In an even playing field, the SAT does reflect the academic potential of a student and provide important information about a student’s potential. Numerous studies, conducted by both the College Board and outside organizations, have proven that SAT scores have a direct correlation to a student’s academic success in college. What many of these studies neglect, however, is how socioeconomic status affects the experiment. Test takers who are able to afford personalized tutoring or extensive school preparation may score higher simply because they have access to elite resources. And, if students can receive an advantage in standardized testing, who’s to say they do not also have the opportunity for an advantage in furthering their academic success? These studies do not consider how factors other than a students true academic abilities may be influencing student performance.

Furthermore, these scientific studies nearly always have a focus on the strict academic performance of a student. This is certainly one predictor of potential, but it is not the only one. The Harvard Business Review, in an article titled, “What Science Says About Identifying High-Potential Employees”, dives deep into the question of what predicts one’s potential. They drill it down to three points: Ability, Social Skills, and Drive. Now the question is – do SAT results accurately convey the magnitude of these skills in students? The short answer is no, they certainly do not. That is not to say they do not address these points at all. A student’s ability to solve a complex math problem under a strict time constraint is certainly an ability being assessed in the test. Their motivation to continue through a long test without fading or giving up is reflected in their scores as well. But consider how much is not reflected in these scores. Social skills are a major reflector of potential that remains almost untouched by the SAT. The individual test leaves absolutely no room for assessing a student’s ability to collaborate with others effectively. Additionally, though some facets of a student’s ability are addressed in the SAT, there are so many parts that are not. If the student has a particular passion for art and a hope to channel their potential into becoming a renowned artist, the SAT provides them with no opportunity to showcase that potential. The SAT may seem standardized, but it is really rigged in favor of students with a certain aptitude for a few key skills.

The SAT may in theory be standardized and created in a way that predicts real life potential, but in reality the scores are dependent on so much more than a student’s abilities and are not a true indicator of all that a student has to offer. While the SAT is able to offer valuable information about certain aspects of a student’s abilities, it does not reflect a student’s true potential.