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Observe the face of the high school junior: eyes puffy and red from a chronic lack of sleep, fingers smudged with pencil and ink, breath smelling of coffee. Juniors are walking bundles of stress because for anyone considering a college education, junior year is the most crucial academic year to the college admissions process. That is also why so many seniors tend to relax and enjoy themselves: a common condition called "senioritis," which is a well-earned burn out period following the crucible of junior year. A student's grades from their junior year are the most heavily scrutinized and are also a student's last chance to make any meaningful difference in their cumulative grade point average. In addition to the ordinary burden of tests, quizzes, projects and term papers junior year is also the year a student becomes an upperclassman and therefore begins to assume leadership roles in both clubs and sports. Juniors apply to the National Honor Society, a key asset to any college application. Junior year is most importantly marked by the most significant hurdle of the application process, standardized tests.

In the beginning of a student's junior year he takes the PSAT or Preliminary SAT. The College Board, the company that makes and administers the SAT typically offers three SAT tests in the spring. Most students take the SAT one or more times during the spring of their junior year and then, if they still hope to increase their score, take one last test during the fall of their senior year. Interspersed during this hectic testing season are SAT subject tests, a battery of one hour tests offered in languages, history, science, literature and mathematics during the May and June SAT test days. Most students take at least two of these tests as many competitive universities require them. At some point during the months of May and June students can also take AP exams, which reflect well on applications and offer students a quick and cheap way to earn college credit while still in high school. Some students, eschewing the SAT, take the ACT, a rival standardized test that has been accepted by more and more colleges during recent years. ACTs are comparable tests in difficulty and length to the SAT and are offered during the spring.
Standardized tests are stressful and difficult experiences. Most students dread taking the SAT as an unnecessary hardship imposed on them by unfair and demanding colleges. Standardized tests are necessary diagnostic

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