As we progress to the end of the school year, many current juniors and sophomores will be starting their search for colleges. Standardized tests like the SAT will help many students trying to get accepted into some of their desired colleges. But how will students know if they should take standardized testing?
The SAT or less known as the Scholastic Aptitude Test, is a standardized test primarily used to measure a student’s current ability to determine their readiness for a higher education. While other standardized tests cover a wider variety of topics such as the ACT [American College Testing] opting for a science section, the SAT only demands English and math sections.
“Although many colleges don’t necessarily recognize the SAT as a viable form of measuring student success, it’s still experience with a standardized test and students are going to have a great deal of experience with standardized tests. The more they can take, the more they can practice, the better able to succeed they will be,” Greg Hurst, an Arlington English teacher said.
Though a very common standardized test, the SAT is no longer a requirement for applying and admission into a college. Due to factors such as being outdated and Covid-19, it provided a shift into a more lenient way for more students to achieve a higher education according to Harvard.edu.
“It’s no longer required for a lot of colleges, cause they saw it as kind of an outdated test that didn’t really give them valid information about students,” Nathan Davis, Arlington’s physics teacher said. “They wanted a more holistic approach to see what the student is like, based on their other things they’ve done.”
For students who have decided to take the SAT, the next upcoming dates are May 2nd, and June 6th. Tons of students will be preparing weeks before their scheduled test date, and while ideally every student should have retained their knowledge based on previous classes, it’s always best to refresh your memory.
“Do you remember everything from all your classes that you took? I think they probably should study or at least refresh their memory,” Leah Ross, Arlington’s math teacher said. “It really depends on each individual student. If they are really good at retaining things and they’ve learned things through and through, then they might not need as much preparation as those who just learned enough for their end-of-unit tests.”
As there are multiple reasons for why a student might take the SAT, there are even more who might also benefit from it without knowing it. It can be a stepping stone for qualifying for scholarships, getting into certain collegiate courses, and even getting into a college itself.
“There are a number of students who come from lower socioeconomic areas, where a lot of the scholarships are based on SAT scores. So I think those students in particular would benefit from taking and succeeding on the exam,” Hurst said. “Other students that are shooting for some of the older academic institutions that have higher standards, they still recognize the SAT. So those students would benefit by taking it as well.”
So back to the question, should students be taking the SAT? With the total amount of time every person gets being 2 hours and 41 minutes, some students might not be eager to take such a rigorous test. Although an intimidating test, there is nothing to lose for taking it, as you can choose whether or not to submit it on your college applications.
“The SAT is great for students who are thinking about getting scholarships, and looking at private schools, some college entrance, but I don’t think it’s required for everybody to take the SAT. I think it’s beneficial to challenge yourself but it depends on the student, what their aspirations and goals are,” Davis said.
