Standardized testing is very common in the United States, and has been in the United States of America for more than fifty years. In today’s society, standardized tests have become the normal. They are more pressure-packed and strenuous than ever. Standardized testing used to only be used sparingly, but now every child from elementary school to college graduate school must take these rigorous exams. Standardized tests can be very helpful when it comes to positive student achievement, equal content, and comparison, and can help prepare you for college.

For my ACT, it took me three attempts to get a score I was happy with. My initial approach was to take an in-class ACT Prep course taught at my High School in junior year but I received a below average score of 25 on my first try. My second approach was to take an online ACT prep course but that ACT score was even lower than the first. So I decided to try something new; I took multiple AP courses focusing on STEM in my junior and senior years and that wound up making the biggest impact because I received a 26 on my third test. It wasn’t the high score that I was reaching for but by this time, I had already been accepted to Marquette without the need to provide my score but I was glad that got the score I needed. In the end, I learned that you just have to challenge yourself in High School to get a good score.

There is no amount of preparation or shortcut to a perfect score. If I were gauging standardized testing over a longer period and taking into account my personal experience, the takeaway would be to miss as little time from school as possible and challenge yourself with advanced STEM classes when offered or available throughout Middle and High School. These would be the building blocks for which you could form a solid foundation. From there, I would also recommend taking an ACT prep course like it did multiple times as it will give you a slight advantage. This is my blueprint for success but I do fantasize occasionally about how much better I could’ve done had I taken more advanced placement classes earlier on.

Furthermore, standardized tests ensure that all content is equivalent and fair among all students. In America, most colleges require you to take the SAT or ACT. They have a working system and most colleges accept these test scores. Standardized tests are necessary because not all tests are equal, and we need a common test. That’s what it means for a test to be standardized, after all –everyone takes the same test.

Another reason why standardized testing is a positive thing is that the tests prepare you for college or any higher-level education. College midterms and final exams are debatably some of the most stressful times of your young adult life. I feel like I will do better on my exams in college because of my standardized test experience in high school. Now that I understand what I can do to improve my testing scores, I have more confidence about standardized testing and will likely do better in college.

Consequently, a lot of people have only negative things to say about standardized testing but fail to realize that a lot of good things come out of these tests. They are known to positively affect the student’s class work and attitudes, as well as their teachers. Standardized testing makes school equal and fair for all students and they prepare you for higher-level education.