State standardized testing and SAT’s have been implemented into the school systems for years. While teachers prepare students to do well on these test for the future, do test like the SAT’s truly show a student’s potential for the future? The simple answer is no.
As a senior in high school, I have dealt with many standardized test, and even took the SAT my junior year. Starting as early as a freshman, I took multiple SAT practice test so I could do well my junior year. While during each practice test I got significantly better, my scores were no where near what is considered “ good”. When my junior year SAT came around, I already felt defeated knowing that my hours of practice were never going to get me where the academic world pressured students to be. As my results came back I was right, my score wasn’t the best, and I was so worried about how colleges may perceive me. However, I was so wrong to think in that mindset.
Overall in my high school career, I have maintained a 4.5 GPA, as well as taking over six AP courses. Within my academics I have managed to be apart of more than ten extracurriculars such as varsity sports and club, holding leadership titles in all. I have been awarded for my academic excellence and contribution to my school through many prestigious organizations such as National Honors Society. Now ending my senior year, I’ve been accepted into Penn State Main to study Meteorology/Atmospheric Science ( Stem major). So, through all of my achievements and hard work throughout my school and community, not ONE cared about what my SAT score is. Sure, Penn State does take those scores into consideration, however my academic excellence and contribution outshined that score. One of my lower scores on the SAT test was the mathematics, however since the eight grade, I have particles in ever honors and AP mathematics course available in my school, holding an “A” in all classes, and even getting college credit.

Overall, the SAT does not define who you are as a person nor your intelligence. The SAT is a scripted way of how the academic world may want you to think. In the real world, successful people do not follow a certain criteria. The pressure and anxiety over the SAT should not make students afraid of their futures. A students real potential is what is shown through their critical thinking skills with others, and how they contribute to society as a whole. If I was judged based solely on my SAT score, I would have no future. My potential has been shown through the way I carry myself through academic adversity, and what I bring to the table as a whole. Students futures shouldn’t be jeopardized based off a test that was not specifically built to showcase everyone’s uniqueness, the SAT does not show a student’s full potential as a whole.