As one of the standardized tests in the world and the one that has been used for more than 100 years in the United States, the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) is no doubt a valid assessment tool to measure what they are trying to measure. The SAT is often taken by high school juniors and seniors who intend to pursue higher education at universities. In general, they test students’ ability to perform and understand mathematical calculations. Not only them the test is also intended to measure students’ comprehension writing abilities in academic English. The main idea behind this test is to measure test-takers’ potential to succeed at college.

Does SAT reflect the real test-taker potential? The answers will vary depending on whom you ask. It is a subject of a hot debate. But if you ask me, I think the test will provide insights into the test-takers’ ability, but it will never be a single tool to reflect the test-takers’ potential. There are several biases that the SAT cannot diminish, even after its recent refreshments and adjustments. Factors that influence test-takers’ ability to perform on the test such as socioeconomic background, access to quality education, personal experience, extracurricular activities, and individual learning style are not reflected in the test score. Therefore, SAT scores should be considered together alongside other factors to ensure the potential of test takers to succeed in college.

Successful students in college will require more than their intellectual capacity. There is interplay among personal academic capacity, time management, discipline, and relationships with other colleagues and professors. All other factors that are not related to academic capacity will never be reflected in SAT scores. Therefore, it is not wise to conclude that the SAT will reflect my potential to succeed in college. As a student myself, I think I can confirm that it takes more than my academic capacity to continue pushing myself to obtain my bachelor’s degree. It takes my discipline, it takes me to work hard and juggle between part-time work and full-time study, it requires my discipline and strong drive. Well, all those qualities that the SAT does not measure on its multiple-choice questions.

If we assume that real potential is an equation that we must solve, then SAT is surely only part of the equation. To reveal and use my potential in college, taking into account my background as a refugee and also my socioeconomic condition who has spent my days living in a youth homeless shelter will skew the equation. Therefore, to balance it out, not only I must dedicate more time to study, but also to make sure I work well to pay for my tuition. Those persistence and hard work will definitely balance my equation to succeed at college rather than having a flying SAT score.