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Should the S.A.T. be abolished for college admissions decisions? Absolutely. Standardized tests don't accurately show what students may know. Some students, although accommodations are made, may still panic taking these tests thus lowering their scores.
The SATs have always been the "be all, end all" test in high school. Too much emphasizes is placed on this test as well as the Benchmarks and A.C.T.s. Students shouldn't have to stay in the box but rather think outside of it. These tests do exactly that by limiting our students to study only what is in front of them and not ask the question "Why not this?"
It's now known that many of our high school students are not even passing higher on this test and others because of the "No Child Left Behind" law. Good on paper, bad in reality! The basic math, reading and language skills do not prepare our students for the rigors of the SATs. When a student in the sixth grade asks where in America is Peru, we have to evaluate what is wrong in the school system.
Some may say this test evaluates the school system as a whole but what once was is no more because of the "Left Behind" law. Teachers are now forced to spend more time on the three "specialized areas" and less time on Science, Social Studies or even foreign language. How do the SATs rate the schools or students amongst each other when they are preparing for other tests?
Until someone wises up and repeals this law, the SATs and ACTs for that matter will be in vain. Why bother paying to take something that all it does is show what little high school students really know? Colleges should really look at student grade point averages and recommendations and not some silly test that may be biased in reality.
In actuality, it's sad really. Students are forced into other colleges and universities based on a tiny little score.

Learn more about this author, Susan Powell.
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