The rooms are silent. Rows of students staring at glowing screens, fingers hovering over keyboards. As minutes turn into hours, you see the desire for knowledge slipping away. 

For many, the SBAC isn’t just a test, it’s hours of pressure, stress, and trying to stay focused when your brain is already done. The SBAC isn’t just a normal school assignment, it ‘s something that sticks long after it’s over. Whether it’s stress, boredom, or pressure, students across schools share similar feelings about what these tests are really like.

 “Long days and sitting at your desk eating gum and goldfish. It’s almost nostalgic. It’s not good memories because we all hated them but it’s a core memory”  said Kailyn Mckinney (‘26). 

SBAC isn’t just about academics, it becomes an experience students remember, even if it isn’t a positive one. Students can easily get stressed out over a question, then get their answer wrong from overthinking. Many don’t remember the SBAC being joyful; they often find it stressful and “stupid”. 

  In addition to the emotional impact, many students believe the test is meant to measure their abilities in a specific way, whereas others believe it shouldn’t show how smart you are. If test taking scares you, it’ll affect your score. 

“It reflects a certain kind of smart. It reflects how you can do things in a timely manner and how well you are doing in school” Kailyn Mckinney (‘26) said.  

While SBAC may show some academic skills, it may not fully represent everything a student is capable of. However, not all students see the test negatively. Some take it seriously and use it as motivation. 

  “I take these tests very seriously,” Alan Delgado (‘26) said. 

For students like this, the SBAC becomes something more than just a requirement. It’s an opportunity to prove themselves and stay focused on their goals. Even so, the testing environment can still create pressure. Although the test might not be stressful for everyone, it still creates a level of anxiety that students have to push through. The structure of the SBAC itself also plays a role in how students feel, which can be stress, boredom or pure hate

“Everyone just kind of hates them. I remember back in middle school on STAR testing, I used to always purposely get questions wrong just to get it over with. So, I can see how the average student would probably feel that way too” Alan Delgado (‘26) said. 

In response to that, when asked if students give their full effort on the SBAC another student said 

“I don’t think so. I feel like a lot of people don’t really take them that seriously.

I see them in class, and a lot of people just talk with their friends and stuff and whisper a lot” Gabby Blakley (‘27) said. 

In the end, SBAC is more than just a standardized test. It’s a shared experience filled with mixed emotions. While it may measure certain academic skills, it also reveals something just as important, how students truly feel, react, and push through challenges in the moment. And maybe the real question isn’t just how well students perform, but whether the test truly understands them at all.