray, Charles. "AMERICAN.COM." Abolish the SAT The American Magazine. N.p., July-Aug. 2007. Web. 05 Mar. 2013.